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?”

voice became inexplicably more rigid, and colder, “Why are you playing

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

got a question too,” I said, with a light smile and a soft voice, “Mr. Zade, why do you think I would do such a thing? What good

a step closer, giving me a hard stare, saying in a low voice, “Yeah, what’s in it

ridicule, Hogan’s tone was harsh, and those piercing eyes

made my heart

for humor,” I dodged his gaze, trying to keep my tone as natural

finish, he suddenly stepped even closer. Alerted, I took two steps back, finding myself pressed against the car door.

was right before

དྷནྡེ ༈ རྗེནྣཾ ཎྜ ⪜ཧྨ

the dim light, his tobacco–scented breath filled the air, and he looked down at me, none too pleased,

made me feel

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

was sticking

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

his facial muscles twitched, his pupils dilated, a mix of surprise

11.17

crossed his face.

seemed displeased with this

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