Chapter 286
pave Vespers the full, untered version of that bloody high society saga.
Naturally, he couldn’t resist adding some dramatic flair, throwing in details no one could know, plus a fundful of invented inner monelogues just to amp up the
drama
When he got to the part where Theodore’s first wife, Mirabelle Moody–heavily pregnant and nut with her son was in a fatal crash, Vespera instinctively covered
her mouth in shock
Her chest tightened, and a dull ache settled in her heart.
“Vespera, are you crying? You women are so emotional,” Gerard teased, handing beratisson.
“I’m usually not like this,” she said, embarassed, dabbing her eyes.
She really wasn’t
She wasn’t the sentimental type, but this story hit her differently.
Maybe it was just that tragic. Or maybe it was because earlier, Theodore had said she looked like his late wife.
She rolled her eyes silently. That scumbag didn’t deserve to miss anyone–least of all ian like that
o deserved his own museum exhibit under Epic Trash Men in History.
He was worse than Luke. He was the kind of guy!
y whoe
Gerard took a sip of his vital brew. “Do you know why Mr. Eden became the help? Because the mistress ended up having a daughter with a mild cognitive disability. After that, she couldn’t have any more kids.
“Then Theodore’s actual son died in a car crash. So, they had no choice but to pick someone from the extended family. That woman tried everything she could to get rid of Mr. Eden, but the guy’s got nine lives.”
Vespera shook her head. “That whole family sounds suffocating.
Gerard nodded. “Which is why choosing the right man is everything. You know, Mrs. Reid was once close friends with Mr. Theodore’s first wife. They both marted into powerful families, but look how differently things turned out.”
Vespera walked out of Gerard’s office still feeling heavy, and the mood stuck with her to the end of the workday.
That story just wouldn’t leave her mind.
They probably started the same–two women stepping into new lies with big dreams. And then, year by year, everything split apart.
One ended up with two kids and a husband who adored her, and the other? Buried and long gone. Even now, there was no–one left to speak up for her
The rage and sadness of it all sat like a knot in her chest.
When it was finally the end of her workday, her phone rang. It was Yasmine, calling to remind her about their secret outing that night.
Of course, Yasmine was sharp. She’d sent those photos earlier, then radio silence. The second Vespera didn’t respond, she knew that Vespera had gotten cold feet.
Vespera was, admittedly, starting to back out a little.
But once the call came through, she couldn’t exactly play coy and say she wasn’t going after all, she was the of
one who’d brought it up.
She lingered in her office for a while.
Wisen there was no call from the president’s office, she rang Gerard to check on the kitten. Once she confined she wouldn’t be disturbed tonight, she headed home to change
Right before going out, shestood staring at her phone’s location settings.
She wondered if she should tum it off or not. If he wasn’t checking, it wouldn’t matter either way. But if he was watching, leaving it on meant he’d know exactly where she was.
Then again, if she turned it off, he’d see that too–which somehow felt even more suspicious, like she was speaking off to do something shady.
She agonized over it for live full minutes, then suddenly snapped out of it. Why the hell was she overthinking this? Why should she care about what he thought?
She turned it off.
Upstairs, the moment Vespera disabled her location, Dominic was looking at his screen. In one second, she was there. The next —
He wondered what the bell she was planning that night………
Vespera headed out.
“Life’s short. A woman should treat herself. Unwind. Eat with a good friend. Shop a li
a little. Have some tum,”
,” she told herself.
She even stailed humining. Her light purple deess swayed as she walked–elegant, breezy, and just the right amount of mos
She drove to the restaurant they’d picked.
Vespera arrived ten minutes early. Yasmine wasn’t there yet, so she went ahead and ordered.
She thought she’d covered her tracks. Even if Dominic was checking, there’d be nothing to see. She’d even come up with a list of excuses in case he asked her anything tomorrow.
But there was our thing she hadn’t accounted for- a traitor.
