Chapter 60

Chapter60
ButWendymissed.Thepersonquicklyspunaround,grabbing herslenderwristwithafirmgrip.Acold,annoyedvoicefollowed.
“Wendy,what areyoudoing?”
The silver needle dropped to the floor with a soft clink Wendy froze for a second realizing it was Stanley
Stanleyhadarrived.
Wh what are you doing here she stammered
Stanleyreleasedherwristandscannedtheroom,his dark,penetratingeyessweepingoverthespacebeforelandingonHank.”Who’she?”
Stanleyhad seenHanksneakingarounddownstairs,tailingWendy,anddecidedtofollowhim
Wendyopenedhermouthtorespond,butjust then,footstepsechoedfromoutside.HersurpriseforLilianhadarrived.
Quickly she pulled Stanley behind the curtains with her
“Whatareyou…”
Stanley was about to speak but Wendy quickly pressed her handover his mouth as the door flung open and someone walked in
Don t say a word she whispered urgently
Inthebanquethall,Jessica,Harry,Lilian,andEdithwerechattingandlaughingwithafewexecutives.Archer andNatalie,feelingleft out,exchangedenviousglancesatthem.
Natalie couldn’thelpbutmutterresentfully,”Trish issomuchmorecapablethanJessica,butJessicaknowshowtoplaythegameoflove.Nowthatshe’sgotMr.Hawk,thesecondbranchispracticallyfloatingon air.”
Archer leaned in determined Don t worry Trish will find someone just as good as Mr Hawk
They both had high hopes for Trish s marriage and were determined that she wouldn t lose to the second branch
Suddenly,a sharpscreamrangout,startlingeveryoneintheroom.
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Theguestsexchangedworriedglances.”What’s goingon?”
Lilian smiled slyly She knew the drama was just beginning
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Jessica,linking herarmwithLilian’s,grinned.”Mom,isthisallpartofyourplan?”
Lilian chuckled softly Mr Hawk and Wendy are about to divorce Soon you ll be Mrs 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
Harry pulled her closer wrapping his arm around her shoulder As long as you handle everything perfectly I ll do whatever you want
Lilian exhaled in relief then turned to the others What s that noise It sounds like it s coming from that room Let s go check it out
The group quickly followed her eager to see what was happening Archer and Natalie were among them all hurrying toward the room
Outside the door stood a maid Lilian asked Who s inside
The maid one of Lilian s accomplices pretended to be flustered Mrs Lilian I just saw Wendy go in there
Wendy someone gasped Isn t she that country bumpkin Is she in there having an affair
The whispers grew louder
Edith slammed her cane on the floor her face darkening as she spat I wouldn t be surprised by that uneducated brat ruining my birthday celebration with this nonsense
LilianexchangedaslyglancewithJessica,bothsecretlythrilled.IfWendywerecaughtinsuchascandalinfrontoftheprominentfamiliesofHovendale,her reputationwouldbe
shatteredforever.
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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