The day after tomorrow, she could finally take her child and leave.
But tomorrow, there were still a few things she needed to take care of.
Before she could make plans, her phone rang–Margaret’s call interrupted everything.
“Laney, after thinking it over, I really believe you’re the perfect choice to be Jean’s maid of honor.”
The Anderson family had become the subject of whispered gossip ever since they took in Jeannette for Eddy’s sake–a scandal no one dared to discuss openly. Margaret couldn’t swallow her resentment, so she turned to them. “We’ll combine the birthday party and the wedding reception–two celebrations in one. And if Healy could be the ring bearer for his aunt, it would make the day even more special.”
Blanche gazed out the window at the bright, cloudless sky. Handing Jeannette over to the Andersons had certainly crossed a line, but if letting Margaret have some peace of mind would help, she was willing.
And besides, was she really that bothered by the idea of Healy being Jean’s ring
bearer?
After all, he’d always wanted Jeannette to be his mother, to have her take Blanche’s place as Kelvin’s wife.
“Mom, I want to be the ring bearer for Mr. Kelvin and Miss Jean!” Healy burst into the room and dove into Blanche’s arms.
Looking at his small, innocent face, Blanche felt a strange sense of disorientation.
On the phone, Margaret overheard Healy’s excited voice and laughed. “That’s wonderful, Healy! Laney, does
at settle it?”
“Please, Mom, can I do it?”
Lara had called earlier, saying how much she missed him, and if he went, he’d get to play with her again.
“All right.”
Blanche decided to grant him this small wish before leaving for good.
“I’ll send a driver to pick you up for the dress fitting,” Margaret said before hanging
21:47
- up.
Blanche took Healy and Lauren to the bridal boutique,
Jeannette stepped out of the fitting room in a stunning white wedding gown, Kelvin beside her looking every bit the perfect gentleman in his tailored suit.
Margaret beamed at the sight of them standing together. “You two look absolutely wonderful together.”
At this point, what choice was left but to accept it?
Besides, after Kelvin had brought Jeannette home last night, the commotion that followed had pleased Margaret immensely.
Ingrid’s refusal to marry Kelvin or have children meant nothing now; at least Jeannette had already given birth, and having another child would be no trouble at all.
So many parents worried endlessly about their children’s marriages and the prospect of grandchildren.
Whatever Jeannette’s faults, as long as she stayed away from Eddy, it would be
fine.
With Lara already in the Anderson family, Eddy would surely look after Kelvin’s career, and Jeannette would gain plenty from this arrangement.
Margaret had finally come to terms with it. It was worth it.
“Laney, you’re here! What do you think?” Margaret greeted her warmly.
Healy immediately piped up, “Miss Jean, you look so pretty!”
Blanche’s eyes grew cold as she looked at Jeannette. Remembering Eddy’s warning and the memory of being beaten by the housemaid, Jeannette quickly lowered her gaze, afraid to meet Blanche’s stare.
“Laney, go pick out something to wear for tomorrow. It’s my treat,” Margaret said, taking Healy’s hand. “As for Healy’s little suit, let me take care of it–I’ll make sure he’s the most dashing boy there.”
Healy clapped his hands with delight. “What about Lara? Is she going to wear a pretty dress too?”
Margaret glanced at Blanche, who was calmly flipping through a lookbook, showing no particular reaction. Relieved, Margaret answered, “Lara won’t be at her mother’s wedding. Instead, I’ve invited Tia to pair with you.”
21:471
Chapter 153
Healy’s excitement faded and he started to protest. “So when it’s my birthday, Lara won’t be there to celebrate with me either?”
Margaret didn’t reply, and Healy buried his face in Blanche’s embrace, his voice muffled with disappointment. “Mom, I want Lara to be the flower girl. I want Lara!”
Everyone in the room froze in surprise, but Blanche showed no sign of displeasure. She simply nodded, her tone even. “All right.”
Healy lit up as if he’d been given the world, hugging Blanche tightly and kissing her cheek. “Mom, you’re the best!”
Meanwhile, Eddy had just left the hospital when he heard that Margaret had invited Blanche to be the maid of honor. His face darkened with anger as he rushed straight to the bridal boutique.
“Did my wife not call to ask about my condition?”
Sitting in the back of the Rolls–Royce, Eddy questioned his bodyguard. Ever since he woke up
and found Blanche gone, it felt as if he’d fallen from the clouds into an endless abyss.
The bodyguard patiently repeated, “No, sir. But she didn’t seem angry.”
Eddy couldn’t shake the feeling that something about Blanche had changed. She used to fuss over him even if he had the slightest cold.
Didn’t she know he’d been drugged?
Why hadn’t she shown any concern at all?
Her image lingered in his mind, and every time he thought of her, his heart brimmed with tenderness.
But today, it felt as though something inside him was quietly slipping away.
He pressed his hand to his chest, suddenly anxious. “Arrange for a private jet to bring Dr. Smith back–he must arrive tonight.”
The bodyguard nodded.
When Eddy arrived at the bridal boutique, he saw Blanche emerge from the fitting room in a champagne–colored off–the–shoulder gown. She looked so much thinner, her delicate features even more striking.
He strode over and pulled her into an embrace, whispering an apology in her ea and promising that what happened last night would never happen again.
Chapter 163
She answered him coolly, without the usual shy blush she once had.
Eddy felt lost, unsure of what to do. He took Blanche’s hand, his dark eyes suddenly narrowing. “Darling, where’s your wedding ring?”
