Chapter 22

Chapter 22

The newcomer was an elegant woman in her thirties, radiating a refined presence.

“Thalia,” Asher introduced, “this is Dr. Sarah Bennett, the restoration expert I mentioned.”

Thalia’s eyes lit up with surprise and delight. She’d expected an elderly academic, not this striking

woman.

She rose quickly to shake hands. “Dr. Bennett, I’m Thalia Winters. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your help with my figurine.”

“Oh dear,” Sarah laughed warmly, eyes crinkling. “Dr. Bennett sounds terribly formal. Sarah, please.”

Thalia flushed, embarrassed at her over–formality.

14

“I’m so sorry–I didn’t mean to be stuffy.”

“Not at all,” Sarah’s smile remained warm as her gaze flickered to Asher. “I must say, you’re quite

surprising. Our Asher here is notoriously particular–I’ve been quite curious what sort of woman could

capture his attention. Now I understand completely.”

“Please, sit,” Thalia pulled out a chair.

After pouring tea for Sarah, Thalia hovered attentively. “Hope it’s to your taste.”

Sarah’s eyes danced with amusement as she sipped. “Perfect.”

“Thalia, darling, do relax,” Asher interjected. “Dr. Bennett is being very well compensated. You needn’t

fuss so.”

Thalia smiled and returned to her seat beside him.

“Always ruining my fun, Asher,” Sarah mock–pouted.

Turning to Thalia, she asked brightly, “Did you bring the piece with you, dear?”

“Not yet–would you mind coming back to the house with me after dinner? I can show you then.”

“Of course,” Sarah agreed readily.

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Your Gold Digger is Actually A True

Chapter 22

After dinner, Sarah accompanied Thalia to the Winters estate.

Thalia carefully unwrapped the broken figurine. “Do you think it can be saved?”

Sarah examined the pieces, brow furrowing. “Quite thoroughly shattered, isn’t it?”

Thalia held her breath.

“But don’t worry, dear. Now it’s in my hands, I promise to restore it properly.”

Thalia exhaled in relief. “Thank you so much.”

“My pleasure.”

Sarah was privately thrilled. Asher’s restoration fee was extraordinarily generous for such a small project.

“Do you have any photos of the original piece?”

“Yes, I’ll send them to you.”

“Perfect. I’ll contact you if I need any other details. Shall we call it a night?”

“Let me have the driver take you home.”

“That would be lovely.”

With the restoration arranged, Thalia turned her thoughts to settling scores with Drake and Sienna.

She called her cousin Alexander.

“Alex? I need a favor.”

That evening, fresh from her shower, Thalia’s phone buzzed with an unknown New York number.

Thinking it might be a client, she answered. “Hello?”

Silence.

She tried again twice.

Still nothing.

“If you won’t speak, I’m hanging up.”

16:11

Your Gold Digger is Actually A True

Chapter 22

“It’s me.” Drake’s voice. “Thalia, unblock my number and WhatsApp.”

Her brow creased.

“No.”

His tone turned awkward. “Can’t we stop fighting? I’ve missed you these past few days. I shouldn’t have said those things. I was wrong.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. We’re over.”

“Over?” His voice went cold. “I never agreed to that.”

“This isn’t a divorce–I don’t need your agreement.” Thalia’s tone was ice. “Don’t contact me again, Drake.”

She hung up and blocked the new number.

Thalia turned her attention to her career plans. While she could open her own practice, she lacked the reputation to make it successful immediately.

She decided to join an established firm first, build her name, then strike out on her own later.

When she shared this thinking with Asher, he was completely supportive.

“You’re brilliant–you’ll make quite a name for yourself. Have you considered Sinclair & Klein? They’re the top firm in London currently.”

After consideration, Thalia nodded. “I’ll send them my CV.”

Meanwhile, Drake stared at his silent phone, feeling hollow.

How could Thalia be so cold? Ending things without a backward glance?

He lay in her old bed, breathing in the lingering scent from her pillow.

Burying his face in it, he imagined her face. “Thalia, I miss you.”

God, how he missed her.

Sienna entered then. “Drake? Dinner’s ready.”

He pulled her down suddenly, passion igniting.

16:11

Your Gold Digger is Actually A True

Chapter 22

At the height of intimacy, Drake called out mindlessly: “Thalia, my Thalía, I miss you so much…”

Beneath him, Sienna froze.

Her face went white.

The next day, Charlotte organized drinks to celebrate Thalia’s return.

At the bar, the three women settled into their booth.

N

“That Grace is going to be trouble,” Charlotte declared, downing her drink. “Her attitude yesterday was

appalling.”

Victoria nodded. “She does seem rather difficult. Your future sister–in–law may prove challenging.”

Charlotte scoffed. “Sister–in–law? Please. She’s the housekeeper’s daughter. ‘Ward‘ sounds better than ‘orphan living on charity,‘ doesn’t it?”

Thalia’s eyes widened–she hadn’t known Grace was the housekeeper’s child.

“Why did the Blackwoods take her in?”

Victoria lowered her voice. “According to James, Lady Blackwood was being robbed. Their housekeeper took the knife meant for her. Before she died, Lady Blackwood promised her

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

The newcomer was an elegant woman in her thirties, radiating a refined presence.

“Thalia,” Asher introduced, “this is Dr. Sarah Bennett, the restoration expert I mentioned.”

Thalia’s eyes lit up with surprise and delight. She’d expected an elderly academic, not this striking

woman.

She rose quickly to shake hands. “Dr. Bennett, I’m Thalia Winters. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your help with my figurine.”

“Oh dear,” Sarah laughed warmly, eyes crinkling. “Dr. Bennett sounds terribly formal. Sarah, please.”

Thalia flushed, embarrassed at her over–formality.

14

sorry–I didn’t mean to be

as her gaze flickered to Asher. “I must say, you’re

particular–I’ve been quite curious what sort of woman

Now I understand completely.”

Thalia pulled out

tea for Sarah, Thalia hovered

amusement as

do relax,” Asher interjected. “Dr. Bennett is being very well compensated. You needn’t

fuss so.”

smiled and returned to her seat beside

my fun, Asher,”

Thalia, she asked brightly, “Did you bring the piece

house with me

Sarah agreed

16:11

Gold Digger is Actually A True

Chapter 22

accompanied Thalia to the

broken figurine. “Do you think

furrowing. “Quite

her breath.

in my hands, I promise

exhaled in relief. “Thank you so much.”

“My pleasure.”

thrilled. Asher’s restoration fee was

have any photos

send them to

I’ll contact you if I need any other details.

have the driver take

be lovely.”

the restoration arranged, Thalia turned her thoughts to settling scores with Drake and Sienna.

called her

need a

fresh from her shower, Thalia’s phone buzzed with an unknown New

be a client, she

Silence.

tried again twice.

Still nothing.

speak,

16:11

Gold Digger is Actually A True

Chapter 22

unblock my number

Her brow creased.

“No.”

we stop fighting? I’ve missed you these past few days. I shouldn’t have said those things. I was wrong.”

anymore. We’re

went cold. “I never agreed to that.”

don’t need your agreement.” Thalia’s tone was ice. “Don’t contact me

hung up and blocked

turned her attention to her career plans. While she could open her own practice, she lacked the reputation to make

join an established firm first, build her name, then strike out on

she shared this thinking with Asher, he was completely supportive.

brilliant–you’ll make quite a name for yourself. Have you considered Sinclair & Klein? They’re the

Thalia nodded. “I’ll

his silent phone, feeling

be so cold? Ending things

bed, breathing in the lingering scent

he imagined her

how he missed her.

“Drake?

down suddenly,

16:11

Digger is Actually A

Chapter 22

intimacy, Drake called out mindlessly: “Thalia, my Thalía, I miss you so much…”

him, Sienna froze.

face went

drinks to

the three women settled

N

to be trouble,” Charlotte declared, downing her drink. “Her attitude

appalling.”

rather difficult. Your future sister–in–law may prove

housekeeper’s daughter. ‘Ward‘ sounds better than ‘orphan living on

Grace was the housekeeper’s child.

the Blackwoods take

“According

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

an elegant woman in

Sarah Bennett, the restoration

eyes lit up with surprise and delight. She’d expected an elderly

woman.

“Dr. Bennett, I’m Thalia Winters. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for

Sarah laughed warmly, eyes crinkling. “Dr. Bennett sounds

embarrassed at

14

sorry–I didn’t mean

all,” Sarah’s smile remained warm as her gaze flickered to

been quite curious what sort of

attention. Now I understand completely.”

Thalia pulled out a chair.

tea for Sarah, Thalia hovered attentively.

with amusement as she

Bennett is being very well compensated. You

fuss so.”

and returned to her

fun, Asher,”

brightly, “Did you bring the piece with you,

with me after

course,” Sarah agreed readily.

16:11

Gold Digger is

Chapter 22

accompanied Thalia to the

figurine. “Do

furrowing.

held her

don’t worry, dear. Now it’s in my hands, I promise to restore

“Thank you

“My pleasure.”

fee was

have any photos

them

need any other

the driver take you home.”

would be lovely.”

thoughts to settling scores with Drake

called her

I need a

fresh from her shower, Thalia’s phone buzzed with an unknown

might be a client, she answered.

Silence.

again twice.

Still nothing.

won’t speak, I’m hanging up.”

16:11

Digger is Actually A True

Chapter 22

me.” Drake’s voice. “Thalia, unblock my number

Her brow creased.

“No.”

you these past few days. I shouldn’t have said those things. I

doesn’t matter anymore. We’re

went cold. “I never agreed to that.”

isn’t a divorce–I don’t need your agreement.” Thalia’s tone was ice. “Don’t

blocked the

could open her own practice, she lacked the reputation to make it successful

firm first, build her name, then strike out on her own later.

shared this thinking with

considered Sinclair & Klein? They’re the top firm in London currently.”

“I’ll send them

stared at his silent

Thalia be so cold? Ending things without

bed, breathing in the lingering scent

in it, he imagined her face. “Thalia, I miss you.”

he missed her.

entered then. “Drake?

down

16:11

Gold Digger is Actually A

Chapter 22

out mindlessly:

Sienna froze.

went white.

drinks to

the bar, the three women

N

going to be trouble,” Charlotte declared, downing her

appalling.”

seem rather difficult. Your future sister–in–law may prove

sounds better than ‘orphan living on

hadn’t known Grace was the housekeeper’s child.

did the Blackwoods take her in?”

“According to

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

an elegant woman in her thirties,

is Dr. Sarah Bennett, the restoration

eyes lit up with surprise and delight. She’d expected

woman.

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