Love After Leaving: No Regret (Agnes and Raymond) novel Chapter 121

Love After Leaving: No Regret

Chapter 121 Her Scheme

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Hillary sat at her kitchen table, her mind racing with schemes to worm her way back into Raymond’s orbit, when her phone rang. For a moment, she wondered if fate was finally giving her a break.

She booked a flight to Grandridge on impulse, not breathing a word to Raymond. Before facing him, she arranged to meet the elusive Ms. Foster.

She ended up in a small, tucked-away coffee shop, far from the city’s bustle.

Hillary pushed the door open and spotted a woman she didn’t recognize waiting for her.

The woman slid a steaming cup of coffee across the table. “Ms. Young, I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I just ordered something. Give it a try.”

Hillary sat across from her, studying the woman with wary interest. She didn’t touch the drink.

“Who are you? Have we met before?”

“We met at the WOW Fashion Design Competition, Ms. Young. I doubt you remember me.”

Hillary’s cheeks went hot, then drained of color. The memory still stung. That competition had been a disaster.

She narrowed her eyes. “So, who is Aurora?”

The woman unhurriedly reached into her purse and drew out several photos, laying them on the table for Hillary to see.

They were all from the WOW competition, and in each one, Aurora wore a white lace mask.

The longer Hillary stared, the more her expression twisted in shock and disbelief.

The final photo showed Aurora smiling at the camera, mask gone.

It was Agnes.

Rebecca stirred her coffee, eyes fixed on Hillary’s stunned face. She’d been waiting for this reaction.

Rebecca said, “I get why you’re shocked, Ms. Young. I’m Agnes’ assistant. I’ve been loyal to her for years, giving her everything. But she used me, and she hurt everyone around me.

“At the WOW competition, she made you look like a fool right in front of Raymond. I know you and Mr. Newton had a thing. Agnes stole him from you, just like she wrecked my life. We’re

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both victims. That’s why I’m here.

“I want us to work together and take her down. She doesn’t deserve to exist.”

Hillary set the photos down and looked at Rebecca, eyes wide and unblinking. “Why should I trust you? For all I know, you’re working with Agnes.”

Rebecca took out her phone and pulled up a picture. She held it out for Hillary to see.

“Look, Ms. Young. That’s my boyfriend. He used to be sweet and handsome, but thanks to Agnes, he’s in a coma now, stuck in a hospital bed, kept alive by machines. I could’ve had a happy life, but she destroyed it. My baby lost his father.”

Hillary stared at the photo of the unconscious man and then at Rebecca, who was wiping away

tears.

Agnes was even more vicious than she’d ever imagined.

Hillary’s tone softened. “So, you’re a victim, too. What happened with you two?”

Rebecca put her phone away and wiped her face, her voice shaking with anger.

“She can’t stand to see me happy, terrified I’ll marry into money and leave her behind. She wants to keep pitying me and make herself feel important. She tried to seduce my boyfriend and failed, so she drove him to jump off a building.

“Now he’s like this. How can I not hate her? I wish she’d just vanish forever.”

Hillary felt a bitter wave of empathy. Listening to Rebecca, she realized Agnes had ruined more than just her own life.

Agnes was the mastermind behind Tidewhisper Lily, the same Aurora who’d humiliated her at the WOW competition.

Hillary’s fists clenched. Rage simmered just beneath her skin.

She forced herself to take a breath. “You said you wanted to work together. How?”

Rebecca saw the flicker of doubt and pressed on. “I’m still working for her. I know her secrets. I’ve got a plan, but I need your connections. If we team up, we can erase her.”

Hillary eyed her with suspicion. “I snuck back into Grandridge. Agnes turned Raymond against me, and I was threatened not to show my face here. How am I supposed to help?”

Rebecca shook her head. “You don’t have to show up. Just use your network. Help me get to the right people.”

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