Chapter 216
The bedroom door swung open, and as Eddy stepped out, the entire Lopez Mansion blazed back to life, every light restored. The chaos that had gripped the estate lasted only a few minutes before order was reestablished.
Above, the departing helicopter circled back, its blades slicing through the night. Plainclothes officers and Lopez family security patrolled in tight, methodical patterns, sealing off the building where Ablett was holed up–nothing and no one could slip through.
The butler assigned to Eddy hurried over, offering a quick explanation. “Mr. Simmons, I’m terribly sorry. A rat managed to chew through the main power line. But our backup generator’s already running. Please forgive the disruption and any inconvenience we’ve caused.”
Eddy’s expression darkened. Sensing his displeasure and seeing that there were no further instructions, the butler bowed and slipped away.
Eddy looked across the courtyard. Darkness shrouded the opposite building, swallowing Ablett and Blanche from view. He couldn’t see even a flicker of movement. The realization hit him, cold and absolute: here, he stood no chance of taking his wife back.
The pain threatened to tear him apart.
A soft voice broke through the gloom. “Mr. Simmons, maybe I can help.” Wendy, Ablett’s secretary, stepped into the light, her gaze steady and unreadable.
Blanche sat on the edge of a grand, antique bed, her back pressed against the carved headboard. She was shivering, her breathing ragged and urgent, the sound unnaturally loud in the dim, silent room.
Ablett noticed immediately. He moved to her side, his long fingers gently brushing aside the damp hair clinging to her forehead. His touch lingered as he checked her temperature, calm and unhurried. “You’ve got a fever. Must’ve caught a chill after falling into the river yesterday.”
He tore open a cold compress and pressed it to her burning forehead. The suuden chill made Blanche shudder, and she instinctively tried to slide down the bed, restless and uncomfortable.
Ablett caught her, his hands firm under her arms, steadying her before she could
1001
Chapter 216
slip away.
Through the haze, Blanche looked up at him. Her head was spinning, but she forced herself to speak. “Back in the woods earlier–I saw him.”
There was guilt woven through her voice.
Ablett’s tone was patient. “Too many people around? Couldn’t tell me?”
She nodded weakly, then hesitated, her worry growing. “I never thought he’d make it into the Lopez family estate.”
“If your parents found out about my past, they’d never approve of our marriage.”
Blanche remembered the probing questions from the Lopez family, Leda’s pointed remarks. If they ever uncovered her secrets, this wedding would be over before it began.
Their marriage, after all, was an arrangement. She needed it for Mamie’s sake, while Ablett–whether because of political pressure or his parents‘ expectations–needed a stable relationship at precisely this moment.
Her online history as Blanche had already been wiped clean. It wouldn’t be easy for anyone to dig up her past. For her protection–and to avoid unnecessary rumors–Ablett had kept her secrets from the Lopez family.
Blanche’s regret surfaced. “If I’d known it would come to this, I would’ve found another way…”
At her words, Ablett’s hands tightened slightly as if remembering Fernando, the man who once proposed to her. His voice was cool, almost emotionless. “Don’t worry. He can’t do anything.”
“Just a few more days. Once the formalities are done and the meetings are over,
we’ll home.”
go
He made it sound trivial.
Only then did Blanche realize he must have come to Capitol City for business–her safety was hardly the main reason.
“Alright,” she murmured, not wanting to complicate things for him. Her gaz to his strong, steady arms.
Seeing her so pale and weak, Ablett’s eyes darkened with concern. “You need to
rest.”
ifted
He hesitated, hand still on her shoulder, then started to pull away–just as Blanche
10:01
υπομια ΔΙΟ
suddenly slumped forward.
He caught her instantly, arm sliding behind her back to cushion her fall. He bent over, his face mere inches from hers, her fevered skin glowing in the lamplight.
Her eyelids fluttered, cheeks flushed and hot. Her lips parted as she let out a faint, pained whimper, breath warm against his skin, her voice barely a whisper.
For an instant, Ablett felt his own heart skip a beat.
Blanche closed her eyes, curling into herself, her entire body limp in his arms, radiating heat and fragility.
Ablett gently gathered her up, pulling the blanket over her trembling form. His other hand cupped her cheek, adjusting her so she’d be more comfortable. But even after she settled, his hand lingered there, as though it was the only place in the world it belonged.
1001
