Second Vows Adored by the Billionaire novel Chapter 23

Eloise couldn't help thinking back to what an absolute fool she'd been.

Every year, she'd put herself through hell trying to prepare the perfect birthday surprise for Victor.

Last year, Victor complained about feeling weak and constantly tired, and someone told him matsutake mushrooms were incredibly restorative.

He mentioned it to her in passing, so she immediately flew out to the most remote mountains in Montana and followed local foragers up peak after peak for weeks.

Her hands and feet were totally wrecked from the climb—thorns shredded her palms to ribbons, and a rattlesnake almost bit her.

After more than two weeks of torture, she finally managed to find a single wild matsutake.

The year before that, Victor suddenly craved Maine sea urchin roe, so she flew all the way to the coast and spent hours diving in freezing water, scraping the delicacy off dark underwater rocks.

Her hands and feet got completely torn up from the sharp surfaces, and she nearly drowned in the process.

Back then she'd loved Victor with everything she had. She insisted on doing absolutely everything herself, determined to lay the world's finest treasures at his feet.

But now, watching the greed and anticipation flickering across Anita's face, the truth suddenly crashed into her all at once.

All those rare delicacies she'd risked her life to find had probably ended up exactly like that diamond bracelet, the one she'd saved money for 999 days straight to afford. Everything had gone straight into Anita's hands.

No wonder Anita used to look at her like she was watching a complete moron perform tricks.

Eloise zoned out for a second, then she laughed, her voice taking on a sharp edge. "This year, I'm planning to climb the Rockies to pick alpine bearberries. If I fall to my death up there, make sure you tell Victor to come collect my body."

Anita stuttered for a moment. "Isn't that way too dangerous?" But almost immediately, she muttered under her breath, "Though honestly, if you did fall to your death, that'd be perfect."

Eloise pretended she hadn't heard that. She turned around and looked at her. "What was that?"

Anita's face instantly shifted into that sweet, innocent smile. "Nothing, Eloise. I just hope you'll be really careful, that's all."

Eloise made sure to leave her bedroom door wide open. And she placed the bottle of pills Victor had prepared right on the nightstand where anyone walking by could see it.

Now it all came down to whether Anita had any dirty little secrets she wanted to act on.

The moment Anita heard Eloise's car engine start up, her eyes drifted toward that open bedroom door.

She quickly glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then tiptoed into Eloise's room.

The second she spotted that bottle of prenatal vitamins, she grabbed it without hesitation, jealousy flashing in her eyes. "Why does Eloise get to have everything when I don't?"

By the time Eloise pulled up to the airport, Chris was already waiting in the departures hall.

Seeing Eloise dragging her luggage by herself, she hurried over to take it from her. Her eyebrows knitted together. "You drove yourself here? Victor didn't even drop you off?"

"I didn't tell him I was leaving," Eloise said with a casual smile.

Chris' mouth dropped open. "Seriously? He's okay with you traveling alone like this?"

Eloise brushed back the hair the wind had messed up. "Every year around this time, I sneak off to prepare his birthday surprise. He's used to it by now and he likes the mystery of it all."

Lucas dropped his luggage and scooped Eloise up without warning, spinning her around in a circle.

When he set her back down, he studied her face carefully and said with concern in his voice, "God, you look exhausted. Those dark circles are practically down to your chin. All those lovey-dovey posts you've been sharing online were just for show, weren't they?"

"Pretty much, yeah," Eloise admitted sheepishly.

Lucas squeezed her cheek gently. "I told you Victor had a shady face from day one. He's got that total player vibe. You believe me now?"

"Yeah," Eloise said quietly.

Lucas raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. "Wait, what? No argument? Back in the day, if any of us said one bad word about Victor, you'd give us the silent treatment for at least a month."

Chris nodded emphatically. "Right? I seriously thought she was gonna be stuck in that asshole's trap forever."

Eloise looked down, and her nose started to sting. "Are you guys mad at me for being so stupid back then?"

Lucas and Chris immediately linked their arms through hers on either side. Chris poked her cheek. "Dummy, we told you at your wedding that we'd always be here whenever you needed us."

Lucas turned his face away and quickly wiped at the corner of his eye. "Alright, alright, enough with the waterworks. Let's get on the damn plane already!"

The three of them exchanged smiles and walked toward the gate together, shoulder to shoulder.

The setting sun stretched their shadows out long behind them, and for a moment, it felt like they were carefree teenagers again.