Rebirth of the Wife in Despair by Tess Munoz

Chapter 23 I Can Make It For You Anytime You Want

Vera waited until Eric emerged from the study, walking up to him. “What’s the matter, Why do you look so upset? Did he… give you a hard time?”

Eric?

Eric had a blazer draped over one arm, brightening up at the sight of Vera. “I’m alright. Let’s go back.”

On the way home, Eric’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as he thought about the conversation in the study just now.

“This is an invite to the charity gala happening in a week. I’ll send some people over to help you out. You know what to do!”

Eric took the invite from Will. “Do you want to network with the Friedman family?”

“No, I’m thinking of an arranged marriage. You’re not getting any younger; it’s time you start a family of your own. From the looks of things, the Friedmans seem like a pretty good pick.”

“Yes. I won’t let you down, Dad.”

Eric stopped the car abruptly for some reason, and Vera looked at him. “What’s the matter,

Eric?”

The next second, Eric reached out and pulled the girl into an embrace, deeply inhaling the scent of jasmine on her.

Vera was frozen to the spot, not knowing what to do. She had been with Eric for so many years, but there seemed to always be a barrier between them that neither of them was unwilling to cross.

Something was definitely off about Eric in the way he reached out to hug her on his own.

The tension in the car took a shift, and Vera slowly relaxed her body. She raised her head, propping her chin on his shoulder and stroking his back softly with her hands. “Eric… what…. what’s gotten into you? Did anything upset you?”

Eric eventually let go of her. “Vera, I’ve got some things I need to sort out. I’ll need you to live at your school dorm for a while.”

Vera was shocked. She had not expected that Eric would have asked for something like this, and could not help the sinking feeling in her chest. “Was I a burden to you?”

Eric smoothed out her tousled hair. “Of course not. You’re wonderful. Give me a little more time, alright? I promise I’ll tell you everything you want to know after you’ve graduated.”

|||

14

rate kick up on its own as she lowered her head and blushed. “Eric… alright

“I’ll pick you up from school on Friday.”

Vera nodded. “Alright.”

the office at once after sending Vera home, and

He took out several documents for

and gold-rimmed glasses and radiating an air of authority, Eric looked

on his desk began to vibrate. Eric did not look away, focusing on his papers as he reached out to accept the call. “Eric Snow. Who is

much!” A female voice rang

put down the documents in his hand, leaning back

of splashing water from the call.

three minutes, and you’d better make

that our little secret might get exposed? Why don’t you guess what I’m doing? I’ll go and keep you company if you get it right, you can do whatever you want to me…how about one

me down outright, there’s

up the phone, when a message popped up on his

that it was a text from Jasper

cake you made was really good. Thank you, Eileen. I really enjoyed it.

replied soon

can make it for you anytime you want, just hit

Sure.

r

2/4

at the message on the screen, his

reply to another man’s

felt like someone had taken away something that belonged to him, and it

messages had come from spying on

the surveillance app when he was at the

next half an hour talking to Jasper, mostly about their interests. and hobbies

dull, but Eric still read all of it.

changed quite a

until they finished talking, feeling a little frustrated

at the time: a quarter to nine. He

the Swan household.

be back. Eileen was sure he wouldn’t be, not for the night.

outside, it hardly

message, Eileen went upstairs to take a