Chapter 5
Lillian’s arm swung past Alvaro and aimed at the old butler standing behind him.
Suddenly, an image popped up on the big screen, making me raise an eyebrow.
It showed the old butler helping me get into a car, but the angle made it look like he was holding me around the waist.
People in the hall immediately started whispering.
“What? An old man?”
“Seriously? Has Ms. Patnick really sunk that low?”
“Well, considering her situation, it makes total sense. Who else would want her now besides an old man? That car is a custom Rolls–Royce worth over two million!”
“Honestly, with her attitude, she’s lucky to end up with someone that wealthy.”
Alvaro kept lifting his eyebrows in surprise. The old butler behind him stayed calm, about to speak, but I shot him a look and he stayed silent.
Now I really want to know how Lillian plans to twist this photo.
Sure enough, Lillian marched over and shoved me aside, then clung to Eiden’s arm like she was taking a stand.
Her eyes were red and full of fake sympathy as she spoke, “Eiden, look at
08 140
Chapter 5
an man, and
her! Margaret is flirting with another man, being kept by old she still dares to come back and chase after you
“Even though I’ve been her best friend, I stand by what’s right, not by who I know. Margaret, what you did is too much. You’ve completely crushed Eiden’s heart.
“How about this, hand over the Patnick Woodworks‘ patents to me, and I’ll convince Eiden to marry you.”
As expected, all this drama was just her way of getting the company’s patents.
I sat back and watched her performance like it was a stage play, half- tempted to applaud her.
She was clearly willing to say anything just to take the Patnick Woodworks.
If Eiden started sobbing now and whining about how he waited years for me only to be treated this way, he’d instantly make me look like the villain.
If I didn’t give up the patents, with so many people watching and whispering, I’d be completely buried by their judgment.
Too bad things didn’t go the way she planned.
“Who would even think about marrying someone like her?”
Eiden’s eyes were full of anger, and he looked like he was about to explode.
“How dare you… cheat on me?”
Each word ground out through his clenched teeth like he could barely
Chapter 5
contain himself.
When she heard “cheat,” Lillian’s smile faded just a little.
11
He must’ve forgotten that I haven’t married him, and he hadn’t even divorced Lillian yet, and here he was, throwing around accusations like he had any right.
“Enough! Just stop talking!”
The manager couldn’t take it anymore and rushed over to pull Lillian away, throwing nervous glances toward Alvaro.
Alvaro’s smile grew wider, and anyone familiar with him knew that meant someone was about to be in real danger.
Whenever this Italian mafia boss got involved, it usually didn’t end well. I didn’t want to cause a huge scene, so I yanked my hand out of Eiden’s grip. and turned to face both of them.
I said, “My ex–husband and my ex–best friend? What a perfect pair. As it happens, I’ve got a little gift for you, too.”
I clicked the digital pen I’d been hiding in my hand, and the image on the big screen switched instantly. The photo of me and the butler disappeared, replaced by a video of Lillian and Eiden.
In the video, one side showed me in a wedding gown, raising a glass and toasting the guests. On the other side, he and Lillian were kissing passionately in the corridor.
Their clothes were half off, and their bodies pressed against each other. Anyone could tell exactly what they were doing.
The crowd broke into loud, buzzing whispers, like a storm rolling. through.
Chapter 5
I leaned in close to Eiden and whispered, “Last night, I overheard your little conversation. And it suddenly hit me that I bought every clip from the hotel’s wedding footage, planning to make a video for our 50th anniversary. Funny how I ended up needing it for something else instead.”
Eiden clenched his jaw, his face dark with frustration. “Margaret, I get that you’re obsessed with me, but don’t you care about your best friend’s reputation? She’s a woman. Once her reputation’s ruined, it’s over.”
I almost laughed out loud at how absurd it was.
Oh, now he remembers a woman’s reputation actually matters?
When I was being insulted earlier, he didn’t even step up to defend me.
Alvaro chuckled and said, “Mr. Warrick, your shamelessness is thicker than all of Europe.”
Lillian noticed all the odd stares around her. Her expression grew more and more awkward until she shot me a hateful look, hid her face, and ran
out of the hall in tears.
Eiden paused for a second, but ended up chasing after her.
Once they were gone, I finally felt all the stress drain out of me.
Still recovering from a serious illness, my body couldn’t take that kind of emotional blow. My knees buckled, and I stumbled back a couple of steps.
A steady hand reached out and caught me.
Alvaro gave me a playful grin. “Ms. Patnick, you had me come all this way. So, when are you going to make things official with me?”
22015
Chapter 6
