Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 79

Chiara shot to her feet, ready to go after her, but Julian was already moving, brushing past her toward the exit. She pressed her lips together, lowered her eyes, and let out a quiet sigh.

Beside her, Cyrus suddenly turned to look at her, analyzing her expression. "Why didn't you say anything just now?"

Chiara looked up, meeting his calculating gaze with a blank stare. "I couldn't bring myself to say it."

Cyrus scoffed. "What's there to hold back? If you don't help force her back in line, and she actually divorces Julian, do you have any idea how much money this family will lose?"

"You all know exactly what he did to her, yet you stood there and spouted that hypocritical garbage about forgiveness." Chiara's voice turned ice-cold. "I'm sorry. I don't have it in me. I'm not that cynical."

Cyrus's face darkened. "You're a Carrington. It's your duty!"

"I'm done talking to you." Chiara cut him off, completely exhausted. She looked over at Charles, who was now leaning back with his eyes closed. "Dad, I have an early shoot tomorrow. I'm leaving."

Having just dry-swallowed his blood pressure medication, Charles cracked an eye open to look at her. "Mrs. Sutton brought up the marriage arrangement again tonight," he stated coldly. "Clear your schedule next week. I'm setting up a meeting between you and the eldest Sutton son."

Chiara's brows twitched almost imperceptibly, but her face remained smooth. Without wasting another breath, she simply replied, "Okay."

...

The night was thick and humid, the air buzzing with the sound of cicadas.

Hester walked blindly down the dark, tree-lined road.

The Carrington Manor was located in a hyper-exclusive, old-money neighborhood miles away from downtown. Trying to get an Uber out here at this hour was practically impossible.

The sleek Rolls-Royce Phantom rolled up silently beside her. The passenger window glided down.

Inside, Julian steered with one hand, his eyes locked on her. "Get in."

Hester didn't break her stride. She kept her eyes glued straight ahead, refusing to give him a single ounce of attention.

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