“He has. Come upstairs and help your mother decide what sort of welcome gift would be appropriate.” Wilhelmina’s gentle voice drifted down from above.
Rebekah headed up the stairs, leaving Leda standing alone in the entryway, completely ignored.
Preparations for Ablett’s fiancée were in full swing at the McCarthy estate. The housekeepers had been bustling about since early morning, scrubbing floors; airing linens, and even preparing Ablett’s private wing so his fiancée would have her own space.
Not even when Leda had been with Ablett had she ever received such special treatment.
The thought twisted in her chest, sharp and cold.
He was her man. He was only supposed to marry her.
***
Blanche and Caleb returned to their hotel, where they buried themselves in work for several hours. Later, Blanche took a shower, changed into the new dress she’d bought for the occasion, and picked up the carefully wrapped gift she’d prepared before heading out.
As she stepped into the hallway, the door to the next room swung open and a server rolled out a room service trolley.
She paused, a little surprised. The trays on the cart were untouched–whoever had ordered the meal hadn’t eaten a single bite. What a waste, she thought absently.
***
Eddy lay sprawled across the king–sized bed, eyes open, haunted by visions of Blanche. In his mind, she was there with him, her touch clinging to his skin. He didn’t dare reach for her–he knew it was only an illusion.
When he closed his eyes, he saw her again, delicate and playful beneath him, their bodies entwined.
He couldn’t bring himself to open his eyes now, dreading that one blink would make her vanish.
08:04 3
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He knew none of it was real. Blanche wasn’t here–she was gone. But he couldn’t stop himself. The longing was too powerful.
He buried his face into the mattress, desperate to pretend she was really there, her warmth enveloping him, her breath against his skin.
***
“Thank you.”
Blanche’s polite voice drifted in as the server wheeled the cart away. The words slipped through the crack of Eddy’s not–quite–shut door.
He jolted upright, dark eyes fixed on the entrance. The door, nudged by the departing trolley, creaked open further. No one was there.
Just another hallucination.
***
The head of Eddy’s security detail returned from a government office, only to pass a woman in a dress on the stairs. He spun around, just catching sight of her as she climbed into a car sporting a city license plate. Instinctively, he snapped a photo and hurried upstairs to Eddy’s suite.
Inside, Eddy was pouring out several sleeping pills, swallowing them dry, when the security chief burst in.
“Sir, I just saw Mrs. Clarke!”
“She just left, right downstairs!”
“Where?” Eddy nearly bolted for the door.
“She got into this car–I’ve already sent word to have it traced.”
“Sir, I also saw her this afternoon at Mr. Jordan’s office. She really is here!”
At these words, Eddy rushed to the bathroom, forcing himself to vomit up the pills.
He hadn’t slept for days, relying on sleeping medication only when his body was at its limit, just to get a little relief from missing Blanche.
Rinsing his face with cold water, he pressed a hand to his throbbing forehead, trying to clear his mind
His fists clenched so tightly the veins on his hands stood out, his body trembling an the edge of collapse.
Chapter 195
But he couldn’t fall now. Bloodshot eyes wide, he demanded, “Did you get the license plate?”
The security chief’s phone rang. He answered, listened, and reported, “It’s Gaylord McCarthy’s car!”
“Isn’t that Miss McCarthy’s father?”
“Call Rebekah. I’m going to their family’s dinner party tonight,” Eddy said, then collapsed onto the floor.
Chapter 196
