Grayson Pierce and Eloise Caldwell novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19

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It was her own polite offer. Eloise couldn’t very well take it back ow. Once they were back in the car, she asked, “Where to Mr. Pierce?”

Grayson tilted his head slightly. “Unit COS, No. 58 Vernal Road.”

The address immediately brought back the vivid, embarrassing memory of yesterday’s kiss. A faint blush crept up Eloise’s

cheeks.

Grayson watched the pink flush on her profile, a small, satisfied mirk playing on his lips.

He was about to say something when he caught sight of a pair of keenly observant eyes in the rearview mirror. He stopped himself. ‘Some topics are not for little ears.’

Eloise drove to the address. “This is it, Mr. Pierce.”

Grayson unbuckled his seatbelt. “Come in for a bit?”

“No, thank you. We have plans.” Eloise shook her head.

“What plans?” Grayson asked.

Eloise pressed her lips together. “I’m meeting a friend.”

Grayson pressed, “Which friend?”

Eloise gritted her teeth. “My friend, Juliette. The one you saw the day I bought the car.”

She really didn’t want to explain. ‘Who is Grayson to interrogate me? Not my boyfriend, not my husband. His questioning tone is truly annoying.’

She answered simply to end the conversation and leave.

‘Not a man.‘ Grayson felt an inexplicable sense of relief. He got out of the car. The moment his door closed, Eloise drove off.

Back home, Eloise looked up the price of the child safety seat Gayson had bought and transferred the money to him via a payment app.

Eloise: [Mr. Pierce, thank you for the car seat. Please accept theyment.]

Grayson immediately refunded the money. It’s pocket change.bought it because I wanted to, for Noah. It has nothing to do with you. Don’t flatter yourself.]

Eloise stared at her phone. After a moment’s thought, she sent the money again. [Mr. Pierce, I know money means little to you, but I’m not in the habit of accepting expensive gifts. Please ke it.]

The refund notification popped up almost instantly. [Eloise, if you send that again, you’ll regret it

Eloise decided to drop it. After all, Noah is his son too. It’s not wong for him to spend a little money on his own child.

Grayson refused the cash, I got my car back, and I bought him ch. With that, we were square. No reason to stay in touch,” she concluded.

Eloise deleted his WhatsApp contact and then his phone number from her contacts list.

It felt a bit like burning a bridge after crossing it, but she was afraid she might weaken and reach out to him someday. She needed to focus her energy on her work and on Noah.

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Chapter 19

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Beckett was exceptionally busy, which meant Eloise was swampel as well. From the moment she walked into the office, there was no respite.

But the busyness was a blessing; it filled her days, leaving no room to dwell on Grayson. Her life became a manageable rhythm of work and motherhood.

The days she didn’t think of Grayson felt lighter, unburdened by complicated emotions.

When the weekend arrived, Eloise invited Juliette over for dinner. She cooked a hearty meal of roasted chicken, garlic. mashed potatoes, and steamed vegetables.

Juliette, however, looked gloomy. “Eloise, I need a drink.”

Eloise ordered a bottle of wine online. “I’ll keep you company, but I can’t drink.”

She was allergic to alcohol; even a small amount made her violently ill.

It had its perks, though. Eloise never had to drink with clients, avoiding that particular minefield. During business dinners with Beckett, he handled the drinking while Eloise made sure he got home safely.

The wine arrived quickly. Eloise poured a glass for Juliette and set a glass of juice in front of herself.

Juliette lifted her glass and downed half of it in one go.

“Hey, easy now,” Eloise cautioned. “You’ll get sick.”

Juliette was upset. “I want to get drunk right now. It’s better that way.”

“What’s wrong, Juliette?” Eloise asked.

“He came to see me again,” Juliette answered briefly.

Eloise paused. “Your ex?” Juliette nodded.

Eloise had never met Juliette’s ex–boyfriend. She only knew his st name was Carter. They had been together for six years, a tumultuous cycle of breakups and reunions.

Juliette had even quit her job because of him, and he had been her boss. According to Juliette, their relationship had been a secret, never made public.

‘Anyone who can keep you hidden for six years is a jerk,‘ Eloise d always thought. She’d been glad when they finally split for good. ‘But now he’s back, stirring up old pain. Will this ever d? How infuriating‘

Juliette drained the rest of her glass, a bitter, mocking smile on her face. “Eloise, you know what? He’s engaged A marriage arranged by his family. The wedding date is already set.”

Her voice cracked slightly. “I waited all these years for this. He sl we couldn’t go public yet, time. I waited. He said he’d take me home to meet his parents when the time was right, I waited.

“He promised me a big, romantic wedding, I waited. And what I get? A news alert about his wedding to someone else.

“I was such a fool. I didn’t know about the blind date setups. I didn’t know about his other dates. I didn’t even know about his engagement until I saw it online.

“Fine. I got played. I accept that. I wasted six years. I accept that o. I quit my job, I moved on And then he has the nerve to come find me again.”

Juliette looked at Eloise, her eyes blazing with a mix of hurt and ury. “Do you know what he said to me?”

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Chapter 19

Eloise’s face was a mask of anger. “What did he say?”

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Juliette slammed her glass down on the table with a loud clink. He said he had no choice, he couldn’t fight his family. But he loves me, he can’t live without me and he asked me to be his mistress.”

Juliette let out a hollow laugh. “Is he out of his mind?”

“That’s disgusting.” Eloise fumed. “Who does he think he is? Please tell me you didn’t agree.”

After another fortifying sip, Juliette declared, “If I had agreed, I’d be the one who’s lost my mind.”

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