55 vouchers
It wasn’t like Jared’s cold, distant demeanor. No, it was more like the kind of husband every woman dreams of -reminding her before he leaves, giving gentle instructions, and sweetly promising to bring back whatever
she wants.
“Thanks. I’ll call you if I need anything,” I said softly.
Edward nodded. “Okay, I’ll be back as soon as I can. I’m also pushing things along with the Lynn family.”
With that, he walked out of the living room and drove away from the small courtyard.
I sprawled out on the sofa, the whole ce so quiet it almost felt unreal.
Around eight, a woman who looked like the housekeeper came by and brought me breakfast.
Everything was meant to be good for my health, and it actually tasted pretty good.
After I finished eating, I flopped back onto the sofa. Maybe it was the medicine from yesterday still making me tired, but I drifted off again, half–asleep, for another nap.
By the time I woke up, it was already past ten.
My phone buzzed with a text message.
I opened it, thinking it was from my brother.
Turns out it was Edward instead. He’d sent me a video showing a young woman getting arrested by the cops at a train station.
I recognized her right away–it was the girl from the teahouse.
Now, <i>we </i>even had a witness.
Next up, it was time to bring Isabelle to justice.
As I watched the video, my phone rang, My eyes locked on the unknown caller, anxiety creeping in.
‘Somehow, I just knew it was Isabelle,’ I thought.
I hit record on my phone, then answered the call, careful not to let my guard down.
“Victoria, I know I started this mess. Can you please ask Uncle Ryan to stoping after me?”
Just as I expected, it was Isabelle. Her voice sounded rough and exhausted.
“<b>I </b>can’t,” I replied coldly,
“You really think locking me up means it’s all over?<b>” </b>Isabelle snapped, her patience clearly running out.
11:56 Thu, <b>Sep 11 </b>
<b>“</b><b>Is </b>that a threat, Ms. Lynn?<b>” </b><b>I </b>asked, keeping my <b>voice </b>steady.
47
EZ 55 vouchers
Isabelle seemed to realize I might be recording her, and her voice lost its edge. <b>“</b>It’s not a threat. I just want to apologize. If you can get Uncle Ryan to stop pursuing this, I canpensate you–anything you want.”
“Oh, so you want to settle this under the table? Not happening,” I said, seeing right through her.
“Victoria, don’t go too far,” Isabelle’s voice was shaky, like she was about to lose it.
“Ms. Lynn, you started all this–now you want to y the victim?” I shot back, my anger ring just thinking about almost drowning yesterday.
Isabelle went quiet for ages, then suddenly burst into tears. “I stepped aside and let you have him! What more do you want, Victoria? Can’t you just stop being so selfish?”
“Let me have him?” I snorted. “I don’t need anyone’s cast–offs, Isabelle. That’s not how I roll.”
Isabelle snapped back, clearly stung. “What makes you so sure you’re too good for even Uncle Ryan?”
“I’m not even confident he’d ever choose me, so you’re asking the wrong question,” I replied, my voice cold.
“So, being the one he favors really makes you think you can do whatever you want,” Isabelle sobbed. “You don’t even love him–you’re just using him.”
I shot back, “Ms. Lynn, do you still not see where you went wrong? You thought kicking me out would make him yours. That’s naive. If he doesn’t love you, nothing you do will change that—you’ll just end up making things worse for yourself.”
“I know I messed up, but it’s toote now. Victoria, I was just too impulsive. Can you just give me another chance? Please… I don’t want my family to worry,” Isabelle pleaded, her voice soft, almost desperate now.
“Ms. Lynn, stop pretending. Let thew decide your fate,” I said coldly, and without waiting for her reply, I hung up.
I figured Isabelle didn’t have the guts to let things escte any further. Even if she hated me enough to try using the Chambein family to get rid of me, she had to know that if anything happened to me, the marriage alliance between the Chambein and Jennings families would be a total disgrace. And when that happened, both families would make the Lynn family pay for it.
When ites to power and interests, love just doesn’t stand a chance.
When Edward got back, it was already past eleven. He saw me zoning out on the sofa and strode over, reaching out to check my
forehead.
“Are you feeling any better? You seem kind of out of it,” he asked softly.
I shook my head. “I’m just a bit worn out.”
“You’re still pretty drained–it’ll probably take a while for you to bounce back,” Edward nodded. “I’ll get someone to n your meals. You’ll be fine.”
11:56 Thu, <b>Sep 11 </b>
:
47
55 vouchers
“Edward…” My heart fluttered a little as I called out to him. “How much longer is this going to take? My daughter’s signing up for school on the 17th, and I really want to be in Hachester with her.”
With his back still to me, I could see his shoulders stiffen. “Are you in a hurry?”
I nodded. “Yes, I don’t want to stay in Braylin anymore. I want to go back to Hachester.”
Edward turned around to look at me. “Alright, just head to the police station this afternoon and make a statement. After that, you can go back to Hachester. Leave the rest to me.”
“Isabelle just called me,” I said.
Edward’s voice turned cold. “She was just taken away by the police and is being held in custody.”
No wonder Isabelle was so eager to apologize–she knew she was about to get arrested. Edward didn’t have lunch sent over this time–he took me out instead.
We ended up at a courtyard that looked totally ordinary from the outside, but once you stepped in, it was like stumbling into a secret haven.
AD