Chapter 382
Lucia was still lost in thought when she instinctively reached for the pen and began filling out the sign–in sheet.
“You can write here,” the property manager pointed out helpfully.
88%
The moment Lucia spotted her own name already listed under the visitor log, it finally hit her. She flinched and threw the pen away like it was a live grenade.
The property manager just stood there. ‘Alright, maybe the pen’s busted, but do you have to treat it like trash? I work for the homeowners, sure, but this
is a bit much.‘
Clayton frowned slightly, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the color draining from Lucia’s face.
He immediately got suspicious. “Why won’t you sign in? Is it because there’s only one unit? Was the one you ‘promised‘ me just a lie?”
The rapid–fire questions hit Lucia like slaps to the face. She was already pale, and now she looked ghostly. For a moment, she couldn’t even come up with a response.
Clayton gave a cold laugh and turned on his heel, pulling out his phone as he walked away.
“Emilia, can we meet for lunch? I’ve got something I need you to pass along to Audrey…”
“Clayton!” Lucia bolted after him.
She knew exactly who Emilia was, Audrey’s legal advisor and friend. The two had even gone on the honeymoon trip together. Emilia was sharp, loyal, and dead serious about her work. If anything got into her hands, not even God could stop her from delivering it to Audrey.
“Clayton, wait!” Lucia shouted, forgetting her dignity entirely as she planted her hands on her hips and yelled.
Clayton stopped in his tracks.
The truth was, he hadn’t actually gotten through. He walked away quickly just to rattle her, hoping she’d panic before realizing the call hadn’t connected.
The last thing he wanted was to tell Audrey the truth.
Because Audrey wasn’t as easy to manipulate as Lucia was.
Seeing him stop, Lucia rushed up behind him. “You’re too impulsive, you know that? Just let me explain, would you?”
Clayton gave her a skeptical look but said nothing. He pressed his lips together, waiting for her to talk.
Lucia was starting to realize that one lie always led to another. The deeper she got, the messier it became. Everything was tangled in deceit.
She thought, ‘But what choice do I have? I can’t let Clayton expose me. If Logan finds out, I’m done. Sure, his allowance isn’t generous, but I’m still living the high life.
She thought about Marla earlier. They were about the same age, but Marla already looked older. That was the difference between marrying in wealth and being stuck with nouveau riche.
“I didn’t lie to you,” she said quickly. “The other unit? Celeste decided to offer it in exchange for resources in a different building. I only found out yesterday.”
Afraid he’d storm off again, Lucia grabbed his sleeve. “I promised you a place, and I meant it. It’s just a matter of timing. How about this? Originally I said I’d get you a 1,600–square–foot unit, right? I’ll get you something even bigger.”
“And you think I’m going to believe that?” Clayton said, his voice quiet but cutting.
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Chapter 382
Lucia didn’t answer. ‘Whether he believes it or not, that’s all I can offer. What does he expect me to do? Snatch a unit from someone else? With what money? My charm? The fact that I’m Mrs. Logan Whitmore?‘
Eventually, after enough coaxing and bargaining, Lucia handed him forty thousand dollars just to buy herself a few more days. Only then did Clayton agree to back off for now.
He took a cab straight to Ashbourne General for his follow–up appointment, and as luck would have it, Wyatt happened to be waiting outside.
Wyatt didn’t call out to him. He simply followed, quietly keeping his distance.
If it hadn’t been his own brother, Wyatt would’ve doubted his eyes. Clayton was decked out in head–to–toe designer brands, even holding the latest phone model. ‘Is this the same guy who was scrimping and saving just to afford basic treatment?‘ Wyatt wondered.
Clayton was inside the consultation room when another patient cut in line and got sent out by the doctor. The door swung open briefly, and Wyatt managed to catch part of the conversation.
Apparently, the hospital was helping Clayton access a new custom–tailored drug regimen, something far more effective than standard chemotherapy, but also outrageously expensive.
Clayton didn’t hesitate. He ordered a full treatment cycle on the spot.
‘You don’t drop that kind of money unless you’ve hit the jackpot,‘ Wyatt thought.
With the paperwork in hand, Clayton headed to the first floor to pay. But before he reached the counter, someone tapped his shoulder.
“Wyatt? What are you doing here?” Startled, Clayton instinctively tried to hide the payment form behind his back, but Wyatt pretended not to notice.
“I’m in Ashbourne for work. Neil from the transport team mentioned you were getting treatment here, so I thought I’d swing by. Guess I got lucky. You’re up,” Wyatt said, giving his shoulder a light pat.
If Clayton paid now, Wyatt would know he had money.
So
he quickly pulled him aside. “I’m not paying today, just getting a quote. Have you eaten yet?”
It was already three in the afternoon, long past lunch. Clayton was clearly just stalling for time.
But Wyatt rubbed his stomach and said, “Not yet. I heard the beef stew around here is pretty good.”
“Well then, let’s eat.”
Clayton had actually driven himself. To maintain the illusion of wealth and bait Kyle later, he’d upgraded from a Hyundai rental to an Audi. But he didn’t want Wyatt to find that out, so he planned to hail a cab instead.
Just as they stepped outside the hospital’s main building, Clayton’s phone rang. Someone asked him to move his car.
The caller was parked right next to him and said she wasn’t confident she could back out without scratching his.
“Wait here for a sec. The doctor asked me to come back up real quick,” Clayton said.
“Sure. Go ahead.” Wyatt agreed casually and then followed him from a distance.
Clayton slipped around the side of the hospital to the parking lot. A short–haired woman was already there, measuring the gap with her hands and shaking her head.
“You really can’t get out of there?” he asked, speeding up.
The woman turned and gave him a nod.
ween the two cars
She’d learned how to do makeup on film sets, shading her cheeks with contour, darkening her skin tone, wearing a short wig and glasses.
That night when Clayton had seen her, she’d been disguised and came out of nowhere swinging. He hadn’t even gotten a good look at her face.
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Chapter 382
Now that she wasn’t hiding behind a fake baby bump, Clayton had no clue this was Lena.
“If you’d parked straight, I could’ve gotten out. Your parking is all over the place,” she said, voice lowered an octave. “I’ve got things to do, so harry it up
Clayton was already annoyed. The way she blamed him made it worse. “Me hurry up? Just back out the same way you came in!”
“Fine! But if I scratch your car, don’t expect me to cover it.”
“Too bad for you. That’s not how traffic law works.”
“You told me to try it, so technically that makes it your responsibility. We’ll just split it fifty–fifty if anything happens.” She snorted, yanked the door open with far more force than necessary.
Seeing the door about to scrape against the rental car, Clayton rushed over to stop it.
“Alright, alright. I’ll move it myself!”
‘Not worth arguing with a lunatic. Just move the car and get out of here before Wyatt sees,‘ he muttered inwardly.
As Lena reached up to adjust her wig, she lightly tapped her earpiece and then shut her car door. She stepped backward, almost right into Clayton’s arms, and then jumped away in a flash.
From where Wyatt was watching near the corner, the whole scene looked very different. To him, it looked like Clayton had gone in for a hug, only to get rejected.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
