Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 35

Hilary and I went up to greet him at the same time.

“Didn’t you say you’ll stay for several days?” she asked, taking the rolling suitcase from Hogan’s hand. “Have you eaten?”

His piercing eyes suddenly landed on my face, and Hogan frowned. “Why is she here?”

The disdain in his voice couldn’t be more obvious.

It seemed that he was about to show me the door.

“Xaviera was invited over by me.” Hilary defended firmly. “Be nice.”

Hogan glanced at the red wine on the table, his frown deepening. “Drinking again?”

Clearly not pleased.

I admitted casually. “Just had a bit with Mrs. Hilary.”

Hogan’s face turned to steel a look demanding an explanation.

Hilary couldn’t stand it said soothingly. “Come on, it’s just a minor slip–up at work, isn’t it? Is it really such a big deal?”

She thought the beef between Hogan and me had to do with work

But Hogan, smart cookie that he was, smelled a rat from just one sentence and scoffed coldly. “Now you’ve started snitching too?”

“Xaviera didn’t say anything, it’s my guess.” Hilary cut in standing up for me with a glare at Hogan, “Now that it’s out in the open, let’s just put it behind us.”

Hogan kept at it. “Encouraging subordinates to badmouth others, shouldn’t there be a lesson?”

Just a few fair words from me, and in Hogan’s eyes, I was stirring up the troops.

I bowed my head, forcefully swallowing the discomfort in my heart..

But Hilary caught the crux of the matter, incredulous. “The “others you’re talking about, you don’t mean Ms. Irwin, do you?”

Hogan paused for a moment.

Not my fault, he’s the one who let it slip.

Hilary switched into lecture

there. I felt out of place, so I carefully said, “Mrs. Hilary, Mr. Zade, it’s getting late, I’ll take

subsided, and pointing at Hogan she said. “It’s

out.”

C35

thorough, must’ve called a cab already.”

“Yes, it’s almost

that, I

steady myself on a green plant at the entrance, barely standing upright.

the wine were

walked and summoned a ride, but this

the end. I resigned myself to trudging forward with feet

and night in Rivertown was huge, and the chilly night breeze was freely

Cecilia mentioned over the phone and, in a prankish spirit, told myself I was enjoying the

Alone.

just then, a strong light inexplicably shone from behind, and I stopped, puzzled, only to see a sedan had pulled up beside

down, revealing

good bone structure, smooth facial

his appearance reminded me of that icy, merciless God–like man

memony.

“Get in

spoke to me.

finally come to save me.”

Lcocked my head to look at those hands gripping the steering

pale, just like

snowy mountains

much did

answer was beside the point.

outside the window, then heard Hogan warn. “Don’t say I didn’t remind you, keep your little schemes to yourself.”

my eyes, took a deep breath, and asked, “What

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Chapter 5

was ic “Thinking of achieving your goals through indirect means, not even checking if

right or

he knew

anything from him.