âI swear, Iâve never seen anyone with a hide as thick as yours, Imogen. You better watch yourself.
If I find out youâve had even a whisper of contact with that Domingo, I will take the news straight to Dad.â
Regina threw out her warning, her words sharp as knives, before she stormed out of the house.
Only when Reginaâs footsteps had faded did Imogen allow herself to slump against the banister, her body almost giving way beneath her.
This couldnât go on!
That little witch had dug up her past with Domingo, and while she hadnât spilled the beans to Francis yet, what if she woke up on the wrong side of the bed one day? Sheâd march straight to him with the news, no doubt about it.
Regina couldnât be allowed to stick around!
Or at least, Imogen needed to make sure her words turned to dust before they reached Francisâs ears.
Imogenâs gaze turned cold and calculating. âOh, Regina, youâve really brought this on yourself.â
Alive or not, Imogen knew a thousand ways to make her life a living hell.
âHey, did you get your hands on that âmedicineâ I asked for? Yeah, bring it this afternoon, I need it soonâ¦.Donât ask so many questions. Knowing too much isnât good for you.â
Imogen ended the call with a flick of her wrist, swiftly recomposing herself, slipping back into the elegant guise of Mrs. Tanner before heading out to a soiree.
Regina hadnât expected Imogen to turn her scheming on her. If she could turn back-time, she never would have trusted the words of a supposed informant, which now had her and Nolan at a dead end.
Later, Regina hid away in her room, tears slipping silently down her cheeks. Sheâd pay any price to turn back the clock, or at least to make him despise her a little less.
âMs. Tanner, meet me in the lobby of the Golden Hotel. Iâve got a critical lead for you.â One of Reginaâs informants, after weeks of silence, had finally made contact!
She replied with a surge of excitement, âIs it about that real estate developerâs case? Do you have solid evidence? When do we meet?â
The informant was cautious. âThis afternoon. Iâll give you the time later. You should wait for me in the lobby.â
Clutching her phone, Regina couldnât contain her glee at the terse message. She was dying to tell Nolan their case had a new lead, but she didnât know if heâd even care to listen.
But her joy won out.
[This afternoon I have a meet at the Golden Hotel with my informant. We might break the case wide open. I believe Domingo will be behind bars soon! Wait for my good news.]
But her message sank like a stone in the ocean-Nolan didnât respond. Regina felt a twinge of disappointment.
Still, she didnât let it crush her spirit. She decided to go to the Harris Group and find Nolan once she had the evidence. She wanted to explain in person why she had spoken the way she had that last time.
Sitting in the hotel lobby, leafing through her notes, Regina was startled when a man wearing a mask sat across from her.
âExcuse me, sir, Iâm expecting someone.â
âIâm the one youâre waiting for, Regina.â
Startled, she recognized the voice, âYouâre Orson? Whatâs this lead you mentioned?â
Orson surveyed their surroundings with caution, his lips sealed.
Reginaâs heart raced. She peered over her shoulder, scanning the area before reassuring him, âWeâre alone; Iâve already checked.â