I Choose Him, Your Worst Enemy novel Chapter 80

Chapter 80 Yeah, Right

Finished

She’d barely dealt with Noah when she finally made it home, and the moment she stepped through the door, her phone rang.

“Girl, I am literally dying over here,” Joanne announced the moment Wynette picked up. “I just saw a news story saying my brother showed up at your company today for some kind of business talk.”

Wynette listened while she pulled up the news feed on her tablet.

[Unlikely Allies? Gallagher Group President Spotted at Jewell Group. Is the Infamous Rival Riding to the Rescue? Former Enemies Turned Friends?]

Looking at that headline, Wynette found it almost laughable.

The photo attached to the article was a shot of Adriel walking out of Jewell Group, his striking face captured in unmistakable, crisp detail.

She was just about to say something when Joanne’s voice cut back through. “Hold on, my brother actually responded himself. Oh my…”

A shriek burst through the line.

Wynette flinched so hard she nearly sent the tablet flying out of her hand.

“Okay, but are you absolutely sure nothing’s going on between you two?!” Joanne asked, barely able to contain herself.

Wynette refreshed the page.

A reply from Adriel’s verified account had appeared at the top of the comments.

Adriel had posted for the whole world to read, his handle unmistakable beside the words, “Just escorting my sister to Jewell Group to help sort out a few things. That said, I wouldn’t mind at all if a former rival became a friend. The real question is what Ms. Jewell thinks about that. I’ll admit, I find myself quite intrigued by her all of a sudden.”

The comments section exploded within seconds.

Wynette stared at the screen, and a dull ache settled right behind her eyes.

It wasn’t that she minded the idea of her connection with Adriel going public.

She just hadn’t wanted it happening like this.

Joanne’s excited voice buzzed in her ear, and Wynette pressed her fingertips against her throbbing temple. “Yes, yes, fine…” she answered, her energy almost completely spent. “If I actually end up with your brother one day, you’ll definitely be my maid of honor.”

She was just playing along with Joanne’s energy.

But that calm, matter–of–fact answer backfired completely, and Joanne immediately crossed any real

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Chapter 80 Yeah, Right

possibility off her list.

Finished

“I really do think my brother’s a great catch, though,” Joanne went on, half–talking to herself. “You seriously won’t even consider him? I could set things up for you two, you know.”

Wynette cleared her throat at the words coming through the line. “Joanne,” she said, “What if I told you that your brother and I don’t need you setting anything up, because we’ve already gotten our marriage license? Would that get you to drop the matchmaking?”

“Absolutely not. No way.” Joanne’s voice shot up. “If you and my brother actually got a marriage license, I’d eat my own shoe.”

She genuinely couldn’t fathom the idea of Wynette and Adriel, two people with virtually no shared history, getting a marriage license this fast.

Nothing in the world could make her believe it.

Joanne paused for just a moment. “Though… considering all the strange things my brother’s been up to lately, I’m starting to genuinely wonder. His secret crush… it wouldn’t happen to be you, would it?”

Otherwise, how could her search have turned up absolutely nothing on his mystery person?

Now Joanne was actually willing to put Wynette at the very top of her list of suspects.

Wynette’s mouth twitched. “Thanks for that completely baseless accusation.”

On the other end of the line, Joanne let out a delighted little laugh and launched into a full campaign about just how wonderful Adriel was.

Wynette didn’t argue. She just listened quietly.

But in her mind, she was already turning over a very different question. Who’s behind that news story?

No one came to mind except the Shepherds.

She had someone look into it, and the results were exactly what she’d expected.

It turned out Noah had been keeping tabs on Wynette’s every move for days. After their conversation that night went nowhere, he’d arranged for that story to be leaked.

On one hand, he wanted to make a spectacle of it and cut off any inclination Adriel might have to keep helping Wynette.

“I really do know I was wrong. I just care about you so much. I watched you humble yourself over and over for Wynette, and she still kept her nose in the air like you weren’t worth her time. I was angry. That’s the only reason I riled her up.”

She spoke through her explanation while tears slid down her cheeks in a slow, quiet stream.

Lorelei reached for Noah’s hand, and he wrenched himself free with a violent jerk. “Don’t touch me.”

That single motion sent her crashing straight to the ground.

Lorelei let out a sharp, wretched cry. “My foot… Noah… My foot hurts so much…“

When Noah looked down at her, Lorelei pulled up her pant leg to reveal her ankle, swollen and puffy.

She bit down on her lower lip, put on a show of bravery, and tried to push herself upright.

Every attempt failed, and each time she fell, she pressed her full weight straight down onto that raw, swollen ankle.

Finally, Lorelei looked up at him with glistening, tear–filled eyes. The very portrait of fragile desperation,

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Chapter 80 Yeah, Right

staring up at the man standing over her. Conflict written plainly across his face.

Finished

Noah’s expression stayed cold as he watched her fall again and again, her already swollen ankle now scraped and beginning to bleed.

He hesitated for a long moment. Then he bent down and gathered Lorelei into his arms.

Lorelei wrapped both arms around his neck and buried her face into the curve of his throat. “I’m sorry,” she wept softly. “I’m such a burden. I’m so stupid. I’m sorry…”

She sobbed out her apologies in a broken voice, curling herself closer against him with quiet, wretched need.

Noah said nothing the entire time. He simply held her and carried her straight to the hospital.

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