The Genius Ex-Wife’s Revenge Portfolio novel Chapter 427

“Hello, Tiffany. Hi, Victoria,” Lilly said, her voice gentle and warm.

Tiffany’s face lit up. “Jace, why didn’t you tell me Lilly was coming? I would’ve cooked more food.”

Jace almost said Lilly wasn’t staying for dinner, but Lilly jumped in first. “Don’t worry about it, Tiffany. I’m not picky. If it’s food, I like it.”

Tiffany grinned. “You’ll get more than enough here.”

Everyone chuckled, the mood easy and light.

“I’m gonna take a shower,” Jace said, already heading for his room.

He closed the door behind him and turned on the shower, letting the cold water run down his back. The stuff Liana had given him really packed a punch. Jace had been around the block, seen all kinds of tricks, but he was still just a guy. It was hard to shake the effects of whatever she’d slipped him.

The icy water hit his muscles, making him shiver. He closed his eyes and tried to steady his breathing.

Suddenly, the door opened with a soft click. Lilly’s voice floated in. “Jace?”

He didn’t look up. “Yeah?”

“Your mom asked me to bring you some clean clothes.”

“Just leave them inside.”

Lilly stepped in, careful not to look toward the shower. A frosted glass door separated them. “Where should I put them?”

“Hang them up.”

“Okay.”

She reached up and hung the clothes, standing on her tiptoes. Through the frosted glass, Jace could see her silhouette—delicate and graceful, her long dark hair hanging loose. She looked so soft and fresh, like she belonged in a daydream.

She turned sideways to hang the clothes, her movements quick and a little awkward. There was something about her, all energy and innocence, that made Jace’s throat go tight. He sent his hand lower.

Outside, Lilly called to him again. “Jace, are you almost done? You’ve been in there forever.”

Tiffany was already in the kitchen, cleaning vegetables. Jace took over at the stove, frying up dinner.

In the living room, Victoria was bent over her homework. Lilly watched her for a while, admiring her neat handwriting. Victoria was always at the top of her class, the kind of student everyone noticed.

“Victoria, you’re incredible. Do you know which high school you want to go to?” Lilly asked.

Victoria looked up, her eyes bright. “I want to go to Northwood. That’s where my brother went. He got in with the highest score.”

Lilly had heard the stories. “Someone told me your brother was the top scorer in the whole state.”

Victoria’s face glowed with pride. “Yeah, he was number one all the way through school. He’s my goal. I still have a long way to go to catch up to him, though.”

Lilly felt a little awed by the siblings. Her own grades were good, but next to Jace, she felt average.

She walked into the kitchen, watching Jace move around as he cooked. “Jace, is it because my grades aren’t as good as yours? Is that why you don’t like me? Do you think I’m dumb?”