Next Man, Better Plan novel Chapter 208

Vivian watched the taillights disappear, then instinctively patted her cheeks.

It still felt so unreal. She was actually dating Quennel.

Instead of feeling annoyed at being left behind, a blissful smile spread across her face.

Neither she nor Quennel had noticed a car that had been discreetly following them from a distance, with a man and a woman inside.

The man was dressed in black, a phantom in the night. The woman had the faint red mark of a slap on her cheek. It was none other than Victoria.

“Tsk, Quennel’s pretty ruthless, isn’t he? Just leaving his new girlfriend on the side of the road.”

The man held a cigarette in the corner of his mouth, its glowing tip a single point of red in the darkness, not nearly enough to illuminate his face.

“No wonder he dropped you. Vivian’s family is a big step up from yours, and he still treats her like trash. What chance did you ever have?”

Victoria bit her lip, her nails digging into the flesh of her palms.

Last night, she had nearly been assaulted before this man happened to pass by and save her. His name was Morgan Davis, and he moved in the same circles as Quennel; Victoria had met him a few times before.

However, Morgan had once gotten drunk and made a pass at Stephanie, earning him a punch from Quennel that landed him in the hospital for two whole months. After that, he was ostracized by their social circle.

Victoria’s face was expressionless. “So, if I help you get Stephanie into your bed, you’ll give me an apartment. Is that the deal?”

Morgan sneered. “Stephanie is treasured by the two most powerful men in Veridian. Are you trying to get me killed?”

For him to go after Stephanie himself would be suicide.

Victoria was confused. “Then what do you want?”

Morgan flexed his wrist, his eyes darkening. “To pay him back for the punch that put me in the hospital, of course.”

They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. If this plan succeeded, Quennel would suffer terribly, but Stephanie would be no better off. She would face the wrath of a madman like Jonathan and the crazed retaliation of Vivian…

Morgan rubbed his arms. “You know, I’m starting to think I rescued a viper last night.”

Victoria smiled. “A viper? I’m just trying to make a better life for myself.”

…

The next day was a weekend. As soon as Stephanie woke up, she called Mrs. Vasquez Sr.

Jonathan had been gone for three days. He hadn't even been to the office, which was far too strange.

When the call connected, Mrs. Vasquez Sr. stammered on the other end. “Oh, I completely forgot to tell you. Yesterday was the anniversary of Grace’s death.”