Chapter 152


    Chapter 152


    Leanne e was ready to hit the road Friday night, but ast-minute emergency patient came in, and she


    was called in to assist.


    Joy and Selina didn’t hesitate. They went straight to her house, packed her bags, and drove to the


    hospital to pick her up.


    As Leanne climbed into the car, Selina craned her neck and batted her eyshes. “Jeremy’s caught up


    in a meeting but will catch upter. Say it if you don’t want him there, and I’ll tell him to buzz off.”


    “Do I look like the tyrant of Stonebridge?” Leanne sighed. “He’sing to support his friend. Why


    should I interfere?”


    “Girl,” Selina said, her voice dripping with earnestness, “people as kind-hearted as your often end up


    being used. But since he’s my brother, I’ll zip it.”


    Joy rolled her eyes. “Do you even know what ‘zipping it’ means? It’s quite literal. Close your mouth, and


    don’t let those words slip out. Not ‘say your piece and then add ‘I’ll zip it’ as a closing number.”


    Selina clung to Leanne’s arm with mock indignation. “Leanne, she’s bullying me again.”


    Leanne crossed her arms. “Oh please, you girls are not twelve years old. Cut me some ck, okay?”


    Selina was speechless.


    Grace’s Hot Spring Hotel was at the base of Echo Summit.


    As they arrived, Leanne couldn’t help but look up at the majestic mountain.


    The evening sun cast a golden glow over the slopes, contrasting with the shadow-covere snow that


    refused to melt.


    “Lost in thought?” Selina nudged.


    Leanne’s gaze returned to the present. “Just thinking the cooling-off period is almost.


    over.”


    Soon, she’d be officially divorced.


    Selina mock-celebrated with a fist pump. “Congrats, girl!”


    Leanne replied, “Thanks.”


    A bellhop hurried over to assist with their luggage, pushing a cart through a garden that looked like


    something out of an Eastern postcard,plete with a dusting of snow along the paths.


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    11:28 T


    Chapter 152


    The trio entered the courtyard, where Joy teased the good-looking, fresh-faced bellhop.


    “Whoa, with looks like that, are you sure this ce is above board?”


    The bellhop quickly reassured her. “Ma’am, our hotel is strictly professional. None of those


    shenanigans, I promise.”


    Joy feigned disappointment. “Well, that’s a bummer.”


    She exchanged a knowing look with Selina, and they snickered mischievously.


    “Jeez, you think this is some gigolo joint?” A familiar, carefree voice interrupted. “The kid’s not even of


    age.”


    That voice…


    Leanne turned to see several figures standing beneath the porch of the hotel, designed with a rich


    Kyoto aesthetic. The center figure stood out in casual attire, a rxed departure from his usual


    business formality, as he looked over leisurely.


    Devin nced around. “Where’s security when you need them? They’re letting all sorts of riffraff in


    here.”


    “How did you… guys,” Joy folded her arms, “My luck’s really in the dumps today.”


    That was thest thing Leanne wanted, speaking of a run-in with the past.


    Hands in his pockets as if by chance, Curtis drawled, “What a happy coincidence.”


    Leanne frowned, slightly repulsed, thinking, “Coincidence? My foot.”


    “Coincidence, my ass,” Devin started, only to get cut off by a swift kick to the rear.


    Curtis shot him a fleeting re. “Can’t you ever just shut it?”


    Devin shut his mouth.


    “Aren’t you supposed to be in Kostter this weekend?” Leanne inquired.


    “ns changed,” Curtis replied with a sidelong nce. “You keeping tabs on me? Has Caleb been


    leaking info?”


    She didn’t give it a shit.


    Leanne countered, “Your schedule’s no secret. It’s public knowledge.”


    Curtis scoffed. “Then how is it you had no idea I’d be here?”


    Leanne fell silent.


    Just then, more people arrived. Grace and Suzan walked in, joining the growing group.


    11:28