Second Vows Adored by the Billionaire novel Chapter 9

Eloise did not throw away the bottle of supplements. Instead, she placed it on Anita's bedside table and swapped it with an identical bottle already there.

After she finished, she called her closest friend, Chris Wyatt.

"Chris, come out for coffee," Eloise said. "I need a favor."

An exaggerated scream burst from the other end. "Eloise, what is this? You finally decided to stop orbiting your precious husband and spend time with your old friend?"

Eloise laughed despite herself. "Enough. One hour. Same place. Don't be late."

She ended the call, and the smile on her lips lingered for a second before her eyes grew hot.

God, she'd been so stupid.

She had turned herself into the kind of woman who lived around her husband, who declined invitations, abandoned friendships, and slowly erased her own social circle until her world contained only one man.

She would never do that again.

Instead, she would reclaim her circle, one step at a time.

She would also pick up her old interests.

One step at a time.

She'd finally seen the truth. Everything else—all that came after—was just a matter of leaving.

Eloise left with her bag and went to the coffee shop where she and Chris used to meet.

Chris arrived before the hour was even up.

She swept in with her usual energy, wearing a black dress with thin straps, her chestnut hair cut short and sharp, sunglasses perched on her nose. She pulled Eloise into a hard hug as if trying to anchor her.

"Talk," Chris said immediately. "What do you need from me?"

Eloise leaned in close to Chris' ear and spoke softly, "I need you to find a woman who can seduce Victor."

Chris recoiled, eyes widening. "Are you serious?" She stared at her, genuinely frightened. "You can't be serious."

She searched her face, trying to understand what could possibly make her think this was a good idea.

Eloise had not yet explained when the café door opened. Victor walked in with Anita tucked against his side, Brook following them. Victor's hand rested on Anita's shoulder as though it belonged there, and Anita's belly was visibly rounded.

Chris' eyes snapped onto the sight, disbelief sharpening into anger. Her voice dropped. "So he cheated."

Eloise lifted her coffee and drank the entire cup in one go. "Yes. I only found out recently, and it turns out they've been..."

Anita's voice floated across the room, sweet and demanding. "Honey, my legs are sore."

Victor answered immediately. "All right. I'll rub them."

"Honey, I want juice."

"All right. I'll get you some."

Brook laughed loudly. "You're killing me, you two. Do you have to be so lovey-dovey in front of a single guy? Seriously, I can't take this."

The words cut cleanly through Eloise's unfinished sentence.

Eloise glanced over and felt her face go stiff.

Chris was glaring at the trio, her jaw clenched tight. "Oh my God, what a bunch of assholes!" He looked furious. "So this guy's been cheating on you the entire time, but he still acts like husband of the year in front of everyone?"

"Yeah," Eloise said quietly. "Shocking, right? I was surprised too." She drained another coffee, her voice a bit hoarse.

Across the room, Anita continued her performance, her voice sickeningly sweet. "Baby, this smoothie is too cold. Can you make it warmer for me?"

"Of course, anything for you."

Victor took the drink and held it close to his chest, warming it with his hands before offering it back to Anita with an exaggerated kiss on her forehead—all while making sure Brook could see every gesture.

They really have no self-respect left.

Brook giggled like he was watching a romantic comedy. "Oh my God, you two are so extra! Anita, you've got him totally whipped."

Chris's restraint finally snapped. She grabbed the sugar dispenser from their table and started to rise. "That asshole is doing this because you don't have family to protect you. If he had any idea who you really—"

Eloise caught her wrist immediately. "Chris. Don't."

"You can actually stand watching this?" Chris hissed. "I've seen pathetic before, but this is next level."

Beatrice's neck drew back instinctively.

But then something hardened in her expression. Instead of obeying, she stomped down even harder, her voice rising to a scream: "No! She ruined my dress! The dress Daddy gave me!"

The word "Daddy" pierced Eloise's ears like a needle.

Beatrice had always called her "Godmother," but she called Victor "Daddy" with such easy affection.

How ridiculous that she'd never noticed before.

She thought of how she'd treated this child like family, how much money and care she'd invested, how completely blind she'd been.

For a moment, she wanted to slap sense into her past self.

"Let. Go." Eloise's voice carried no warmth whatsoever.

Beatrice finally registered the unfamiliar coldness in Eloise's expression, and her defiance wavered. She slowly lifted her foot.

Peggy was such a small, delicate dog.

Eloise rushed forward and scooped her up, feeling something warm and wet on her fingers. Blood.

Worse, Peggy was barely responsive, managing only weak whimpers.

Eloise's vision went white with rage.

Beatrice leaned in with sick curiosity, like she was examining a broken toy. "Is it gonna die? I hope it dies. It's so annoying."

Eloise forced her fury down until her voice became deadly calm. She stared directly at Beatrice.

"Why do you want Peggy to die?"

"Because then you won't have anything else to love," Beatrice said with a bright, twisted smile that made Eloise's skin crawl. "Then you could adopt me! I could be your daughter, and Daddy's and Mommy's too!"

There was genuine excitement in her eyes.

A chill ran through Eloise's entire body.

She crouched down to Beatrice's eye level and slowly reached out to touch the girl's cheek.