Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 50

After Cecilia left with her poker face intact, Wallis grabbed me and vented, “Do I have this weird feeling of being challenged by a subordinate?”

I consoled her. “It’s all good.”

A couple of days ago, Wallis had a go at Cecilia in front of Hogan. Cecilia must’ve taken it to heart.

Puffed up with vanity.

Wallis sighed and said, “Being the apple of the investor’s eye really does make a difference, huh?”

“Jealous much?”

Wallis shook her head, snorted dismissively. “Honey, when I was the center of attention back in the day. I saw it all.”

She cut off abruptly, probably hit by some unpleasant memory.

I was a bit worried and asked a bold question, “If your ex–husband, that jerk, came back to the country to look for you, would you forgive him?”

“Hah,” Wallis scoffed, “What’s the matter, not enough obedient pretty boys at the club, or not enough eye candy fawning over me?”

Tough cookie.

I didn’t call her out on it.

The next day we hopped into a rented seven–seater van and headed for the legendary Honto Abbey.

get why everyone was fussing over

the middle of a 70-80 acre exotic–style estate, I almost thought I’d

every door and window, screamed luxury and precision.

carpet underfoot and the massive crystal chandelier

you’d never see in the stores, truly one of

all polite and courteous, said, “Mr. Zade has arranged accommodations for everyone, please follow me.”

to carry our suitcases.

Mr. Zade

currently resting with his partner, said

12:22

activities at the estate were divided into three parts: a bike ride around the lake, a party at night, and organic picking the next day.

for Cecilia’s sake, had even postponed the bike ride.

around the ornate hall, I

my mind drifted to my first trip with Hogan, not long after he’d taken

suggested the trip and Hogan had

secretly coded for an off–campus company, researched travel guides, booked hotels,

said it was a waste

refund the booking, and there went

non–stop for half a month.

then, I naively thought Hogan was a

like it had been unexpectedly splashed with acid, festering in

do I understand, Hogan wasn’t lying; it’s just that I wasn’t the

gathered for the lake bike

get a