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.

I started to get why everyone was

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

every door and window, screamed

mention the exquisite carpet underfoot and the massive crystal

the stores, truly one of a kind.

said, “Mr. Zade has arranged accommodations for everyone, please

were even fighting to

curious, asked, “Has Mr. Zade

currently resting with his partner, said the event will start in the afternoon.”

12:22

at the estate were divided into three parts: a bike ride around the lake,

had even postponed the

hall, I suddenly

drifted to my first trip with Hogan, not long after he’d taken the initiative to hold my hand.

the trip and Hogan

please him, I secretly coded for an off–campus company, researched travel guides, booked hotels, and after all that effort. Hogan changed his mind at the last minute, opting

was a

wouldn’t refund the booking, and there went hundreds

coding non–stop

naively thought Hogan was a big–shot, disciplined and

in my heart felt like it had

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

gathered for the lake bike

would get a