Chapter 59
Chapter59
Wendydidn’trespond.
Oneofthemaidssneered,”Wendy,don’tthinkyou’resuddenlyoneoftheCronefamily’sheiresses.Letmetellyou,thereareonlytwoheiressesintheCronefamily: TrishandJessica.
Anothermaid chimedin,mockingher,”Exactly!Ms.Trishis Dr.Ceylan’sassistant,andMs.JessicaissoontobeMrs.Hawk.Whatareyou?Justanobody!NowhurryupandtakethechickensouptoMrs.Lilian!”
ThetwomaidslookeddownonWendy,butshedidn’tsayaword.Shesimplytookthe bowlofchickensoupandwalkedtowardtheroom.
As she entered the main hall Stanley who was speaking with a few businessmen spotted her His brow furrowed slightly
Wasn’tWendysupposedtobeoneoftheCronefamily’sdaughters?Whywassheworkinglikeamaid?Was thishowshe wastreated byherownfamily?
Stanley’sthoughtsturnedcold.She hitandkickedhimbefore,butnow,infrontofeveryone,shecouldn’tsayaword.Shewasonlybravewhenitcametobullyinghim.
Wendyenteredtheroom,which was empty.Shethenplacedthechickensouponthetable.
Suddenly,shecaughta faintsmell.Itwassubtle–almostundetectable–butWendy’ssharpsensespickeduponitimmediately.
Sheclosedhereyes,andthen,withoutwarning,collapsedontothe bed.
The door creaked open and someone entered quietly
It was Hank Landon Lilian s nephew a lazy young man who sponged off his family s wealth He approached the bed with a sinister grin
“Whydidn’tAuntLiliantellmethiscountrybumpkinwassobeautiful?”Hankmurmured,hislecherouseyesscanningherunconsciousform. “Todaymustbemyluckyday.”
Hereachedfor her clothes.
“Youcan’tblameme! You’retheonewho’sbeenstandinginJessica’sway,holdingontothetitleofMrs.Hawk.Nowyou’remine.Soon,AuntLilianandtheotherswillburstin,andyourreputationwillberuined,withscandalseverywhere.
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Chapter50
Theguestsexchangedworriedglances.”What’sgoing on?”
Lilian smiled slyly She knew the drama was just beginning
+25Bonus
Jessica,linkingher armwithLilian’s,grinned.”Mom,isthisallpartofyourplan?”
Lilianchuckledsoftly.”Mr.Hawkand Wendy areabouttodivorce.Soon,you’llbeMrs.Hawk.”
Jessica pouted her voice dripping with affection Mom you re the best
Lilian turned to Harry Honey you re staying home with me tonight
Harrypulledhercloser,wrapping hisarmaroundhershoulder.”Aslongasyouhandleeverythingperfectly,I’lldowhateveryouwant.”
Lilianexhaledinrelief,thenturnedtotheothers.”What’sthat noise?Itsoundslikeit’scomingfromthatroom.Let’sgocheckitout!”
The group quickly followed her eager to see what was happening Archer and Natalie were among them all hurrying toward the room
Outsidethedoorstoodamaid.Lilian asked,”Who’sinside?”
The maid,oneofLilian’s accomplices,pretendedtobeflustered.”Mrs.Lilian,IjustsawWendygointhere.”
Wendy someone gasped Isn t she that country bumpkin Is she in there having an affair
The whispers grew louder
Edithslammedhercaneonthefloor,herfacedarkeningasshe spat,”Iwouldn’tbesurprisedbythatuneducatedbrat,ruiningmybirthdaycelebrationwiththisnonsense!”
LilianexchangedaslyglancewithJessica,bothsecretlythrilled.IfWendywerecaughtinsuchascandalinfrontoftheprominentfamiliesofHovendale,her reputationwouldbeshatteredforever.
With a feigned air of concern Lilian said I can t believe Wendy would do something like that I have to see it with my own eyes
Lilian pushed open the door revealing a scene that made her smile with satisfaction
On the large bed two figures were tangled together Hank pinned a woman beneath him violently tearing at her clothes
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