Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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I sneered inwardly as I pulled out my phone, capturing their compromising scene. What would Lucas do if he saw how dirty his fiancée was?
There was Charlotte–cheating with my cousin, of all people.
Jake and Charlotte weren’t blood relatives–him being my mother’s nephew and her my father’s niece–but that hardly mattered. Charlotte was engaged to Lucas, and Jake had a wife. Any way you looked at it, this was a betrayal.
“I fucking miss your body so much!” Jake whispered, his voice low but unmistakable, followed by Charlotte’s moan.
Disgusted, I turned to leave but froze when I noticed someone else in the shadows. Tina stood frozen in her crisp server’s uniform, her eyes locked on the couple, her expression unreadable. I moved quickly, grasping her elbow and guiding her away from the garden before we could be discovered.
“Miss Prescott, let go of me!” she hissed sharply once we were safely hidden from the two entangled sinners.
“You saw what I saw,” I said evenly, lowering my voice. “I was trying to keep you from making a scene.”
Her lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. “How convenient for the wealthy to keep their secrets.”
I frowned at her audacity but then noticed my necklace around her neck. It was the same necklace I’d lost in high school; now, I saw it on her.
Without thinking, I grabbed the chain and pulled it into view. “This is mine! Where did you get it?”
Her face turned ashen, and her hands trembled. “Y–you’re mistaken!” she stammered, slapping my hand away. “I found it-”
She stopped mid–sentence, her eyes darting behind me. I turned to see Jake approaching, his tie loosened and hair mussed, alone now.
Tina’s jaw tightened, and her voice dropped to a threatening whisper. “Forget about the necklace, Miss Prescott. If you don’t, you’ll regret it. Trust me when I say you don’t want to pursue this.”
Without another word, she turned and left a chill in her wake.
I stood frozen, her threat echoing in my mind. “What did she mean by that?‘
“Tsk! What’s wrong with that loser?” Jake’s voice cut through my thoughts, dripping with disdain as he approached.
I shot him a sharp glare. “I just said hi to her. Where did you go?” I asked, feigning ignorance about what I’d just witnessed.
He waved his electronic cigarette nonchalantly. “Smoke.”
I turned my back on him, keeping my expression neutral. I had the photo I took earlier, but now wasn’t the time to use it. Besides, Lucas wouldn’t believe me. He’d probably accuse me of photoshopping it.
But Tina’s words lingered in my mind. ‘Why did she say it was for my own good to forget about the necklace?‘
My thoughts scattered as soon as I stepped back into the hall, and Gabriel’s voice cut through the noise.
“Babe, I must go; something’s come up tonight.”
I glanced at his phone, catching a glimpse of Sabrina’s photo at the top of a message thread before he hastily turned it away. Guilt flickering across his face.
“Leo called. We’ve got a meeting with Sabrina’s team,” he explained quickly. “It’s just business, nothing more. I’m not seeing
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Chapter 26
her in person.”
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I didn’t bother reminding him of the three–month agreement we’d made. Less than a day back together, and already, he couldn’t stick to it. I’d release Gabriel without bitterness if this were how it would be.
“Of course, I trust you, Gabriel,” I said evenly. “Go ahead.”
He pressed a hasty kiss to my cheek before rushing off.
As soon as he was out of sight, I dialed Leo.
“What now?” he answered, his voice thick with annoyance.
“I assume you’ve heard about Gabriel and me getting back together again. Charlotte told you?”
“Yes,” he replied curtly.
“And suddenly, there’s an urgent meeting with Sabrina’s team,” I said, my voice sharp.
“You know Gabriel can’t abandon his work, and I can’t stop him from being with you either,” Leo snapped. “Seriously, Isabella. Are you that naïve?”
“I know… Why don’t you work for me, Leo?” I suggested, keeping my tone casual.
My proposal took him aback. “What are you getting at?”
“Gabriel won’t leave me alone, and you’ve seen how messy this is getting. He’s on the verge of exposing our relationship to the public, and neither of us wants that. If you can get me concrete proof of his affair with Sabrina, I’ll end things with him myself.”
Leo’s voice turned cold. “And what if you use the photos to do something malicious?”
A hollow laugh escaped me. “Why would I? Their relationship isn’t exactly a secret. If anything, making it public would probably boost Sabrina’s popularity. Fans would eat it up. I just need something concrete enough to give myself permission to let go of my relationship with him. I’ll compensate you well for the trouble. What do you say?”
“I’ll consider it.” His words were clipped before he abruptly ended the call.
But I knew Leo too well. He wouldn’t need long to decide. He’d agree.
If anyone could get the evidence I needed without raising Gabriel’s suspicions, it would be Leo. He was always with Gabriel as his assistant manager.
Exhausted, I drove to Grayson’s villa. With Cassie already at my apartment, an unexpected wave of loneliness washed over
- me.
As I lay on the king–size bed, I was startled by the sound of the master’s bedroom door creaking open. A well–built figure filled the doorway, nearly blocking out the light from the hallway.
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