Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 71

"Hester, it's been a while!"

Hester hesitated for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly. "Is that... Howard Weston?"

He chuckled. "Looks like I still hold a place in your heart. After all these years without contact, I'm genuinely touched you still remember me!"

A flash of disgust crossed Hester's eyes. "Howard, we aren't close," she said coldly. "Skip the pleasantries. If you have something to say, just say it."

"I always loved how straightforward you are. Sigh, it really is a shame. If Julian hadn't interfered back then, you and I would have been the ones getting married."

Her patience ran dry. "If that's all, I'm hanging up."

"Wait!" Howard rushed to say. "I'm calling about serious business!"

Hester suppressed her temper. "Speak."

"I heard all about Julian and Melody. Honestly, my heart aches for you. You sacrificed so much for him, and in the end, he teamed up with that ungrateful homewrecker you sponsored to cheat on you. Hester, I feel awful for you!"

"Howard, I don't need your pity. Just get to the point."

"You should know what I'm getting at. Seriously, Hester, can you just swallow this insult? Julian wouldn't be where he is today without your help. You are the biggest reason for his current status. Now that he's betrayed you, don't you want revenge?"

Hester listened calmly, a chilly smile tugging at her lips. "Are you done?"

Howard hesitated, then added, "I'm serious. If we join forces, Julian won't stand a chance. Don't worry, once I take over as the CEO of Weston Corp, I can give you whatever you want..."

"Howard." Hester cut him off coldly. "Do you know what your greatest strength is?"

"What is it?" Howard asked eagerly, unable to hide his excitement.

"You might be stupid, but you're incredibly optimistic."

Howard was speechless.

But surprisingly, she didn't show up. By five in the evening, there were no more calls and no sign of her mother.

Hester secretly breathed a sigh of relief. When the workday ended, she left the office with Gael.

Gael asked if she was heading back to Stellamare Villa tonight.

Hester thought for a moment. "No. My morning sickness has been acting up lately, and I don't want to risk exposing the pregnancy if I go back."

"If you aren't going back, want to catch a movie?" Gael suggested. "Let's just relax. A little distraction might even help with the nausea."

Hester nodded. "Sure, it's still early anyway."

The white Panamera drove out of the company's underground garage. Gael checked the traffic, flipped on her turn signal, and waited for an opening to merge onto the main road.

Suddenly, a black Maybach sped aggressively toward them from behind—