Chapter 9
Zeno was dressed to perfection–deep navy shirt, sharp black suit and a silk tie dark as midnight.
He gazed at Chesca with a faint smile. “Mind if I join you for coffee?”
After a moment, Chesca smiled lightly. “Not at all.”
Zeno set down his briefcase and took a seat. A server immediately approached, asking politely. “What can I get you, sir?”
Zeno’s long fingers tapped the table once. “Americano.”
主
The server nodded and left.
Once the server was gone, Zeno leaned back in his chair and habitually reached for cigarettes, but remembering where they were, he frowned slightly and quickly abandoned the idea, turning his attention to Chesca instead…
It had been a while since he last saw her. And she was… different.
A fitted, caramel–toned wool dress hugged her slender frame, simple yet effortlessly elegant. Her golden hair fell loosely around her shoulders, and she wore minimal jewelry–just a delicate chain at her fair collarbone.
This softer version of Chesca reminded Zeno of a lustrous pearl.
“Meeting with a lawyer?”
“Business meeting, Mr. Cortez?”
They spoke almost simultaneously.
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Chapter 9
The atmosphere became slightly awkward, but thankfully the server arrived with Zeno’s coffee, easing the tension.
Zeno thanked the server with dignified courtesy, took a small sip of his coffee and then
addressed Chesca.
He didn’t mention the divorce case but asked about something else. “I heard you ran into
Mrs. Richmond recently? And that you two hit it off.”
Chesca stirred her coffee absently, her voice light but guarded. “Where’d you hear that?”
Zeno’s eyes fixed on her. “Mr. Richmond’s family is connected to mine. Technically, I should
be calling him ‘Uncle.“”
Chesca looked up. “That’s surprising! Fabian never mentioned it.”
At the mention of Fabian, an odd silence fell between them…
Being a lawyer, Zeno was skilled at reading people. Sensing Chesca’s discomfort, he changed the subject. “I also heard you’re looking to start your own business–searching for suitable premises?”
Chesca gave a soft “Mm–hmm“. “That’s the plan.”
A gold–embossed business card slid across the table toward Chesca.
Zeno’s gaze deepened. “A friend’s property. It’s in One World Trade Center–perfect for an art gallery. 8,000 square feet at $1.2 million annual rent.”
Chesca took the card.
For that location, the rent was more than fair.
She didn’t refuse Zeno’s kindness.
Although Zeno and Fabian were close, New York’s high society was a small web. Any venture would inevitably involve this network.
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Chapter 9
Chesca wouldn’t burn bridges unnecessarily, whether with Zeno or even the Elkedonia
family.
Chesca smiled slightly. “I’ll owe you one.”
Zeno caught her soft smile and felt an inexplicable flutter in his chest, though his face
maintained the stoic expression of a hardened attorney as he smiled back faintly. “Don’t
mention it.”
Outside the floor–to–ceiling windows, sunlight dappled through, catching on the tip of
Chesca’s straight nose.
A slight warm.
Chesca couldn’t help touching that spot lightly.
She turned her face slightly away, a hint of soft on her fair cheeks, enhancing her feminine
charm…
Across from her, Zeno’s gaze fell on her face as if by accident, concealing thoughts he wasn’t ready to reveal.
Outside the coffee shop.
A black Rolls–Royce Phantom was parked by the curb, its sleek body gleaming majestically in the sunlight.
Fabian sat inside, his dark gaze locked on the café window.
His childhood buddy and his wife.
Fabian wasn’t a fool.
Zeno’s gaze toward Chesca was far from innocent. Only when a man is truly interested in a woman does he look at her with such undisguised desire.
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Chapter 9
He had known Zeno for years–a workaholic who had never show even a passing interest in
a woman.
And his first real interest had to be Fabian’s wife? Should Fabian be angry, or proud of his wife’s allure?
His wife’s style had changed too. Gone were the rigid power suits, her current outfit had a sensual quality, as if carefully chosen for a date.
Fabian felt deeply uncomfortable. He took out his phone and dialed Chesca’s number.
As soon as she answered,
Fabian coldly demanded. “Where are you?”
After a moment, Chesca responded. “Do I need to report my whereabouts to you? Fabian,
we’re getting divorced.”
“That’s just your unilateral decision.‘
Chesca laughed bitterly. “Is that right?”
Not wanting to argue further, she suppressed her emotions and spoke as calmly as possible. “I’m no longer useful to you! Can’t we just part ways amicably? Fabian, the truth is I can’t even give a—”
“Chesca!”
Fabian cut her off.
His voice was quick and urgent he couldn’t let her say the continue word.
Two children, one boy and one girl.
That had been their dream/once.
Without children, it seemed there was no path forward for him and Chesca. A strange longing suddenly overwhelmed him, catching Fabian off guard. He couldn’t quite sort out
Nice Try My Ex But The Heiress Doesn’t Do Rewinds.
Chapter 9
his feelings for Chesca.
In this tense moment, another call came through on Chesca’s phone.
It was Amy, her grandmother’s caretaker.
Without hesitation, Chesca hung up on Fabian and took Amy’s call. Amy’s voice sounded
frantic.
“Miss Lavirins, something terrible has happened!”
“A young woman just came by and upset your grandmother so badly she had a heart episode. Thank goodness her medication was by the bed and she took it herself. I hate to
think if we didn’t have medicine nearby…”
The color drained from Chesca’s face.
After hanging up, she turned to Zeno. “Emergency. Mr. Cortez, we’ll continue this another
time.”
Zeno, concerned about her pale complexion, was considering whether to escort her.
But Chesca had already hurried away, moving so quickly she didn’t even notice Fabian.
Inside and outside the café…
The two men’s gazes met across the glass divide.
Fabian’s dark eyes were filled with cold disdain. Men of their status didn’t tolerate others coveting their wives, especially when that person was supposed to be a best friend!
Chesca rushed to the hospital.
Her grandmother was fine now, sleeping after taking her medication.
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Chapter 9
Chesca leaned over the bed, gently brushing silver hair from her grandmother’s face, her expression unusually tender.
Amy called softly. “Miss Lavirins, I need to tell
you something.”
Chesca straightened up slightly. “Come on. Let’s step outside.”
Once outside, Amy didn’t waste time. “It was a young girl, quite shallow–looking. She
claimed she was pregnant with Mr. Elkedonia’s baby and demanding you step aside. Your
grandmother became so upset she collapsed right there.”
“And that bitch didn’t even try to help–just ran away.”
“Miss Lavirins, it’s all recored on the security cameras. I’m not making any of this up!”
Chesca’s hands trembled.
She fought to control her emotions, instructing calmly. “I understand. Amy, please look after my grandmother while I take care of something.”
Amy assured her not to worry.
After making all necessary arrangements, Chesca walked down the corridor.
The setting sun cast red beams through the window frames, bathing Chesca in fiery light.
While her face was clearly clod.
Chesca could lose love, lose Fabian, lose everything–but she could not lose her grandmother.
This is where she drew the line.
And now, Veronica had crossed that line!
