Love After Leaving: No Regret (Agnes and Raymond) novel Chapter 61

Chapter 61 The Steak Offensive

Finished

Raymond finally hit his limit. He shoved Agnes’s plate aside and replaced it with his own–steak already cut into perfect bites.

“Agnes. Here. This cut is tender. You like this one.”

As he said it, he shot Neal a murderous glare. Neal didn’t so much as glance at him. His attention stayed fixed on Agnes.

Agnes leaned toward Raymond and muttered under her breath, “Are you possessed?”

Raymond produced a napkin and gently wiped a trace of sauce from the corner of her mouth -the picture of a doting husband.

The entire table fell silent, watching. Some looked envious. Others looked openly disgusted.

“Mr. Newton certainly adores his wife,” someone remarked with a knowing grin.

Hillary felt like her lungs were about to explode. She maintained a stiff smile, every cell in her body screaming. Agnes Sinclair, you scheming little witch–die!

Agnes was revolted on the inside but could only manage a thin smile in front of so many people. She wanted to take a hammer to Raymond’s skull. What was wrong with him?

After dinner, the crowd broke into clusters. Several of Hillary’s college girlfriends gathered around her for gossip.

“Hillary, what happened? We didn’t want to ask in front of everyone. When did you and Raymond break up?

“I thought you two were rock–solid. And who is that woman?”

“When Raymond introduced her, I nearly fell off my chair. I thought my ears were playing tricks on me.”

Hillary’s voice was carefully fragile. “Around graduation, Raymond and I had a misunderstanding. I went overseas. While I was gone, he… got married.

“I thought we’d never break up either. I went back to find him, but… I guess it just wasn’t meant

to be.”

“What?! Raymond rebounded that fast???”

Hillary sighed, playing the saint. “I can’t blame Raymond. We were fighting, and right at that moment, a… very impressive woman appeared. What man wouldn’t be tempted?”

an Vensive

“So, she literally poached someone else’s boyfriend? That’s revolting!”

A woman grabbed Hillary’s arm, bristling with righteous fury.

“Hillary, how long are you going to keep making excuses for them? When will you stop sacrificing yourself?”

The speaker was a woman named Gabrielle Reaves–one of Hillary’s university ride–or–dies.

She was one of those sidekicks who orbited the campus belle to feel important.

Gabrielle wasn’t especially talented herself, but she had ambition. Staying in Hillary’s orbit meant access to a better world.

She knew Hillary was Raymond’s “savior.”

She knew Raymond, sentimental as he was, would never fully abandon Hillary.

By staying close to Hillary, Gabrielle hoped to snag some crumbs of success. So, Gabrielle had kept up the friendship long after graduation.

She knew most of the story.

The gossip–hungry women zeroed in on Gabrielle immediately.

“Gabrielle, what do you mean? You know something?”

Hillary grabbed Gabrielle’s arm in a show of reluctance.

“Gabrielle, please. It’s all in the past. I’m fine. Seeing them happy makes me happy. Really. I’ve moved on.”

Gabrielle shook her head fiercely. “You’re too soft. You handed the love of your life to that scheming little witch, and now you’re here giving them your blessing? Unbelievable.”

She glanced around, leaned in, and dropped her voice to a conspiratorial hush.

“The truth is, that woman is a homewrecker. She swooped in the second Hillary and Raymond hit a rough patch.

“Every couple fights–it’s normal. But this woman? What a manipulative bitch.

“She obviously worked overtime in the bedroom. She sank her hooks in so deep the man lost his mind.

“Meanwhile, our Hillary literally threw herself in front of danger to save Raymond’s life and

2/3

Chaine

Camerot The Stear Offensive

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