Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Alair’s hand frore Inches from the dam.
In disbelief, he perred through the glass panel to see what was happening inside
Jenna sat in the center of her friends, her face heavily maile op. Gone was any trace of the Innocent, vulnerable girl he thought he knene.
Instead, her expression Indiated song superiority.
“Of course I landed him. Haven’t you heard? His frigid fiancee Stella Forbes has run off to some space research facility. She won’t be back for at least a decade, maybe twar
The group of women broke into applause.
“Jenna, you’re a legend Breaking up an engagement as solid as the Forbes Gillest alliance? Genius
“Teach us your ways! Hoe did you get Stella to wall away on her own?”
Jenna’s smile grew even more self–satisfied,
“Thad a whole strategy. For starters, the only reason Alaric agreed to the wedding inthe first place was because drugged him. In his confused state, he slept with Stella”
Outside the door. Alaric’s pupils contracted stolently
That night with Stella–she had always maintained they were both drunk. But Alaric knew better, drunkenness didn’t explain what happened.
He had assumed Stells had drugged him to force him into marriage
But he’d only been half right-
He had been drugged.
But it wasn’t by Stella. It was by ferma.
But why would Jenna do that?
Not only was Alaric condused hut Jenna’s friends were equally baffled.
“I don’t get it, Jenna. Weren’t you basically forcing your uncle to marry Stella? Why would you do that?”
Jenna smiled slyly
“That’s where you’re all missing the point. The business ties between the Gilbert and Forbes families are too strong–that marriage was inevitable. Whether Alaric fought it or not, he’d eventually have to marry her.”
I seszed the opportunity to make him believe Stella had manipulated him. I wanted him to truly despise her!
Outside, Maric could barely believe his ears.
Was this calculating woman really the sweet, ingent Jenna he thought he knew?
Inside, Jenna’s friends continued to praise her ruthlessness as her expression grew increasingly triumphant,
“That was just the beginning. Then at the auction, 1 deliberately showed interest in her mother’s artwork. Alaric bought it accidentally broke ir”
rageous price, and I
“Next came Stella’s birthday party. I drugged myself to make Alaric sleep with me. Once that happened, I knew he’d never be able to let me go “But that wasn’t enough. I made him believe Stella had drugged me, so he’d hate her even more
“I didn’t expect Stella to up her game by injuring berwell to gain Alaric’s trust. That accusation didn’t work, but no matter
matter–I had an even bigger plac”
Chapter 10
“I set fire to the Torbes mansion, and in that critical moment, Alarie saved me Instead of Stella! That’s when Stella finally pave up on
Brilliam.right?
Outside the door, the last trace of color had drained from Alaric’s Este
He never imagined that everything that had happened recently had been orchestrated by Jenna.
Inside, she continued to boast.
I did all of this to make Stella lose faith in Alaric and walk away on her own! And it actually
worked
“That idiot Stella ran away with her
her tail between her legs! The position of Mrs. Gilbert is all mine now!
Jenna was enjoying her moment of triumph, ber nose practically in the air, when suddenly-
BANG!
The door flew open with tremendous force. Seeing Alaric standing there, his face like stone, Jenna’s smug smile froze as the blood drained from her face.
“U–Uncle Alt
