Blanche had never imagined that being in Eddy’s arms could be so terrifying
Her body was frail, too weak to break free. She wrapped her arms protectively around her stomach, her voice trembling with fear. “Eddy, please snap out of it Don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt our baby”
Something seemed to register in Eddy’s bloodshot eyes. His hand withdrew from her waist, and for a fleeting moment, Blanche thought she’d caught a break–just like all the other times.
But in the next instant, he closed the distance between them, pressing against her with desperate intensity.
Blanche screamed, “Somebody, help-!”
The bedroom door burst open with a bang.
After sending the video, Camilla was so rattled she immediately called Lauren, desperate for help.
Lauren, worried, hurried over to check on Blanche. The moment she opened the door, she was stunned by the scene unfolding before her.
“Lauren, go get security–now! Get him off me!” Blanche shouted, seizing the lifeline Lauren’s arrival had thrown her.
Snapping back to her senses, Lauren turned and dashed out.
“Sweetheart, I feel awful,” Eddy mumbled, pressing fevered kisses to Blanche’s bare shoulder, clinging to her like he always did.
But Blanche’s heart was cold and unmoved. She watched, expressionless, as the security guards rushed in and dragged Eddy away from her.
She barely glanced at him as she spoke to them, her voice icy and calm. “Knock. him out. Take him to the hospital.”
The guards never questioned Blanche’s orders. One delivered a quick blow to knock Eddy unconscious, but couldn’t help pleading his case. “Ma’am, he’s been drugged! Please don’t be angry with him.”
Lauren draped a light blanket over Blanche’s shoulders. She gave a quiet, noncommittal hum.
The guards quickly escorted Eddy out. The taillights of their car disappeared into
1/3
the night.
Lauren returned with a cup of tea, hesitating as she spoke. “Ma’am… just now, Ingrid called my sister and forced her to post that video. She said if my sister didn’t, she’d find someone else to do it. So my sister gave in, and now that video of Mr. Simmons is everywhere online.”
Lauren’s face was pale with worry. “Everyone’s talking about it–my sister’s account got banned, so she can’t even take the video down now. I’ve been worried–after seeing how well you and Mr. Simmons were getting along lately, I wondered if posting it was a huge mistake.”
Seeing Lauren’s anxiety, Blanche offered a reassuring smile. “It’s alright. Can you find me a laptop?”
Lauren hurried off and returned, handing Blanche her own laptop.
Blanche sat at the desk, fingers flying across the keyboard as she opened up the system backend. She typed in a string of code, launching what looked like a simple game of Minesweeper. In an instant, the entire screen filled with cascading
squares.
As Blanche manipulated the game, lines of code flickered and vanished, scrolling rapidly across the blocks.
Within fifteen minutes, she lifted her hands. The screen flickered to black, then rebooted, returning to normal as if nothing had happened.
“Alright, check the internet again,” Blanche said, glancing at Lauren.
Lauren’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “R–right away!”
My god, is she some kind of hidden computer genius?
She clicked through dozens of links. To her amazement, every face in the video was now blurred out–without exception.
Online, people were complaining that they’d missed their chance to see the real thing.
“Ma’am,” Lauren called, turning back, “the faces in the video are all blurred now. Some people are furious at Mr. Simmons, some are defending him, and others are questioning everything.”
Blanche’s expression was calm. “I’d like to rest now.”
“Ma’am, you’re incredible! Can I be your student?” Lauren blurted, reluctant to leave.
Chapter 152
Since arriving at the Simmons estate, Lauren’s older colleagues had warned her: as long as you don’t upset Mrs. Simmons, you’ll be just fine. Mr. Simmons always. listens to her.
And Mrs. Simmons was as beautiful as she was kind.
She’d grown up privileged, a pampered heiress even after her family split, always protected by her mother. After marrying Mr. Simmons, she’d never suffered a day in her life.
The other housekeepers would tease Lauren when they caught her studying late at night: “Silly girl, what are you studying for? Everyone around Mr. and Mrs. Simmons. is from some wealthy family. If you catch one, you’ll have it made.”
But tonight, seeing how Blanche handled Eddy’s betrayal with such composure, Lauren realized: Blanche’s strength and poise came from within. She could weather any storm life threw at her.
Blanche was the picture of a high–society wife, someone who could have lived a life of effortless luxury. Yet, every night, Lauren saw her reading and learning.
Noticing the admiration in Lauren’s eyes, Blanche chuckled. “You’re studying law, aren’t you? That’s a different path than mine.”
“But I think you’ll make a brilliant attorney one day,” she added encouragingly. “Just remember–don’t tell anyone about what I did tonight.”
Lauren was stunned that Blanche remembered her major, and even more so when she encouraged her. She nodded emphatically. “Ma’am, I’d never betray your secret–even if my life depended on it.”
Blanche’s smile was gentle, her soft gaze making Lauren’s heart flutter.
For a moment, she understood why Eddy loved Blanche so deeply. But then the memory of the video with Jeannette flashed in her mind, dampening her spirits. Not wanting to intrude further, she slipped quietly out of the master bedroom.
When the door closed, Blanche headed to the bathroom. She washed away all traces of Eddy, took her prenatal vitamins, and settled into bed, hand resting on her belly. A faint, peaceful smile played at her lips.
