When She Ended It With Divorce (Chiara and Titus) novel Chapter 86

**Chapter 86**

Elaine struggled to keep the tempest brewing within her at bay, her eyes flickering with a mix of cunning and shadow.

“Seems like you’re not too fond of Chiara either, huh?” she remarked, a sly smile curling at the corners of her lips.

Lena’s expression stiffened, her gaze flitting away like a startled bird. “I just… I can’t stand the way she behaves,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elaine suppressed a scoff, maintaining a mask of neutrality. She stepped closer, her movements deliberate, and removed her watch, sliding it onto Lena’s wrist with a practiced ease.

“Ms. Jensen, what are you doing?” Lena inquired, her tone laced with confusion.

“I did say I wanted to be friends, didn’t I? This is merely a small gesture of my sincerity. If you consider me a friend too, then go ahead and accept it. Friends exchange gifts, right?” Elaine replied, her smile warm yet tinged with an undercurrent of mischief.

Her gaze flickered to the diamond watch, which, while not ostentatious, bore a value of at least a couple of hundred dollars.

“Ms. Jensen…” Lena hesitated, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

“Take it, Lena. No need to feel shy. Honestly, I can’t stand Chiara either. Seems we share a common adversary, don’t we?” Elaine’s voice dripped with warmth, but her eyes sparkled with mischief.

Lena met her gaze, her hesitation palpable, yet she didn’t refuse. Instead, she discreetly slipped the watch into her pocket.

“You can count on me, Ms. Jensen. We’re in this together,” Lena said, her voice steady, a newfound resolve coursing through her.

Elaine grinned, a scheming glint dancing in her eyes. “How about we exchange numbers?”

“Okay…” Lena nodded, still a bit hesitant but willing to go along with it.

“If anything comes up, keep me updated. Got it?” Elaine added, her tone turning serious.

She paused, a fleeting thought crossing her mind. After all, her loyalty lay with Titus.

“Relax, Lena. I’d never do anything that would go against Titus, you know that, right?” Elaine reassured her, a hint of sincerity breaking through her facade.

Lena finally nodded, her expression softening. “You can count on me, Ms. Jensen. I understand.”

“By the way, Ms. Jensen, do you know Mr. Yates well?” Lena asked, a hint of curiosity creeping into her voice.

Elaine narrowed her eyes, suspicion creeping into her thoughts. “Why do you ask?”

“I just feel like Mr. Yates treats Chiara differently. There’s definitely something between those two, you know? I’m not sure if Mr. Goodman has noticed,” Lena whispered, lowering her voice as if the walls had ears.

Elaine raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise coursing through her. ‘So Jeffrey actually took my advice to heart?’

Regardless, as long as Chiara and Jeffrey were entangled, her own relationship with Titus was bound to become complicated.

And when that happened, she would be more than ready to stoke the flames.

“Is that so? Keep an eye on them. If you can catch them in an intimate moment or dig up some dirt, that would be far more convincing,” Elaine suggested, her tone laced with slyness.

Lena didn’t truly believe it was feasible, but she nodded nonetheless, playing along.

“If the opportunity arises,” she said, her tone noncommittal, leaving the door open for possibilities.

After the dinner, only Paul and Chiara remained sober, the weight of the evening settling around them.

Chiara decided it was best to take Queenie home first.

Once the Combs family departed, Noreen made her exit as well.

She wasn’t one to pry, and some matters were simply not her concern.

Lena caught Noreen’s gaze, feeling a mixture of reluctance and obligation. She didn’t want to leave, but without a valid excuse to stay, she had no choice but to follow suit.

“Queenie, let me give you a ride home,” Chiara offered, her voice light yet filled with an undercurrent of tension.

Queenie, sensing the charged atmosphere, maintained her composure. She was adept at handling her liquor and felt perfectly fine.

“No worries, I’ve already arranged for a designated driver. You don’t need to trouble yourself,” Queenie replied, waving her hand dismissively.

“But…” Chiara hesitated, her concern evident.

Just then, the driver appeared on his e-bike, breaking the moment.

“Which one of you is Ms. Taylor?” he called out, scanning the group.

“Me, over here,” Queenie said, raising her hand before casting a quick glance at the others.

“Mr. Goodman, Mr. Yates, Mr. Chapman, Chiara, I’m heading out. See you all!” she announced cheerfully.

Paul and Jeffrey nodded in acknowledgment, and with that, Chiara fell silent, watching as Queenie climbed into the car with her driver.

Turning back to the three men, Chiara found Titus finally breaking the silence, his tone casual yet commanding.

“Want to talk?” he asked, a hint of challenge in his voice.

Jeffrey shot him a knowing look. “Sure, care for a drink?”

Wilbert frowned, glancing at Chiara before suggesting, “Maybe we should just call it a night. It’s getting late, and Chiara’s here too.”

The wind picked up, a chill settling in the air, causing Chiara to cough lightly. She was still feeling under the weather.

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