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.

started to get why everyone was fussing over

of a 70-80 acre exotic–style estate, I almost thought

and window,

underfoot and the massive crystal chandelier

never see in the stores, truly one of

all polite and courteous, said, “Mr. Zade

fighting to carry

curious, asked, “Has Mr. Zade arrived

currently resting with his partner, said the event

12:22

were divided into three parts: a bike ride around the

for Cecilia’s sake, had even

ornate hall, I suddenly felt

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

suggested the trip and Hogan

company, researched travel guides, booked hotels, and after all that effort. Hogan changed his

it was a waste of

booking, and there went hundreds of bucks

I’d earned from coding non–stop for half

Hogan was a

wound in my heart felt like it had been unexpectedly splashed with

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

we all gathered for

to finish would get a fancy reward that