Chapter 18
FLORENCE’S POV
Why?
+25 BONUS
Why would Jade want to kill me?
The question gnawed at me as I sat stiffly in the lounge. Was it because of Mason? Because I had what she wanted? Seeing my solemn expression, Mason’s mother sighed dramatically. “Jade wouldn’t hold onto something so trivial,” she said. Then she turned to me with a tight smile Not that you’re at fault, darling, of course. But everyone’s fine now, aren’t they?”
Annalise let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh. “I almost died and you’re saying everything’s fine?”
Melissa Whitehill looked momentarily uncomfortable before pressing her lips together.
Clarke stepped in smoothly, a diplomat as always. “Enough” he said calmly. “We’re all shaken up. Let’s not make this worse.”
Then, he turned to me. “Florence, I need to speak to you. Alone.”
I couldn’t imagine what he wanted to talk to me about. We barely knew each other, and I doubted Clarke cared about me, Annalise, or Mason.
Still, I was in their territory now.
I put my tea aside and stood up to follow him out.
We ended up in a quiet café tucked into the corner of the park, away from the chaos. Clarke ordered a coffee but barely touched it. Instead, he watched me closely as if measuring my reactions before he even spoke.
“You know Mason has always had a thing for Jade, right?” he asked.
My fingers curled around the ceramic cup in front of me. “You’re telling me,” I said bitterly.
Clarke nodded like he expected that answer. “But have you ever wondered why he ended up marrying you?”
I let out a dry laugh. “Because he suspected me of killing her.”
Clarke tilted his head. “That’s what you think?”
“Isn’t it true?”
He exhaled, drumming his fingers against the table. “Partially. But the real reason Mason married you… was because of your father.”
I stilled.
“MY father? Not yours?” I asked.
“Nope. Mr. Hart came to us before he was imprisoned. And he asked us to take care of you.”
I swallowed. “No… That’s not-”
“And my parents agreed.”
I was stunned. “Why would they agree to marry off their son to someone he does not love!?” I asked.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 18
“My parents can be.., unkind.” He sounded like he was carefully calculating his words. “They’ve mistreated my little brother all his life, and they saw Mason as a means to an end.”
“What end?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know everything. But my parents chose this marriage… not Mason.”
My stomach twisted into knots.
“I know this is unfair to you.” Clarke said. “You are innocent in all this… but Mason also deserves to be with the woman he loves.”
That stung me.
He slid a brown envelope across the table. “Divorce papers he said. “Don’t think for too long. The settlernent is generous. You will never have to work again if you don’t want to.”
I felt like the floor had vanished beneath me. Maybe, for a second there, I let myself imagine a world where Mason would come back to me. After his acknowledgment of my idea to revamp the Whitehill family image and seeing his concem after the sky bridge, 1 allowed myself to… hope
What a fool I’d been. Deep down, I had always suspected something like this would happen eventually. Bot facing it now, staring at the cold ink on the pages, hurt more than expected.
Tears threatened to fall. I hid my face behind my coffee mug
Clarke, sensing my discomfort, made another offer. “I can get your father out of prison, Florence. If you sign this.”
My throat felt tight.
“I’ll think about it,” I murmured.
When we returned to the lounge, Mason and Jade had come back. Jade’s eyes flickered between me and Clarke, sensing something had happened. Mason, however, went straight for his brother, his gaze sharp.
“What did you say to her?” he asked coldly.
Clarke shrugged. “Just a friendly chat.”
Mason’s hand curled slightly as if he wanted to punch him, but instead, he turned to me. “Flo, let’s go.”
I met his gaze, then slowly stepped around him.
“No,” I said, my voice quiet but firm.
Mason tensed. “What?”
“No. I have work to do, and I think Jade needs you,” I said, swallowing my pride and my pain.
“Jade?” Mason sounded surprised.
I ignored him and turned to Raiden. “We’ve got to publish those photos. Let’s leave now so we can get started on writing the piece.”
“Yup…” Raiden shot up, as did Annalise.
The three of us left the lounge, and I could feel Mason’s cold eyes follow me out.
2/4
+25 BONUS
Chapter 18
The media was eating up the family photos within hours. The amusement park setting worked perfectly—It showed warmth, harmony, and stability. All the things the ld article had tried to dismantle.
“Good work,” Raiden said, scanning the analytics on his and blog is picking it up.
table z narrative has shifted, and every news outlet
I nodded, pleased. “Thanks, Raiden. It was… It was nice working together again.”
He looked at me and smiled warmly. “It was. Any many more crises to come!” he laughed.
An awkward pause followed.
“Florence, I-”
Just then, my phone buzzed.
“Oh, sorry! It’s Annalise, one sec…” I said, answering the phone. “HI, Anna!”
“She’s so cunning!” she fumed the second I answered.
I frowned, “What now?”
“Check Jade’s social media.”
Topened it.
Pinned at the top of her profile was a brand–new post.
It was a photo of her standing between Mason’s parents, smiling warmly, Melissa Whitchill’s hand resting on hers as if she were part of the family. The caption read:
“Grateful for moments like these. #Family #Love #Whiteh Is‘
And, of course, the comments were already flooded with speculation.
“Wait, is she Mason’s girlfriend??”
“Jade and Mason look perfect together!!”
“OMG I ship them.”
“She’s practically part of the family already, so why not??”
I clenched my jaw.
She was positioning herself publicly–making sure the world saw her as someone who belonged with the Whitehills.
And Mason did nothing to stop it. That was enough of a message.
“Sorry, Raiden, I’ve got to go…” I choked out before running to my office.
Safely hidden behind my cubicle, I let my
out silently. Why was everything happening all at once? What had I
done to Mason to deserve this neglect? Why did he… hate me… so much?
Through my tears, the picture looked blurry. But still happy. Jade was the perfect daughter–in–law, it seemed.
I stared at the divorce agreement still sitting on my desk. I hadn’t signed it yet. Maybe I should.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 10
Just then, my phone rang again, Unknown number.
I know I had kept up with payments to Marco… so what was going on?
I picked up. “HI?”
“Hello, Miss Hart…” the familiar voice came. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news… but your father’s condition… It’s not looking good.”
Today’s Bonus Offer
x
GET IT NOW
Chapter 19.
