Chapter 26 Caught in the Act
+8 Pearls
Lana nodded. “Yes. Can’t ever air the dirty laundry, can they? The lovers of this family’s men will be settled in another country as they await the day of their delivery. However, Old Mr. Heathcliff loved her, so he took her back right after the boy was born, but then she tried to usurp the madam’s place, and that enraged Old Mr. Heathcliff. She was sent abroad once again, but Old Mr. Heathcliff went along and stayed with her until she died. Only then did he come back.”
Angela felt her heart skip a beat. So, Wilhelmina was telling the truth. I bet Conrad won’t bring me back to the country. He doesn’t even like me. Guess I’m dying out there, then. A chilling sensation undulated over her back. I will not be taken abroad just to await my delivery day. Never.
Lana heaved a sigh. “Old Mr. Heathcliff loves Mr. Christopher the most out of his sons, and he dislikes Mr. Conrad the most. It’s because Mr. Conrad has always been the more aloof one and has never cozied up to Old Mr. Heathcliff. Old Mr. Heathcliff has been trying to change the family rules so kids from the branch families can be on par with direct descendants. That way, Mr. Christopher can be the heir, but alas, luck was not on his side. He fell ill and had no energy left to make the change.”
Oh, so that’s why Conrad is so wary of Christopher. A longstanding feud. “Aristocrats are so complex.”
Lana gave her a shrimp. “Miss Prescott’s spoiled rotten, so she’s very self–centered. If she doesn’t have a child of her own, then yours might survive, but once she and Mr. Conrad have their own children, she’ll think of yours as the enemy. You should have an exit strategy ready
for them.”
Angela was worried about that as well. Her children would lose their mother’s protection and their father’s love. What should I do? She caressed her belly, her heart squeezing up.
Once the design draft was done, Angela texted Christopher. Christopher asked her out for lunch at a Findellian restaurant. They would talk about it then. The moment they sat down, they saw a few familiar faces popping up.
It was Conrad, Wilhelmina, and her mother.
“Ah, fancy seeing you here.” Christopher smiled at them.
Sheila Heathcliff smiled at him as well. “Wilhelmina and I were shopping nearby, so we thought we would have lunch with Conrad.”
A dark smile curled Wilhelmina’s lip. Alright, caught in the act. Now Conrad must believe that she’s cheating on him. “Oh, so Angela’s your girlfriend, Christopher?” she asked mockingly.
Angela noticed the malice, of course. This wasn’t the first time Wilhelmina tried to slander
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11:52 Mon, Nov 25 tw.
Chapter 26 Caught in the Act
70%
+6 Pearls
her. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Miss Prescott. Mr. Heathcliff is my client, and we’re here to talk business.”
She didn’t look at Conrad, for she knew he was giving her killer stares.
Conrad’s eyes were flaring with fury, but the look on his face was deadpan, as if he was wearing a mask.
“I see. Then go on, Christopher.” The tables at the restaurant were separated by dividers. Conrad walked to the table beside Angela and sat before the divider. Through the holes in the pattern of the divider, he could see Angela clearly.
Angela raised her head and noticed a cold, hard glare piercing the divider. Shocked, she quickly moved to the side so she wouldn’t face the divider directly. That way, she would be out of Conrad’s sight.
Christopher noticed her fear, and he asked, “Are you scared of Conrad, Angela?”
Yes! Angela screamed in her heart. He’s like a tiger that’s going to eat me up. However, she shook her head instead. “No. He saved my life. I’m not scared of him. I was just feeling a bit cold since the AC was right above me, so I switched spots.”
“I see.” Christopher cocked his eyebrow. “That’s good to hear.”
Angela sipped some juice and then took out her design. “I call this Flowery Prosperity. The platinum chain is studded with diamonds. The pendant is a peony, and embedded within it will be a six–carat topaz.”
Christopher made his decision. “I’ll take this then. My aunt loves peonies.”
A waiter served their food. Angela cut up a bit of foie gras and popped it into her mouth.
“Is it good?” Christopher smiled.
“Yes.” Angela nodded and popped another piece into her mouth. Findellian dishes are nice.
On the other side of the divider, Conrad heard the whole conversation, and he frowned, anger flaring in his eyes. And she says she’s not used to food abroad? She’s obviously used to them.
