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.

why everyone was fussing over

the middle of a 70-80 acre exotic–style estate, I

every door and window, screamed luxury and precision.

carpet underfoot and the massive crystal chandelier

in the

all polite and courteous, said, “Mr. Zade

fighting to

curious, asked, “Has Mr. Zade

currently resting with his partner, said the event

12:22

divided into three parts: a bike ride around the lake, a party at night, and organic picking

for Cecilia’s sake, had even postponed the bike

ornate hall, I suddenly felt a bit

Hogan, not long after

and

please him, I secretly coded for an off–campus company, researched travel guides, booked hotels, and after all

was a waste of time.

wouldn’t refund the booking, and there went hundreds

from coding non–stop for half a month.

naively thought Hogan was a big–shot, disciplined and restrained.

my heart felt like it had been unexpectedly splashed with acid, festering in an

just that I wasn’t the one he thought worth spending time

we all gathered for the lake

to finish would get a fancy