Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 218

The matter of giving Cecilia a guide to winning Hilary’s favor was a private deal between us. Surprisingly, Hogan had gotten wind of it.

Ironically, in this guide, when it came to the section about food, I had emphasized repeatedly that Hilary hated white pepper.

I figured if Hogan had even skimmed through the guide, he’d see right through some of my thoughts.

However, my act of deliberately “confessing” had backfired, and I had slapped my own face.

I felt a tightness in my chest but managed to keep my cool, sneaking a glance at the guy a couple of steps away, without jumping in with a response.

When I think about it, that mother–daughter–in–law handbook was a good five or six pages long, with

F

nitty–gritty details on Hilary’s do’s and don’ts, from eating to dressing to living. As the President of Rainbow Capital, he probably didn’t have the leisure to read it from beginning to end.

Maybe I was overthinking it.

Upon sorting it out, I felt somewhat steadier and said in a calm and collected tone, “Since Director Irwin joined, she’s done a lot for the company. Helping her means relieving your worries, doesn’t it, Mr. Zade?”

worries,” The man’s voice became inexplicably more rigid, and colder, “Why

those words, ‘playing both sides‘, I instantly got the hint–Hogan was convinced I’d done the white pepper thing

a light smile and a soft voice, “Mr. Zade, why do you think I

hard stare, saying in a low voice, “Yeah, what’s in it for you, Ms. March? Don’t tell

with ridicule, Hogan’s tone was harsh, and those

made my

Zade, you really have a knack for humor,” I dodged his gaze, trying to keep my tone as natural as possible,

stepped even closer. Alerted, I took

was right before me.

༈ དྷནྡེ ༈

dim light, his tobacco–scented breath filled the air, and he looked down at me, none too pleased, “What Ms. March wants, hasn’t she always

made me

again, only then I adjusted my breath to normal. And when I looked up at Hogan again, he

sticking

that thought, I gave a half–smile, mockingly saying, “Mr. Zade, you’re giving me too much credit. Someone like you

left my mouth, his facial muscles twitched, his pupils dilated, a mix of surprise and

11.17

crossed his

misinterpreted? Hogan seemed displeased with this

arm, pointing a finger near my face, “You’d better remember what