<b>Chapter</b><b>300</b>? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.
<b>I</b>hadwanderedoff,thechatteraroundme turning intoadistanthum.Buttheword“lovers”cutthroughthenoiseloudand<b>clear</b>.Me<b>?</b><b>A</b><b>singleton</b><b>?</b>Thattermcouldn’t befurtherfrommyreality.
TheMyersMansionwasamaze,justasRamonahad warned.Eventually,Ihadtoswallowmyprideandask aservantfordirections<b>to</b><b>find</b>thedining room.
“Ah,youmustbethe Ms.Websterthematriarchhasbeenbuzzingaboutall morning?”
SpottingmeasInavigatedmyway,thebutlerpromptlyinstructed thestafftowhipupanadditionalbreakfast.
Ioffered<b>a</b>smallsmileandawordofthanksbeforesettlingforapeacefulmeal,promptingthe butlertoleave.
Midwaythroughmybreakfast,ashadowloomedoverme,andbeforeIknewit,anusationhurledmyway.
Jane,I’m warningyou.Keepyourdistance frommyfamily!Idon’tgiveahootaboutwhatevernsyou’vegotupyoursleeve<b>,</b>butquitsuckinguptomygrandma.”
Myspoonful ofoatmealdidn’tfalterasIreplied,“Andwhatschemeswouldthosebe?”
Dorothyhuffed.“Asifyoudon’tknow.You’renotoverBryantandtryingtousemygrandmatogetbackinhisgoodbookstolure himback.”
<b>“</b>Dorothy,I’mnot like<b>you</b>.”Isetdownmyspoonandfrowned.“Istillhavesomedignity<b>.</b>”
Icouldbedevotedor deepinlove,butstoopingtodesperatemeasures?Thatwaswaytooembarrassing.
“You!”Dorothyrolledhereyesdramaticallyandsuddenlybrokeintoaslygrin.“Youwerebehindthatpaybacktheother day,<b>weren’t</b><b>you</b><b>?</b><b>”</b><b>I</b>feignedignorance.“Whatpayback?<b>”</b>
“EventhoughGregorycoveredforyou,”sheleanedonthetable,eyesnarrowed.“Iknewitwasyou.ThebruisesIgot werethesameas<b>you</b>hast time.”
“Oh?Andwhatdo<b>you</b>ntodoaboutit?”Idroppedtheact.Givenherarrogance,Ihadexpectedhertomakeascenerightthere.Instead,shesmiledsweetly.“Idon’tntodoanythingfornowbecauseBryant wassoupsetseeing mybruises.Hewantedtogoafteryouhimself,butIstoppedhim.”
Ididn’tdoubtthat.WhenMargarethaddraggedme intooingtraffic,resultinginamiscarriage,hehadmedmewithouthesitation<b>,</b>evenppedmeforbeingheartless.AndifIhadsoughtrevengeonDorothy,he’dwanttopunishmeonbehalfofhisdarling.
Despitethewarmthoftheheatedfloors,achillrandownmyspineasIstood,<b>“</b><b>Is</b>that so?Goodforhim.Hetruly isawonderfulman.”To Margaret,hewasagreatcatch.Dorothysureseemedtothinkthesame.
Butfor me,hewasjustawhole worldoftrouble.
“Yes,andthat’swhyIwillmarryhim!”Dorothyliftedherchinproudlylikeaspoiledprincess,“Oh,and<i>about</i>thedesignsyousent?I’mpleased.Just ensureyouhurry upwith therest.Wecan’thaveanydysformineand Bryant’sengagementparty.”
“Holdon.”Ipulledoutmyphoneandhitrecord,“Could<i>you</i>repeat thatfirstpart?Also,forthedressdesign,includinborandmaterials,that’llbe<b>5.1</b>milliondors.You’vepaid100,000dorsupfront<b>,</b>so pleasetransfertheremainingfivemillionintwoinstallments,with2.5million<i>each</i>.oday,andtheotheronthedayofyourfitting.”
“2.5million?”Dorothyfrowned,displeased.
Ismiledlightly,“Yes,Ms.Myers.That’stheactualcost.Ofcourse,feelfree toaddalittleextraifyouwant.Iwon’tmind.”