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

a 70-80 acre exotic–style estate, I almost thought I’d stepped into a

and window, screamed luxury

to mention the exquisite carpet underfoot and the massive crystal chandelier

patterns you’d never see in the stores, truly

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

even fighting to carry our suitcases.

curious, asked, “Has Mr. Zade arrived

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

12:22

a bike ride around the lake, a party at night, and organic picking the

Cecilia’s sake, had even postponed the bike ride.

the ornate hall, I suddenly felt a bit

my mind drifted to my first trip with Hogan, not long after he’d taken

trip and Hogan had agreed.

booked hotels, and after all that effort. Hogan changed his mind at the last minute, opting

a waste

the booking, and there

coding non–stop for

naively thought Hogan was a big–shot,

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

do I understand, Hogan wasn’t lying; it’s just that I wasn’t the one he thought worth spending time on.

afternoon, we all gathered for the

would get a fancy reward that evening.