Words couldn’t begin to describe the formolt in realy’s heart. He sat in the bark of the Rolls–Royce, reaching for his mother’s soft hand, pressing close to her smoot arm, clinging to her with the desperate affection of a child who feared being left behind
Whenever he did this, his mother would always wrap him gently in her arme, kiss his little forehead, and whisper jokes in his ear to coax out a smille
“Mom…” Healy had barely opened his mouth before her arm slipped away ques a flash. Staring out the window at the blur of passing cars, she didn’t spare him so much as a glance.
He remembered the day his aunt had spanked him until he was sobbing, and his mother hadn’t even bothered to intervene. But when Terrell scraped his palm, thed fussed over him like he was made of glass. She never bothered with a birthday ge for Healy, but had given Terrell an enormous Transformers robot that he wanted for ages.
Healy bit back his tears, twisting his hands together in silent defiance, eyes simmering with hurt and anger.
Eddy, sitting on the other side of Healy, took in the scene quietly, missing nothing.
The car pulled up in front of the hotel.
Inside the bustling ballroom, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch the moment Eddy arrived, Guests flocked to greet him, showering him with praise and adulation.
Blanche had no intention of lingering in this crowd, but Eddy entwined his fingers. with hers, and she had no choice but to remain by his side.
She listened to the endless small talk, the compliments about how deeply Eddy loved her, how lucky she was to have such a devoted husband. In the past, no matter how many times she’d heard these words, her heart would flutter all the same. She’d lean into Eddy’s embrace, blushing and shy, eager to hide in the shelter of his arms.
But now, her eyes were cold and detached, watching the spectacle as though it were a play performed for someone else. Nothing stirred within her.
At last, the engagement ceremony began. The emcee took the stage, and the crewd dispersed to their seats.
After all, for the Anderson family–a pillar of old money and strict tradition–to take in an illegitimate daughter as their daughter–in–law, the scandal was irresistible gossip.
The lights dimmed, a spotlight illuminating the emcee
Blanche couldn’t stand to be with Eddy a moment longer. She excused herself, claiming she needed the restroom, but slipped away to a quiet lounge instead.
She had barely settled on the sofa when Fernando Reese entered.
Their eyes met, and Blanche immediately remembered his heartfelt confession on video the night before. She felt awkward, ill at ease.
“Felipa told me what happened yesterday,” Fernando began.
“Laney, did he… did he hurt you?” He stood by the door, keeping his distance when he saw the wariness in her eyes.
Felipa had been thrown out–laptop and all–by Eddy. She must have heard Blanche’s panicked, out–of–control shouting before being forced to leave.
The thought that someone had witnessed her at her most vulnerable left Blanche mortified. She avoided Fernando’s concerned gaze. “No, he never hurts me. Don’t worry about me. I’m more concerned about Felipa–did the bodyguards hurt her? Could you apologize to her for me?”
Thinking of Felipa, Blanche glanced back at Fernando. “I’m sorry, Fernando, but the firewall might take a few more days to finish.”
“Felipa’s fine. And don’t worry about the firewall,” Fernando said gently.
“Fernando,” Blanche hesitated, recalling Vesta’s warning, afraid Eddy’s jealousy might drive him to something reckless. “We shouldn’t be in touch for a while.”
“He heard what I said yesterday, didn’t he?” Fernando pressed. “Did he do something to you?”
His intense, worried gaze made Blanche shrink inside. She just wanted to escape his scrutiny.
He’d spotted the deep red mark on her neck–Eddy’s handiwork, no doubt. “No. He wouldn’t hurt me,” Blanche said quietly, repeating herself as if by rote.
Even if she was bleeding inside, she refused anyone’s pity.
But Fernando strode over, took her wrist in his large hand, and when she looked up
20:37 線
Chapter 13
in shock, he said bluntly, “Laney, I can help you get away from him right now. You don’t have to wait for the Director–General.”
The mention of the Director–General startled Blanche. She quickly pulled him into the staff kitchen. “Shh, walls have ears.”
The cramped little kitchen, crowded with supplies, forced them close together, the air suddenly thick with something tense and awkward.
Blanche ignored the discomfort. “Eddy controls nearly everything–land, air, and sea. The only way I can leave is when the Director–General comes for me and shuts down the city’s comm network for ten minutes. That’s our window.”
“Fernando, you don’t need to worry about me. He won’t do anything to me.” She tried to reassure him, but Fernando suddenly lifted her hair, his fingertips grazing her
skin.
“Then what do you call this?” he demanded, his rough fingers sending a jolt of electricity through her veins.
Blanche pushed him away, unsettled. She knew he hadn’t meant to touch her in that
way.
But in the tiny space, Fernando lost his balance, stumbled against the cabinet, and fell forward, pinning her against the wall.
His breath, hot and uneven, washed over her skin. His lips pressed against the red mark on her neck.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside. Someone gripped the doorknob, twisting it open just a crack. “Who’s in there?”
