<b>Chapter </b>614


    55 vouchers


    The voices downstairs fell silent instantly, and then Edward walked over to the stairs and looked up at me.


    He had already hung up his phone and said, “Come on down.”


    I went downstairs, my heart pounding, and asked him anxiously, “Who were you talking to?”


    “Isabelle’s grandfather,” Edward replied. “He wants to keep things quiet.”


    My face went white. If anyone could just mess up and get forgiven like it’s nothing, this world would be total chaos.


    “Rx. There’s no way I’m letting this go,” Edward said, his voice steady and full of resolve, like he could see right through my worries.


    “Edward, if I end up pissing off the Lynn family, will ite back to bite you?” I asked. Sure, I wanted payback, but if the price was more than I could handle, where was I supposed to find the guts to go through with it?


    Isabelle wasn’t justing after me–she was going for the people I care about most.


    “Victoria, you’re just a poor thing who got dragged into this mess. I don’t let people walk all over me, you get that? This isn’t just Isabelle targeting you–she’s using you to p me in the face,” Edward said, reaching out to ruffle my hair. “If we don’t settle this, it’ll be a stain on the Jennings family’s reputation.”


    My chest tightened, and I stared at Edward, eyes flickering with surprise. So this is how he saw what happened to me he really understood my humiliation.


    “Thanks…” I murmured, even though I’d said it so many times before. But right now, having someone in my corner like this made me feel truly safe.


    “The Lynn family wanted Isabelle toe over and apologize, but I refused,” Edward said.


    I gave a wry smile. “I don’t need her apology. It’s not like she’d mean it anyway.”


    Edward grinned. “Exactly.”


    Edward’s phone rang again. He nced at the screen, his brows knitting together. “It’s my dad.”


    I was startled, my breath catching as I looked at him.


    For some reason, the fact that Edward actually told me who was calling sent an unexpected surge of trust through me, like a jolt of electricity sparking inside.


    Edward picked up the call and walked out toward the courtyard.


    I didn’t follow. Instead, I fixed myself a cup of hot water and cradled it in my hands, watching Edward stand in the golden sunlight. That’s when I noticed he looked different today–dressed in a ssic ck suit and crisp white shirt, tall and straight, like a pir of strength beside me.


    11:56 Thu, <b>Sep </b><b>11 </b>


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    As I tipped the water into my mouth a little too fast, I didn’t even have time to swallow–it went straight down the wrong pipe. I clutched my chest and started coughing hard.


    Edward suddenly turned to look at me, a worried look shing in his eyes.


    A momentter, he came back in, spotted the coffee cup in my hand, and grinned. “Seriously? You managed to choke on water?<b>” </b>


    “Guess my mind was somewhere else,” I muttered, feeling kind of awkward.


    Edward’s tone suddenly grew serious. “My dad said Miss Chambein called him first thing this morning. She was worried because she couldn’t reach Ryanst night–his phone was off, and she thought something might’ve happened to him.”


    My face instantly went pale at the mention of Ryan. I blurted out, barely thinking, “Really? You don’t have to tell me about that.”


    Edward watched my reaction for a moment. “Alright, I won’t bring it up again. I’ll go talk to Ryan myself.”


    “Talk about what?” I snapped my head up to look at him, worry clear in my voice.


    Edward’s face, which had just rxed, tensed up again at my anxious tone. “You still care about him, don’t you?”


    I didn’t say anything.


    Suddenly, I felt irritated and turned my back to him. “Do you really have to keep testing me all the time? Edward, don’t you realize how messed up that is<b>?</b>”


    Edward looked surprised for a second, then gave a wry smile. “Sorry, sometimes stuff just slips out before I even realize it.”


    “You know Ryan and I are never going to see each other again, and there’s zero chance of anything happening between us. This whole thing is pointless,” I said, walking over to the couch and sitting down, burying my face in


    my hands. “I don’t like him anymore, and I don’t want to think about him. Just stop bringing him up. okay?”


    Edward walked over, bent down, and pulled my hands away from my face. “Really? Then why are you covering your face?”


    I looked into his eyes<b>, </b>thinking, ‘Edward, you really are so damn bossy<b>. </b>


    <b>“</b>Are


    you going out or not?” I snapped, annoyed.


    Edward finally let go of my fingers. “I’m heading out for a bit, but I’ll be back early.”


    <b>As </b>he spoke, he straightened his cufflinks and said, “If you need anything, just call me.”


    <b>“</b><b>I’ll </b>have someone bring you breakfast. Is there anything else you want? I’ll grab it for you,” Edward said, sounding totally natural.


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    Victoria stared at him, suddenly taken aback. ‘Wait a second… why does this feel so much like having a husband?‘ she thought.


    11:56 Thu, Sep <b>11 </b>