Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Knowing Bryant was waiting for me, the last thing I expected was to find someone else in the passenger seat, especially someone who was supposed to hitch a ride, Margaret, sitting there as if she belonged..

I was on the verge of turning around and

Bryant with an outstretched hand. “Kaving, but reason held me back. I approached

Without a word, Bryant handed them over.

I circled the front of the car and slid into the driver’s seat, catching Margaret’s stiff and surprised expression. I couldn’t help but smirk. “What’s the big deal? You’re practically Bryant’s sister. Hitching a ride is the least of our worries.”

Then, leaning over to glance at Bryant still outside, I called, “Come on, get in. Timothy must be waiting.”

The drive was eerily silent like we were trapped in a tomb.

Margaret tried to strike up a conversation with Bryant but gave up, probably because it was awkward to turn back constantly.

Sensing my discomfort, Bryant suddenly handed me a bottle. “Mango juice, your favorite.”

I took a sip, grimaced, and handed it back. “Too sweet for me. You have it.”

Lately, I’d been craving sour flavors, a departure from my past self who’d eat anything not to waste it.

“Okay,” Bryant accepted it back, no further questions asked.

Margaret couldn’t help but comment, her tone laced with complexity. “Passing back a drink you’ve sipped? You know, that’s not very clean. You could spread all sorts of bacteria that way.”

I laughed off her concern. “By that logic, we’re in even more danger sleeping in the sam bed every night, aren’t we?”

Margaret knew what I was implying and retorted, “I didn’t realize you two were still so close, even after all these years.”

“Jealous much?” Bryant shot back in a cold voice.

There it was, the usual banter between them. Margaret snarked back, “Jealous? Why would I be?”

“Who cares” Bryant retorted.

Margaret rolled her eyes but managed a smile. It reminds me of someone who, on his wedding night, heard I was in trouble and left his bride to stay with me all night…”

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10:34

TOME

Chapter 9

“Margaret!” Bryant’s face darkened, and he sharply cut her off.

I slammed on the brakes, barely stopping before the crosswalk, my heart sour like soaked in lemon juice.

The hurt and confusion flooded jn, tinged with the bitter realization of Bryant’s absence on our wedding night, a night he had vanished after a mysterious phone call, leaving me.. alone and unexplained.

Arranged by Timothy, Bryant’s grandfather, our marriage had begun on rocky grounds, with many questions left unanswered.

And at that moment, Margaret’s offhand comment had reopened that wound deeper than before.

I looked between them, feeling like the butt of a joke.

Margaret covered her mouth in panic, looking at Bryant. “You never told Jane? My bad, I always speak before I think

It was as if she was implying, your bond can’t be that strong if you’re hiding things like this from each other.

“Are you out of your mind?” Bryant’s voice was a chilling calm, a stark contrast to his usually imposing demeanor, one that had helped him rise to the top of the Ferguson Group at such a young age.

“Sorry, sorry, I didn’t know it was a secret, Margaret quickly apologized, her tone somehow innocent and intimate.

The way she was comfortable around Bryant implied that she knew he wouldn’t fight back.

My phone’s ringtone cut through the tension.

I reached for my phone, glanced at the caller ID, and answered, trying to compose mys “Timothy.”

“Jane, are you close? Don’t make an old man wait,” Timothy’s voice was warm and concerned.

I was ready to leave them behind and walk away, but Timothy’s kindness made me reconsider. “We’re almost there. Timothy, it’s windy today. Please, don’t wait outside.”

Everyone believed Timothy Ferguson to be a stern and solitary figure, but to me, he was the grandfather I wished I’d always had.

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