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.

to get why everyone was fussing over Cecilia.

exotic–style estate, I

and window, screamed luxury and precision.

mention the exquisite carpet underfoot and the massive crystal chandelier

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

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

fighting to carry

Mr.

partner, said

12:22

into three parts: a bike ride around the lake, a

had even postponed the bike ride.

the ornate hall, I suddenly felt a

my first trip with Hogan, not

and Hogan had

researched travel guides, booked hotels, and after

it was a

wouldn’t refund the booking, and there went hundreds of bucks down

I’d earned from coding non–stop for half

naively thought Hogan was

like it had been unexpectedly splashed with acid, festering in

Hogan wasn’t lying; it’s just that I wasn’t the one he thought worth spending

afternoon, we all gathered for the lake bike ride.

to finish would get a fancy reward that