Chapter 397

Chapter 397

Elliot spotted Levi in the distance and gave an awkward smile.

"Are you okay about the bidding?"

"I'm fine. It's in the past."

He shook his head apologetically. "I feel bad about the whole thing. My boss met with Ava's father privately—they have other business together."

"Mr. Sullivan, you don't need to explain. Whatever the reason, a loss is a loss."

I knew all the inside details. I was just too naive back then, thinking I could still give it a shot.

"We'll work together again, won't we?"

"Who knows what the future holds? I'm taking time off work for now. Going home for my maternity leave."

Elliot glanced at my belly and let out a bitter laugh.

That laugh made my chest tighten.

"I should go."

Just as I started walking away, Alaric and Jenna emerged.

"Annie, you're really not coming home with me tonight?"

The way Alaric said it so intimately made my skin crawl.

"That's right. I'm going to my own place."

Hearing their exchange felt painfully ironic.

If her family had any real standing, her brother wouldn't have been played for a fool by Arabella, and she wouldn't have completely lost herself after her boyfriend's betrayal.

"Come on, come back with me. Otherwise I won't be able to stop thinking about you."

Alaric kept trying to coax her, attempting to pull her toward the car with him.

Jenna pushed him into the vehicle and shut the door.

She told the driver, "Take him home."

In just these few minutes, Alaric had gotten drunk. Clearly, old habits die hard—the man had a drinking problem.

Jenna lifted the hem of her evening gown and glanced my way.

She recognized me. I was certain she recognized me.

But she didn't speak to me. Instead, she hailed a cab.

That outfit tonight must have cost her a fortune. I wondered how many shifts she'd have to work to afford a look like that.

I watched her get in the taxi and disappear into the neon lights.

"You know her?"

Elliot's question pulled me from my thoughts. I smiled slightly. "No."

"Mr. Sullivan, there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you."

Jessa's voice came from behind me. My body tensed, wanting nothing more than to get away from here quickly.

Before I could move, she circled around to face me.

"Blair, what are you doing here?"

Why would she assume I wouldn't be here?

Levi had already gotten in the car. I'd seen the driver close his door. He'd been watching me through the window this whole time.

"Mr. Sullivan, I should go."

"Alright."

Jessa grabbed my arm. "Blair, you're something else. Coming here late at night to meet Mr. Sullivan—aren't you afraid of what Levi would think?"

"We have nothing to hide. We just said hello. Why would I be afraid?"

"I'm telling Levi right now, so he knows what kind of person you really are!"

I forced a smile. "Don't trouble yourself. He's right there in the car. You can go tell him yourself."

Just then, the driver started the engine. The headlights flared to life, blindingly bright.

"I'm used to you slandering me, but don't go making accusations about Mr. Sullivan. There's nothing between us."

Jessa looked at Elliot awkwardly. "Mr. Sullivan, I didn't mean—"

"I'm neither deaf nor blind, Ms. Ember. If you don't mind, I'll pretend you never said it."

"I'm leaving now. If you're going to tattle, better hurry. Otherwise we'll be home and you'll have lost your chance."

Jessa clenched her fists. "Blair, don't get cocky."

"What do I have to be cocky about? You've already ruined my reputation in your eyes. Do you think I still care what you think? Honestly, you're pretty boring—repeating the same thing over and over. It's tedious."

Elliot started walking forward with me. I stopped him.

"Mr. Sullivan, no need to see me off. You go ahead."

The driver pulled the car around. I got in, and as I closed the door, I heard Jessa calling out to Levi. He didn't respond.

The air inside the car felt suffocating. All the windows were open, but it still felt stifling.

The evening breeze drifted in, carrying the smell of alcohol from Levi.

"Did you drink a lot?"

"No."

The smell was pretty strong. I was pretty sure he'd had quite a bit.

"Do you know Alaric's date?"

Levi's eyes were sharp. Jenna and I had only made eye contact for a few seconds—he'd caught even that?

"No."

I couldn't admit I knew Jenna. For us, that conversation would be completely pointless.

"Jessa was probably looking for you."

"No."

We'd both presented each other with an awkward dilemma. Neither of us felt good about it.

If I hadn't come, Levi wouldn't have left so early. Maybe Jessa would have latched onto him.

The silence stretched on. Neither of us spoke again.

The house was quiet.

We walked side by side through the courtyard. My steps slowed. Today had truly been as exhausting as Levi had teased—I'd done so much.

Right now, I was tired, hungry, and emotionally drained.

"You go to your room first."

Levi stopped walking. I nodded and headed inside alone.

I didn't care where he slept tonight. I had no interest in whatever was going on between him and Jessa.

As long as I didn't see them together, that was enough.

As long as he wasn't dragged into the storm of gossip surrounding Jessa, that was enough.

"Mrs. Morgan, you're back. Let me fix you something to eat."

"It's too late. Don't bother. I'm going to rest. Good night."

"Good night, Mrs. Morgan."

I closed my bedroom door and collapsed. I lay on the bed, not wanting to do anything.

My mind filled with images of Jenna—Jenna as a waitress, Jenna doing housework, Jenna dressed to the nines as Alaric's date...

It was all too surreal. I hadn't imagined she was playing so many different roles. Did Alaric know everything about her? Did he know her main job was as a nurse?

Maybe her claim about getting revenge on Arabella in her own way wasn't just empty talk. Maybe she really did have what it took to make Arabella pay someday.

I lay quietly, listening to my own heartbeat. I'd thought my plan was thorough. Now, compared to Jenna, I seemed naive.

I only knew how to manipulate from the shadows. Not like Jenna—she'd swallow her pride, using her own methods to save money and build her strength.

Tonight was destined to be sleepless. I couldn't even close my eyes.

The door opened gently. Levi stood there holding a bowl of oatmeal.

"Sit up and eat."

"What?"

I turned to look at him, but my body resisted. I really felt too exhausted to move.

"Want me to feed you?"

"That won't be necessary."

I forced myself to sit up calmly.

Levi scooped up a spoonful of oatmeal and held it to my lips. "It's not hot. I used the little fan to cool it down."

Using a small fan to cool food was a method I'd used when feeding Celestia. I hadn't expected him to learn it and put it to use.