Chapter 50
Eddy burst in out of nowhere, yanking her behind him before Blanche could even react.
She stared in shock as Eddy swung his fist at Fernando, who quickly stepped back, dodging the blow with practiced ease.
Their eyes locked in a silent battle, tension thickening the air like a coming storm.
“Well, if it isn’t Mr. and Mrs. Simmons!”
“Yeah, that’s right. The other day, she fainted out in the neighborhood. It was Mr. Reese who called the ambulance, you know.”
The café was filled with residents from the nearby upscale community. They might not have the wealth of Southvale’s elite, but they were influential enough in their own right. Naturally, they recognized Eddy and Blanche-after all, the Simmons family had been the talk of the town lately. And they recognized Fernando, too.
Blanche shook off Eddy’s tightening grip, catching his startled look over his shoulder. Her gaze slid from his broodingly handsome face down to his perfectly tailored suit. Who would have guessed that this polished, dignified version of Eddy had been a complete mess just minutes before?
When Eddy noticed Blanche rubbing her wrist, realization flickered across his eyes-he’d hurt her. A flash of guilt surfaced, but it vanished just as quickly when he caught the neighbors’ whispers. His expression turned cold. “Blanche, did you come here to meet this man?”
Blanche continued to massage her wrist, her eyes finally settling on Fernando. She studied him as if seeing a stranger for the first time. “So you were the one who helped me that day?”
Fernando met her distant gaze, something unspoken flickering in his
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eyes. He lowered his voice. “Yes.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name?”
One of the neighbors jumped in, eager to fill the gap. “Mrs. Simmons, that’s Professor Reese from Ivycrest University. He’s quite the academic. Just moved into our neighborhood recently. If it weren’t for Professor Reese’s quick thinking that day, none of us would have noticed you’d fainted in your car.”
Blanche’s eyes shifted back to Fernando, now openly grateful, which made Eddy’s jaw clench uncomfortably.
So they didn’t know each other after all. He’d been mistaken.
Eddy stepped forward, extending his hand and cutting off the silent exchange between Blanche and Fernando. “Sorry about earlier. I saw you watching my wife and thought you might be up to something. My apologies.”
“I’m her husband-Eddy.”
“You saved my wife. I insist on rewarding you generously.”
Despite his polite words, Eddy radiated a cold, almost threatening energy, his eyes sharp and unyielding.
Fernando glanced at Eddy’s outstretched hand, his expression
unreadable, a hint of disdain in the set of his jaw. “No need for thanks. If it had been anyone else, I would have called for help all the same.”
With that, he walked right past the couple and out of the café. Yet, long after he’d left, Fernando couldn’t help but turn back, catching a glimpse of them through the window-Blanche and Eddy standing close together.
His gaze darkened, sharpened by something fierce and unresolved.
Ever since Blanche had collapsed near that villa-lost too much blood and nearly died-Fernando had looked into who lived there. He discovered
that Eddy owned the place, but the person residing there was a strikingly
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beautiful young woman.
The implications were obvious.
Earlier tonight, he’d seen the news about Blanche’s mother’s
grave-someone had deliberately knocked over the urn. He imagined how devastated Blanche must be.
Then, as night fell, he’d noticed Eddy’s car parked outside that villa.
It infuriated him. Blanche was grieving, and yet Eddy, her husband, wasn’t by her side.
He’d gone out for a walk to clear his head, passing by the villa, only to see Blanche standing alone, shattered by sorrow.
Even knowing Laney would be gone from Eddy’s life soon, Fernando couldn’t stop himself from worrying. Blanche was such a wonderful woman-she didn’t deserve to be treated this way.
He wouldn’t let Eddy get away with it.
Back inside the café, one of the neighbors tried to break the tension. “Don’t mind him, Mr. Simmons. Geniuses are always a bit eccentric.”
