The McCarthy and Harvey families had once shared a deep bond–Old Mr. Harvey had saved his father’s life years ago. From then on, the two families became close friends, and the old gentleman even suggested they should become family by marriage.
It was hard for his father to refuse such a proposal.
Back then, Ablett thought it wouldn’t matter whom he spent the rest of his life with; marrying the Harvey family’s daughter seemed as good an option as any.
So, under his father’s direction, Ablett became engaged to the suitable Harvey daughter, Leda.
He didn’t object. With his future settled, he could focus on his ambitions without distraction.
That was before he met Blanche.
Only then did Ablett realize he was capable of falling in love.
It turned out, life with just anyone wasn’t the same after all.
Just as Ablett felt his heart skip a beat, before he could say a word, Blanche spun around and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.
His heart pounded violently, though his expression didn’t change. He looked down at her upturned, eager face.
“Hug me, Director,” Blanche whispered, the corners of her mouth curling up in a playful smile, showing no trace of the hurt she’d shown just moments before. “Your uncle and aunt are watching us from over there.”
Only a few minutes earlier, Gaylord Wilhelmina had heard Blanche was running a high fever the night before and came to check on her. In the garden, she stumbled upon Leda and Ablett in a rather compromising moment.
She couldn’t help but mutter to her companion:
“Look, Leda’s already holding Ablett’s hand, and Laney doesn’t react at all”
“Oh my, now they’re hugging.”
“What’s with the people looking after Ablett? Is this how they keep him safe–just letting anyone get close?”
“Why isn’t someone stepping in?”
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1049
“And Ablett–doesn’t he know better? He should be the one to move Leda away”
“If he tries to pull her off himself, it’ll just look even more suspicious,” Gaylord pointed out.
“See, Laney isn’t reacting at all.”
“If it were me, and you so much as touched another woman, I’d be furious–I’d go right up and demand an explanation.”
“Maybe there’s nothing real between Ablett and Laney…” she speculated.
Blanche, hearing their whispers not far away, felt the pressure mounting. She had no choice but to stomp over and pretend to be upset.
Ablett’s gaze softened. He understood everything.
His elegant hands came to rest gently on Blanche’s back, holding her close.
Nestled in his embrace, Blanche gave him a mischievous grin. “How’s my acting? Pretty convincing, huh?”
Ablett couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head. “Very convincing.”
Little liar.
Watching from a distance, Gaylord Wilhelmina finally felt reassured.
“We should hurry up and get the wedding over with, so Leda can finally give up.” “And those responsible for Ablett’s security–remind them, as someone from the old government, that just because someone’s close doesn’t mean they can drop their guard. No one should approach Ablett without his permission.”
“We can’t risk Laney misunderstanding again.”
“A woman’s heart can only take so many blows. After it breaks a few times, it’s nearly impossible to mend,” Wilhelmina concluded, just as a tall, imposing figure made his way past them, heading straight for Ablett and Blanche.
They exchanged puzzled glances. “Mr. Simmons? But doesn’t he barely know Ablett or Laney?”
Eddy walked up to the couple. As he approached, Blanche and Ablett let go of each other, and in Eddy’s dark eyes, there was a storm of barely contained longing. He seemed certain of himself as he spoke:
“You don’t love him. Stop lying to yourself.”
10:02
“There’s nothing between you two–you’ve never been together. You’re only with him to spite me.”
Wilhelmina, who had just walked over, was stunned by what she heard. “Mr.
Simmons, what exactly are you trying to say?”
