Chapter 420
âRemember that.â
When it came to serious matters, he could be surprisingly straightâlaced. His voice was slow and steady, âShe claimed that only Dorothy and her daughter were behind it. Couldnât pin anything else on her, and it didnât seem right to keep holding her without more evidence, so we let her go. Why? Whatâs up?â
âI saw her yesterday.â
I didnât stop what I was doing but looked up at Gregory. âRemember how Bella suddenly announced last year she had a daughter? Guess who that daughter
is?â
âHer?â
âYeah, now goes by the name Summer.â
I was puzzled.
Gregoryâs brown eyes narrowed slightly. âIâll have someone dig into it.â
He never liked to drag his feet. He made a call right then and there.
And the response was quick.
Just as I finished massaging his legs, the phone rang.
Gregory answered, âTalk to me.â
âGreg, thereâs nothing suspicious on the surface. Just Bella suddenly declaring
â she has a daughter, Summer. Canât find much else. Looks like someoneâs
covered their tracks well.â
âAny way to find out more?â
âThatâll take some time. You in a hurry?â
Gregoryâs voice was cold, âJust get on it.â
After hanging up, he looked at me, âDone with the massage?â
âDonât want to overdo it.â
I tried to stand up but my legs were too numb, and I fell back. Gregory caught
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me in a swift move, pulling me into his embrace.
I ended up sitting on his lap, his scent of mint filling my nostrils.
My ears burned, and I struggled to stand, but he gripped my waist. âJane, I want to celebrate Valentineâs Day too. You canât play favorites.â
What did he mean by playing favorites?
I glared at him. âI already told you, I didnât celebrate Valentineâs Day with Bryant.â
âThen letâs celebrate Valentineâs Day, okay?â
He tightened his hold around my waist, pulling me closer.
His intention was clear, but when I tried to speak, my words came out all twisted. âWhyâ¦why not, go celebrate if you want to. Itâs not like I can stop you.â
âWhat I mean isâ¦â
He dragged out the words, his gaze fixed on me, a smirk playing on his lips, âCelebrate Valentineâs Day with you. Donât play dumb.â
âSo what are we now, that you want to celebrate Valentineâs Day?â I asked.
He was calm, a mocking light in his eyes, but his voice turned cold, âWhat are we? Weâve been a lot of things over the years, havenât we? Childhood friends, fiancés, friends, or maybe⦠a backup plan, someone you ditched?â
I lowered my gaze. âI never saw you as a backup. And about ditching⦠what happened back then, I was in the wrong.â
I shouldnât have been so presumptuous.
Thinking that by breaking it off and going back to Bryant, I was doing him a favor.
Gregoryâs gaze suddenly turned icy, âAnd yet, youâve never offered an explanation for any of it?â
âGregory, the past is the past.â
My numbness was fading, and I managed to stand up, licking my lips, âSome things⦠Maybe itâs better not to explain.â
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Chapter 420
Bringing up the past could unearth more problems.
He scoffed, âAnd what if I insist? Jane, this might be your last chance. No explanation this time, and as you wish, weâll just be friends from here on.â
âIâ¦â I clenched my fists, took a deep breath. âBack then, what I didâ¦â
*Click*
The sound of the front door interrupted us as Edith burst in, dropping bags on the nearby couch and bending to untie her fancy boots, all the while babbling.
âGregory, arenât you going to greet your sister? I might have been out on a date, but I didnât forget to bring you some treats. And about your âjust friendsâ situation with your ex, Iâve got newsâ¦â
I stopped midâsentence, looking over at her. Only her head was visible over a piece of furniture.
Gregory pinched the bridge of his nose, âEdith!â
âJust changing my shoes.â
She continued, âYouâll love what Iâve got to say, your friend ditched her date halfway through dinnerâ¦â
Gregory gritted his teeth, âEdith!â
âAh? Whatâs the rush? Iâm getting to itâ¦â
As Edith straightened up and moved towards us, she finally saw Gregory and meâthe âjust friends.â
I pretended to be confused, âEdith, didnât you tell me Gregory needed
someone to check on him because of his leg pain?â
Edith looked even more bewildered for a moment but recovered quickly.
Right. She slapped her forehead, âOh, right. I totally forgot. Pregnancy brain, you know?â
Gregory smirked, âTry not to forget next time.â
âWill do, will do.â
Edith, still a bit sheepish, carried her bags over, âIâm sorry for the trouble,
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always coming over to look after Greg.â
I shook my head, âItâs no trouble.â
âOh, and,â
Suddenly remembering something, Edith smiled, âLetâs exchange numbers, huh? If you need anything in Vista Town, just hit me up. As long as itâs not about hiding a body or starting a fire, I can handle it.â
I glanced at Gregory, smiling faintly, âI thought we already exchanged numbers?â