Chapter 29
“This is a villa district. No one here hails taxis. You won’t get one.” Michael walked toward Lydia, his voice soft and patient It was like in the early days of their relationship, when he’d always smoothed over her troubles with gentle ease,
Lydia ground her teeth, swiping furiously on her phone. She didn’t know how much time had passed when the sound of a car starting up came from the door. She looked up, and her gaze clashed with Michael’s sharp, knowing eyes.
He slid into the driver’s seat, eased the car forward, and stopped right in front of her. “Get in,” he said, “or I’m not moving”
Lydia felt the servants‘ curious stares burning into her back. She checked her phone again–the ride–hailing app still showed no drivers.
The sun blazed down, searing the pavement as cars glided past.
Lydia sat in the back seat, staring out the window. Michael, at the wheel, couldn’t hide his satisfaction, stealing glances at her in the rearview mirror every so often.
“Stop at that bend up ahead,” Lydia said. She had kept a wary eye on the way, and as they neared the Hollander residence, she directed him firmly.
Michael didn’t press for details; he just pulled over as instructed. “Want me to wait?”
The simplicity of the question gave Lydia pause as she opened the door. For a split second, she thought of the boy who’d once waited for her in the cold after school.
“No need,” she said, shaking off the memory. She stepped out and walked briskly toward the Hollander residence.
Michael sat in the car, his expression dark and unreadable. He stared at her retreating back, and a hollow, bitter ache gnawed at him, as if a piece of himself was slipping
lay.
In the Hollander garden, an iris nodded in the breeze. Lydia turned onto the path at the garden’s edge, when suddenly a figure stepped into her way, blocking her path.
“You’re here early,” Effie said, a sly smile spreading across her face as she waved her phone. “I’ve got screenshots. That guy who dropped you off isn’t a Leonard, right? Guess how Hayden’s gonna react when he finds out you’re getting cozy with
another man?”
Lydia glanced at the screen, filled with photos of her and Michael in the car. Sunlight spilled through the window, creating an unexpectedly intimate scene, Her icy expression looked almost tender, the kind of image that would instantly fuel gossip.
But she didn’t bat an eye at Effie’s threat. “Whatever,” she said dismissívely.
Effie’s eyes were wide with disbelief. “Aren’t you scared Hayden will find out?”
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Chapter 291
Lydia crossed her arms, a sardonic smile playing at her lips as she looked down on Effie like she was nothing more than a pathetic joke.
“Why would I fear Hayden?” Lydia smiled. “At worst, we call off the marriage alliance. Then the Hollander family will pounce, and you’ll end up in the
boat
me.”
Effie’s face turned livid. Suddenly, something seemed to cross her mind, and she let out a bitter laugh. “As if you’d give up this fortune. Hayden might have his flaws, but the Leonards are one of Jettridge’s top families.
“Our Hollander family can’t compare, but we’re still high up here. I don’t need him, but you’re nothing without him. Even though Rachel’s married into our family, don’t forget–you’re still a Sullivan.”
After her tirade, she assumed Lydia’s silence was fear and smirked, “Get Hayden to hand over the urban renewal project to my branch, and maybe I’ll delete these photos.”
Lydia arched an eyebrow, an amused smile tugging at her lips. “How childish. If the Hollander family–the one ‘high up here‘–were left in your hands, it’d be bankrupt in a year.”
With that, she brushed past Effie, ignoring the sulky scowl burning into her back, and strode toward the entry door at the garden’s end.
Rachel had been waiting by the door. Seeing Lydia approaching with Effie lingering behind, she frowned and pulled Lydia aside, her voice low. “Why are you wasting time with her?”
Lydia paused, studying the clear displeasure on Rachel’s face. For a moment, memories of the past surged up, sharp and
unbidden.
Over the years since marrying into the Hollander family, Rachel had doted on Effie as if she were her daughter, even overshadowing Lydia.
Yet this so–called “mother–daughter bond” between Effie and Rachel was so fragile that it could shatter at the first hint of self–interest. How ironic.
Suddenly, Lydia thought of Hayden’s scheme and found it rather brilliant. It laid bare the ugly underbelly of human nature, a spectacle that felt both mocking and absurd.
“We ran into each other on the way and came in together,” she said flatly.
Rachel didn’t press further. She took Lydia by the arm, steering her toward the dining room.
Lydia subtly pulled her hand free. Rachel’s overly familiar touch made her uncomfortable.
“Lydia, you’re here.” Sean stood up first with a warm smile, as if he were a kindly stepfather.
Lydia wasn’t used to his intimate tone and simply nodded in response.
Vincente, seated nearby, chimed in, “Lydia and Effie are about the same age. Come sit here–you young folks will have more to chat about.”
Effie had just reached the round table, not yet seated. She let out a sharp huff, loud enough for everyone to hear. “I’m not sitting with her.”
Chapter 29
15 Aug
Vincente flashed an awkward smile at Lydia. “Kids can be a handful,” he said, trying to smooth things over,
Then he turned to glare at Effie. “Your attitude is getting out of control. You’re being totally disrespectful to our guests.
teach you any manners over the years!”
Looks like I’ve completely failed 2
Humiliated at being called out in front of everyone, Effie blurted out, “You’re only sucking up to her because of her ties to the Leonard family. But she showed up in another man’s car. Her flirty ways will drag our family down.”
Rachel stared at Lydia, shocked. “You…”
Lydia remained calm. She pulled out a chair and sat down, paying no mind to the odd looks around her.
The meal was anything but peaceful. The Hollander brothers ate in silence, staring down at their plates. Rachel looked tense, her eyes bouncing between Lydia and Effie.
Effie, the one who’d started it all, looked thrilled. She was convinced she’d just thrown Lydia under the bus, a wave of satisfaction washing over her.
After lunch, Rachel led Lydia to the garden.
Lydia leaned back in her chair, watching the soft light drift through the parasol. “Go ahead and say what you want,” she said.
She’d already noticed Rachel had been holding back since before lunch.
