Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 169

That silhouette seemed kinda familiar on second glance.

Broad shoulders, slim waist, an inverted triangle of a figure – and I could just about make out the solid muscle lines hiding under his suit.

It looked like Hogan.

But why would Hogan be here at this time? Shouldn’t he be in some fancy thatched–roof suite, sweet–talking Cecilia?

“Hogan?”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized I’d been too forward, and quickly corrected myself, “Mr. Zade?”

At the sound of my voice, the man slowly turned around, gave me a look, and said in a tone neither warm nor cold, “Decided to show up, did you?”

I had no idea where his “decided to” was coming from, but something told me it wasn’t meant as a compliment. All I could muster was a polite, “Did you need something from me, Mr. Zade?”

A scoff landed in my ear as Hogan glanced my way and said, “Seems like tonight’s loss hasn’t taught you anything.”

Thinking about tonight’s fiasco got my blood boiling, but considering Hogan did me a solid, I could only reply, “I’ll remember your kindness, Mr. Zade.”

that, I went to

sounding dissatisfied. “Tell me, how exactly do you plan

caught me

honest, I wasn’t sure if tonight’s setup had

just handed him the water, asking, “Would you like

a stone–cold face, pinched the bridge of his nose and

softly, a stark contrast to his earlier confrontational demeanor.

better of me, and I saw his

11:02

Chapter 169

he sald, “Come over and give me a

I knew all too well.

years ago, when we were living together, he’d come home worn out from meeting clients, and I’d pull him to sit on the couch, gently

now, what gave him the right?

from the edge of the bed, eyes

and said, “Sorry, Mr. Zade, I appreciate you stepping in for me tonight, but

a slight lift of his cold gaze, he sneered, “What’s not right about it? Worried Timothy won’t like it? Xaviera, seems like

Hogan’s eyes as

“Haven’t you grasped the gist