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.

there, I started to get why everyone was fussing

acre exotic–style estate, I almost thought I’d

of grass, every door and window, screamed luxury and precision.

carpet underfoot and the massive crystal

in the stores, truly one of a kind.

waiter, all polite and courteous, said, “Mr. Zade has arranged accommodations for

were even fighting to carry our

asked, “Has Mr.

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

12:22

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

for Cecilia’s sake, had even postponed the bike

ornate hall, I suddenly felt

first trip with Hogan, not long after he’d taken

suggested the trip and

researched travel guides, booked hotels, and after all that effort. Hogan changed his mind at the last

a

refund the booking, and there went hundreds of bucks down

earned from coding non–stop for half

naively thought Hogan was a big–shot,

my heart felt like it had been unexpectedly splashed

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

the afternoon, we all gathered for the lake bike

first to finish would get a fancy reward that