Chapter 420
“Remember that.”
When it came to serious matters, he could be surprisingly straight–laced. His voice was slow and steady, “She claimed that only Dorothy and her daughter were behind it. Couldn’t pin anything else on her, and it didn’t seem right to keep holding her without more evidence, so we let her go. Why? What’s up?”
“I saw her yesterday.”
I didn’t stop what I was doing but looked up at Gregory. “Remember how Bella suddenly announced last year she had a daughter? Guess who that daughter
is?”
“Her?”
“Yeah, now goes by the name Summer.”
I was puzzled.
Gregory’s brown eyes narrowed slightly. “I’ll have someone dig into it.”
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, “Talk to me.”
“Greg, there’s nothing suspicious on the surface. Just Bella suddenly declaring
– she has a daughter, Summer. Can’t find much else. Looks like someone’s
covered their tracks well.”
“Any way to find out more?”
“That’ll take some time. You in a hurry?”
Gregory’s voice was cold, “Just get on it.”
After hanging up, he looked at me, “Done with the massage?”
“Don’t want to overdo it.”
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. “Jane, I want to celebrate Valentine’s Day too. You can’t play favorites.”
What did he mean by playing favorites?
I glared at him. “I already told you, I didn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day with Bryant.”
“Then let’s celebrate Valentine’s Day, okay?”
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. “Why…why not, go celebrate if you want to. It’s not like I can stop you.”
“What I mean is…”
He dragged out the words, his gaze fixed on me, a smirk playing on his lips, “Celebrate Valentine’s Day with you. Don’t play dumb.”
“So what are we now, that you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day?” I asked.
He was calm, a mocking light in his eyes, but his voice turned cold, “What are we? We’ve been a lot of things over the years, haven’t we? Childhood friends, fiancés, friends, or maybe… a backup plan, someone you ditched?”
I lowered my gaze. “I never saw you as a backup. And about ditching… what happened back then, I was in the wrong.”
I shouldn’t have been so presumptuous.
Thinking that by breaking it off and going back to Bryant, I was doing him a favor.
Gregory’s gaze suddenly turned icy, “And yet, you’ve never offered an explanation for any of it?”
“Gregory, the past is the past.”
My numbness was fading, and I managed to stand up, licking my lips, “Some things… Maybe it’s better not to explain.”
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Chapter 420
Bringing up the past could unearth more problems.
He scoffed, “And what if I insist? Jane, this might be your last chance. No explanation this time, and as you wish, we’ll just be friends from here on.”
“I…” I clenched my fists, took a deep breath. “Back then, what I did…”
*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.
“Gregory, aren’t you going to greet your sister? I might have been out on a date, but I didn’t forget to bring you some treats. And about your ‘just friends‘ situation with your ex, I’ve got news…”
I stopped mid–sentence, looking over at her. Only her head was visible over a piece of furniture.
Gregory pinched the bridge of his nose, “Edith!”
“Just changing my shoes.”
She continued, “You’ll love what I’ve got to say, your friend ditched her date halfway through dinner…”
Gregory gritted his teeth, “Edith!”
“Ah? What’s the rush? I’m getting to it…”
As Edith straightened up and moved towards us, she finally saw Gregory and me–the ‘just friends.‘
I pretended to be confused, “Edith, didn’t you tell me Gregory needed
someone to check on him because of his leg pain?”
Edith looked even more bewildered for a moment but recovered quickly.
Right. She slapped her forehead, “Oh, right. I totally forgot. Pregnancy brain, you know?”
Gregory smirked, “Try not to forget next time.”
“Will do, will do.”
Edith, still a bit sheepish, carried her bags over, “I’m sorry for the trouble,
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always coming over to look after Greg.”
I shook my head, “It’s no trouble.”
“Oh, and,”
Suddenly remembering something, Edith smiled, “Let’s exchange numbers, huh? If you need anything in Vista Town, just hit me up. As long as it’s not about hiding a body or starting a fire, I can handle it.”
I glanced at Gregory, smiling faintly, “I thought we already exchanged numbers?”