Felipa hit the floor with a sharp cry. “Mr. Simmons! What are you doing?”
Eddy finally got a good look at the woman he’d shoved–she was the same one he’d spotted at the press conference the other day. He froze, only now realizing his mistake.
Blanche, propped against the armrest of the couch, mustered her strength and shot Eddy a frosty glare. “Why are you attacking Miss Felipa?”
Felipa scrambled to her feet, brushing herself off. She cast an angry look at Eddy before turning to Blanche. “Mrs. Simmons, let me get you a glass of water.”
“Thank you,” Blanche murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Felipa slipped out, quietly closing the door behind her. Eddy glanced down at his phone, finally taking a closer look at the photos that had set him off. The first one showed Blanche and another man in profile, their heads inclined as if deep in conversation. But the two so–called “incriminating” shots after that? They were nothing but the man’s back–and now that he looked, the figure was much slighter than Fernando’s.
He must have lost his mind to ever suspect Blanche.
Just then, the door burst open. Hedwig strode in, phone in hand, her voice anxious. “Eddy! Blanche’s name is trending online–they’re saying she’s cheating!”
She’d come to see what was going on, only to find Blanche sitting calmly while Eddy stood rigid, tension humming in the air.
“Get PR on it, now. Bury the story, find out who’s behind this–whoever’s slandering her, I’ll make them pay,” Eddy snapped, icy resolve in his tone.
“On it.” Hedwig took one look at Blanche’s expression and hurried back out.
Eddy turned to Blanche, his voice harsh. “Is that what you think I believe? That you’d cheat on me? That I’m just some fool?”
Blanche’s disappointment in him ran deep–had for years. Still, nothing could erase the decade he’d spent by her side, or the fact that he’d once saved her life. She hated his infidelity, just wanted to leave him, but she’d never planned to fight over it. She’d never planned to stoop to his level.
But now he wanted to drag her name through the mud?
Eddy crouched in front of her, pain flickering in his eyes as she challenged him.
Chapter ୨୪
“Blanche, I was worried about you.”
“You’re supposed to be recovering at home. When you showed up here out of nowhere, I-”
He reached out, but she yanked her hand away.
“Lara, the little girl you want to adopt threw stones at me at preschool.
Terrell–Professor Reese’s son–helped me. It’s his birthday today. Is it so wrong I
wanted to thank him?”
“It’s a kids‘ birthday party. There were dozens of people around,” she continued, her voice trembling with anger. “What on earth do you think would happen?”
“If you weren’t so twisted inside, you wouldn’t look at me and see only filth. You see the world through dirty glass, Eddy. That’s your problem, not mine.”
Her heart felt ice–cold as she thought of his betrayals. “I don’t want to see you.
Leave.”
“Blanche, please, don’t be angry,” Eddy pleaded, gripping her hand tightly. He’d never seen her so completely disappointed with him. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have gotten jealous. I never should have doubted you.”
“I’m just worried about your health. That’s all.”
Blanche’s gaze fell to his phone, to the three photos still on the screen. “If you really trusted me, you wouldn’t let a few out–of–context pictures and rumors make you lose your head. You almost hurt Felipa just now.”
“You’ve let me down, Eddy. Completely.” She pushed past him and strode out of the
lounge.
Fernando was waiting in the hallway.
“Mrs. Simmons, some fool started spreading lies about you online, but Felipa has already taken care of it.”
At the sound of Fernando’s voice, Eddy’s hands curled into fists. He stepped out, his eyes narrowed. “My wife doesn’t need your help.”
“Mr. Simmons, your wife was dragged into this mess just for attending my son’s birthday party. As the host, it’s my responsibility to set things right,” Fernando replied, with young Terrell standing at his side.
Terrell slipped his hand into Blanche’s. “Aunt Blanche, Dad says people are saying mean things about you online.”
20:33
Chapter 98
“Don’t be sad. I know they’re wrong, and so does Dad, Terrell assured her, his tone
earnest.
Blanche felt a wave of emotion at the boy’s kindness. “Thank you, sweetheart. You and your father are both very kind.”
Fernando held out a folder. “This is what Felipa found. The person behind all this.”
20:33 #
