Chapter 19
Adrienne got in the back seat and looked out the window. “I’m looking to rent a place near the office.”
“Near Elarion Avenue? I have a place there. It’s empty. You can stay there.”
“Thank you, but it’s okay.”
“Don’t be a stranger. I’ve got more than enough places.”
Any more refusal would sound insincere. Her eyes stung slightly. “Okay.”
Theodore reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
The car window was still open. Under a large tree in the distance, another car sat quietly, unmoving.
Theodore withdrew his gaze with a smile. “I’ll take you over.”
Adrienne felt a bit tired, and her head ached.
Still, she found it odd. How did Theo know her company was near Elarion Avenue? She hadn’t mentioned it.
Could it have been Garrett who told him?
At the thought, she found it amusing. Garrett? As if he’d care enough to know where she worked.
She leaned back to rest and accidentally fell asleep, completely unaware that the car had stopped near the villa.
Two hours later, she finally woke up to the sound of papers being flipped.
She quickly looked out the window. It was already completely dark.
She pulled out her phone and saw two missed calls from Corinne.
Apologizing quickly, she turned to Theo. “Sorry, I fell asleep. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You’re sick. Waking you up would’ve been heartless. Don’t you think? Go on in. I had the property manager set the door code to your birthday. The villa’s small. If you don’t want it, I’ll probably sell it off in a few years anyway.”
Indeed, no one in the Melendez family would normally live in a villa this small.
She nodded and got out of the car.
She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she seemed to have seen a car parked from afar.
It was probably just a resident from the neighborhood.
She entered the complex, found the unit number, punched in her birthday, and the door opened just as Theo said.
0.0%
16:43
Chapter 19
Ever since she’d been accepted as the Melendez family’s goddaughter, Theodore had treated her like a true sister. He’d always been good to her.
She suddenly remembered that her small suitcase was still in Willard Gibson’s car. She’d have to go get it.
Willard had given her the day off, so she didn’t need to work tomorrow.
Her headache hadn’t gone away. After a quick shower, she saw a text from Theodore.
“I had someone prepare some clothes. Nothing expensive. They’ve been sanitized. You’ll find them in the master bed- room closet.”
Adrienne opened the closet and, sure enough, there were some pajamas and casual outfits. She didn’t even know how to thank him.
“Thank you, Theo. Let me treat you to a meal sometime.”
Theodore saw the message, gave a cold chuckle, and told the driver to move.
His car passed a luxury vehicle parked quietly at the roadside as if neither driver recognized the other.
When Garrett returned to the villa, Corinne immediately stood up from the sofa. “Adri didn’t come back with you? She’s not answering her phone. What’s going on? Aren’t you even the least bit worried?”
His whole body exuded a chill as he impatiently handed his coat to the maid. “Why do you care what she’s doing?”
“She’s a girl, and it’s already ten o’clock! She’s not home, and you, her husband, aren’t even the least bit anxious? Be honest with me. Do you not love her anymore? Garrett, don’t forget that you swore to me you’d treat her well for life!”
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.