"You've done well today, Chatwin. You're a credit to my teachings."
Chatwin wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Professor, I'm just doing my job."
Elara leaned in closer, a conspiratorial glint in her eye. "You're a smooth talker. I need you to play matchmaker for Julian and Scarlett. My idiot son is far too innocent and passive when it comes to women."
Chatwin couldn't believe his ears. He instinctively lowered his voice. "Professor... you mean, you want Julian and Scarlett to...?"
Elara closed her eyes, a flicker of sorrow crossing her face. "Scarlett is the daughter of my dear friend, Jacqueline. If the Langley family hadn't been destroyed, Julian and Scarlett might have ended up together years ago."
"Hearing how much she suffered with the Flynns breaks my heart. If there's a real spark between her and Julian, I won't care about any of the past drama. I will welcome her with open arms and treat her right."
Thinking back to the car video, Elara cleared her throat, looking slightly awkward. "Besides... given what happened in that video... Scarlett being drugged makes it understandable, but as a gentleman, Julian must take responsibility."
Chatwin stared at her in sheer awe. "Professor, I honestly thought you'd object because she has a daughter. I never realized you were so open-minded."
Elara shot him a look. "What's wrong with a daughter? Little girls are wonderful! I'd be thrilled if Julian became a ready-made dad. We aren't some archaic, patriarchal family. We don't care about bloodlines or gender. As long as they have good character and genuinely love each other, nothing else is a problem."
She patted Chatwin's shoulder. "But keep this conversation between us. Julian told me to stay out of his private life, so you know the drill."
Chatwin gave a knowing nod. "My lips are sealed, Professor."
Meanwhile, Scarlett woke up to find her entire world turned upside down.
The video of her and Julian from the camping trip—the one Sylvia had secretly recorded—had been leaked to the press and was trending at number one.
That video, along with the clip of them singing together, and the footage of her publicly admitting her daughter wasn't Yardley's, had all been weaponized.


VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: He Lost Me to His Best Friend