Masked In Nobility: Secrets Of Mrs. Chavez by Selina Gorges

In another private room at the club, Winona and Layla, after indulging their desires, felt much more at ease. They were back to being as close as sisters, sipping their wine.

Winona sipped her wine, straightened her posture, and said, “So When I tried reaching out, you were always busy. Then you stopped answering entirely. Now suddenly, here you are?”

Layla laughed, her expression exaggerated with mock sincerity. Oh, Winona, it wasn’t me. My family didn’t want me reaching out. Forgive me this once, will you?”

Winona knew perfectly well that Layla’s silence had been her own choice, but there was no point making an issue out of it now.

Ever since Yvette was revealed to be Cyanbird and Winona was exposed as not being Zachary’s biological daughter, everyone distanced themselves from Winona. Layla’s contact was a lifeline, and no matter the reason, she needed the semblance of a friend–even a superficial one.

Feigning aloofness, Winona lifted her chin. “Fine. I’ll let it slide this time. But if it happens again, we’re done. Got it?”

Layla concealed her disdain beneath a bright, fake smile. The two kept their facades on, chatting idly, their words as empty as the glasses they held.

Finally Layla brought up her real reason for meeting. “Winona, have you heard? Yvette’s back in Seacrity.”

At the mere mention of Yvette, Winona’s face darkened. She smashed her wine glass to the floor, watching it shatter, red wine pooling like blood.

“I know. That witch returned to town, and people went crazy over her! All she did was win some petty art competition–does she really deserve this attention? She must’ve cheated; no way someone like her won fair and square.”

expression. Once the city’s premier socialite,

like that. Not wanting to

last. The higher she rises, the harder she’ll fall. Just wait–it’ll all come crashing down for her soon enough. Just make sure

Winona heard Layla mention the baby, she calmed down She sat back on the couch and looked at Layla, wondering

guilty, avoided Winona’s gaze. Winona asked, “Why bring her up

uneasily, hiding the truth as she fabricated a story. went to see Mr. Chambers, hoping to appeal on your behalf. Surely, he’d show some compassion after all these years as father

Zachary had shown really have been an act? She pressed Layla, “You pleaded

over between you two. He even said not to contact him and that

with Zachary about Winona at all; she’d concocted the whole thing. She

and who better

Layla expected, Winona’s face twisted with rage. “Cut me off, will he? I’ll make him pay

concern, Layla poured fuel on the fire. “Winona, Mr. Chambers is so invested in Yvette now–he’s practically showered her with everything. He even remodeled the second floor of the

something he never did for you, even when you were

expression feral. “Tell me, if Yvette were… gone, do you think Zachary would still

wanted Yvette’s reputation tarnished, but Winona’s ruthlessness exceeded her expectations.

her lip, a hint of fear in her voice. “Winona, that’s dangerous. With her popularity, any harm that comes to her would bring the police down on us. It’s too

looking straight at Layla. “You must’ve crossed Yvette somehow, or you wouldn’t be here talking about this,