Chapter 438

Chapter 438:

“What are you talking about p>

“He told the cops I put him up to it. I didn’t even know his name. But he said it was me. Convenient p>

Rowan let out a nervous laugh. “He probably got mixed up. I had nothing to do with that p>

I imagined Gwendolyn glaring at Rowan with her beautiful but mean eyes. “I took the fall for you. That’s why Ashton cut off my cards and dumped his dad in bloody Africa. And you show up just to scream at me p>

“I wasn’t—” Rowan cut herself off. She lowered her voice. “I just overreacted. Sorry. But it wasn’t me p>

She paused, then switched tone, softer, trying to sound helpful. “So what now? You’re just going to camp out here forever p>

Gwendolyn sounded suddenly exhausted. “It’s quiet here. No one asks questions. Ashton said if I pull any more stunts, his father’s stuck in Africa for good. So, for now, I’m done p>

The room fell quiet for a long minute.

Ashton took my hand and played with my fingers, apparently finding them much more interesting than the conversation going on next door.

Rowan spoke in a coaxing voice. “You remember what we agreed. I’d drive a wedge between Ashton and Mirabelle, and you’d help me marry him. Once he’s in our pocket, the whole Laurent family bends to you. Right now p>

Gwendolyn cut her off. “I don’t need you to remind me of what we agreed p>

I glanced at Ashton, cocked an eyebrow, pointed to the wall separating us from the next room, and mouthed the words “your admirer p>

He shook his head gravely as if denying such a serious accusation.

Next door, Rowan continued, “I know. Just hear me out. Right now, he’s pissed, you’re broke, and every single one of you is hanging off his mood swings. When Edouard croaks, you really think you’ll see a cent p>

“So what’s your plan?” Gwendolyn asked reluctantly.

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“I don’t have one p>

“What p>

Rowan sounded equally surprised. “You are the one who dragged me out here like you had some genius idea. I wouldn’t have come if you hadn’t insisted on it. I hate hospitals, full of nosy staff and phones. But so far, all I hear from you is complaints and more complaints. You’ve seriously got nothing p>

“What the hell are you talking about? You texted me, said you wanted to meet. I thought something had happened p>

“Me? You’re the one who asked to talk. I only came because I thought you had something urgent p>

A moment of tense silence later, Rowan said, “This, look, a new number. Yours. You said your phone was bugged, you had to switch numbers. You also gave me the room number p>

I imagined Rowan shoving her phone in Gwendolyn’s face.

Gwendolyn: “What? Me? No! You said it was urgent, had to meet. Then I sent you my room number. You texted me first. Let me see that… Wait, that’s the same number.” She read out: “New number, can’t talk, meet in person p>

Rowan swore. “Shit. Someone’s screwing with us p>

The door handle turned.