Chapter 21
Chesca entered, and both Draxion and Mrs. Richmond froze in alarm.
The scene needed no explanation–anyone could sense their shared history.
The evening breeze blew fiercely.
The evening breeze was sharp, tousling Draxion’s hair and lifting Mrs. Richmond’s elegant dress. The fabric brushed against Chesca’s arm, soft and delicate like silk.
After an awkward silence, Mrs. Arnault’s voice was hoarse. “I’m not feeling well. Mrs. Elkedonia, would you help me inside to rest?”
Chesca smiled graciously. “That’s exactly why I’m here. I’ve been so concerned about your health.”
Mrs. Richmond felt comforted by this and patted Chesca’s hand gently. “Having you here makes me feel much better.”
With a gentle smile, Chesca guided Mrs. Richmond away.
Behind them, Draxion watched his former lover leave, realizing such an opportunity to speak privately might never come again. Overwhelmed with emotion, he blurted out, “Whatever he gives you, I could give you too.”
Immediately, he regretted his words.
Mrs. Richmond paused briefly, then looked down with a cold smile. “With nothing but empty promises?”
Beside her, Chesca discreetly cleared her throat.
Humiliated by his former lover’s rebuke and Fabian’s wife’s presence, Draxion’s face burned with shame.
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Nice Try My Ex But The Heiress Doesn’t Do Rowinds.
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His feelings, however, were the least of Mrs. Richmond’s concerns.
Chesca escorted Mrs. Richmond to the master bedroom.
The spacious room featured white furniture with gold accents and pale organza drapes, creating a romantic and elegant atmosphere. The walls were adorned with Mrs. Richmond’s portraits, clearly showing Mr. Richmond’s adoration for his wife.
Mrs. Richmond lay down to rest.
Taking Chesca’s hand, she spoke tenderly. “I’m sorry for what you witnessed earlier.”
Chesca understood perfectly. “Everyone has a past,” she said soothingly. “But those people,
those moments… they shouldn’t weigh on us. We should cherish the happiness we have
now.”
Mrs. Richmond’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I don’t miss him. Not at all. But my lost child… that’s the wound that will never heal. Chesca, that child… she’s a part of me, and I’ll never
be at peace until I find her. All the wealth in the world doesn’t matter if I fail her. My only fear is that I’ll disappoint Mr. Richmond’s love for me.”
Her emotional confession resonated deeply with Chesca.She was about to ask for more details when Mrs. Richmond’s personal assistant entered with medication and water. “It’s
time for your pills, ma’am.”
Sensing it was time to leave, Chesca excused herself.
As she gently closed the door and turned, she unexpectedly ran into someone.
Zeno Cortez.
All the men at tonight’s event dressed in tuxedos, but Zeno was different–dark gray shirt, black suit and tie–dressed purely for business, radiating intensity.
His presence here wasn’t entirely surprising–Zeno was Mr. Richmond’s nephew.
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Chapter 21
The hallway was quiet and brightly lit, far removed from the clamor downstairs.
Zeno looked at Chesca intently, his voice slightly hoarse. “So… did you reconcile with him?
Has your heart gone back to him too?”
Chesca decided against pretending ignorance.
Zeno’s feelings burned too intensely too hot for her to reciprocate.
She leaned lightly against the wall, her expression calm.
“It doesn’t matter whether we reconcile. We’ve always taken what we needed from each
other. He needs a presentable Mrs. Elkedonia, and I need the Elkedonia fortune. A woman
in my position can’t afford to live solely for romance.”
“Zeno, I’m not the saint as you think. I’m just an ordinary woman.”
“Money is my true love.”
Zeno replied slowly, almost as if testing. “Is that so?”
After a moment of careful deliberation, he locked eyes with her. “Whatever he gives you, I
could give you too.”
This was the second time tonight Chesca had heard these words, and a flood of emotions
washed over her.
Before she could respond, a familiar sound of footsteps echoed, and then Fabian appeared.
In an instant, he was at Chesca’s side.
Acting as if the argument from that night had never happened, he looked between his wife and his childhood friend with casual warmth. “What are you two talking about?”
“Nothing important,” Chesça replied coolly.
Fabian studied her face intently, as if searching for something, After a moment, he smiled slightly. “Well, we can catch up another time. It’s getting late. We should head home.”
Chapter 21
Before Chesca could react, Fabian took her hand with a possessive grip.
Under the brilliant lights, Zeno’s expression remained cold.
A cold smile played on Fabian’s lips when he guided Chesca past Zeno. As they brushed
shoulders, Fabian noticed Zeno’s hand in his pocket twitch, as if he wanted to reach out and
grab Chesca–his wife.
Fabian paused mid–step, his tone icy. “I hate when people covet what’s mine. You should
know that better than anyone, Zeno.”
Zeno met his gaze, equally frigid. “Really? I was just worried you might be too busy to keep
up.”
“Don’t trouble yourself.”
The night was ink–black.
The Rolls–Royce Phantom raced down the highway, yellowish streetlights penetrating the windows, illuminating the silent couple inside.
Silence was tonight’s elegant symphony.
Chesca felt they were moving too fast. Looking at the darkness ahead, she said quietly,
“Fabian, slow down.”
He seemed not to hear, yet captured her hand, toying with it between his fingers.
“Fabian,” she repeated.
He glanced at her, his eyes cold. “Feeling guilty?”
Chesca forced a smile. “Guilty about what?”
Fabian didn’t answer, but his foot pressed harder on the accelerator, the car surging forward eyen faster…
Chapter 21
Chesca genuinely wondered if he’d lost his mind.
In less than twenty minutes, they were back at Orlanda Castle.
As soon as the car stopped, Chesca tried to exit, but Fabian was faster. He caught her arm and looked at her sideways. “If you’ve got nothing to hide, then show me some sincerity.”
Sincerity? What kind of sincerity?
Chesca was momentarily stunned.
By the time she regained her composure, she was already in Fabian’s arms. Without a hint of self–consciousness, he carried her bridal–style through the brightly lit living room toward
the master bedroom on the second floor.
Under the crystal chandelier, Fabian’s face was a mesmerizing mixture of restraint and
temptation, though his actions suggested neither
Chesca pounded his shoulder, breathless with indignation. “Fabian, are you crazy?”
Fabian’s eyes were dark and intense as he looked down at her, a hidden anger brewing in
his gaze.
After a moment, he said softly, “You’ll find out soon enough.”
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Chesca struck a few more ineffectual blows.
Guessing her concern, Fabian replied flatly, “The staff here are all older. Young married couples being intimate at home is perfectly normal–they won’t gossip.”
With those few words, he had already carried Chesca to the bedroom and tossed her onto
the luxurious bed
Chesca sank into the softness of the mattress.
Fabian stood at the bedside, watching her while his hands began unbuttoning his shirt…
Chesca knew escape was impossible.
Chapter 21
She turned her face away, unwilling to meet his intense gaze.
Her nose flushed slightly, her lips swollen from the kiss. “Fabian, I’m not a whore you paid
for. You can’t force me when I don’t want to.”
