While My Husband Cheated I Married His Powerful Brother novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Rich Life

The sun had not yet cleared the treetops.

Veyra stood on the balcony, her arms wrapped around herself, the morning air cool against her skin. She had not slept. Her eyes were grainy. Her head was heavy. Dark circles shadowed the skin beneath her eyes.

She had spent the night thinking. About Xie Heng, Aunt Chen and about the Solenne family and the mess she had created and the mess she had inherited.

No solutions had come.

Below her, the driveway stretched toward the front gate. A black car idled near the steps. The engine hummed softly.

Dorian walked out of the front door.

He was wearing a dark suit. His hair was neat. His face was composed. He looked like he had slept eight hours and woken up refreshed.

He did not look up.

Veyra watched him walk toward the car. Her hand rested on the balcony railing. Her fingers curled around the cold stone.

Then, as if he felt her gaze, Dorian stopped and he looked up and rheir eyes met across the garden.

Veyra’s heart stumbled. She had not expected him to notice her. She had been standing still, quiet, trying to be invisible.

But he had noticed.

She forced a smile. It felt tight on her face. She lifted her hand. A small wave.

Dorian’s expression did not change. He looked at her for a moment longer. Then he turned, opened the car door, and climbed inside.

The car pulled away. The gates opened. The taillights disappeared around the corner.

Veyra’s hand dropped to her side.

She stood on the balcony for a long moment, watching the empty driveway. Then she went back inside.

A knock came at her door.

Veyra turned away from the window. She had been standing there for ten minutes, staring at nothing.

"Come in," she said.

The door opened.

Lily stood in the doorway. She was wearing a yellow sundress. Her hair was in two braids. The bandage on her neck was smaller today, almost hidden by the collar of her dress.

Behind her, a maid hovered nervously.

"Good morning, Veyra," Lily said. Her voice was bright. Cheerful. She held something behind her back.

Veyra’s heart softened. "Good morning, Lily."

"I have something for you." Lily stepped into the room. She pulled her hands from behind her back.

In her palms was a doll.

It was small. Fuzzy. Brown fur with long ears and a round face. A Labubu doll. The limited edition. Veyra had seen pictures online. People camped out overnight to buy them. They sold for thousands.

"Lily," Veyra said. "This is too much. I can’t accept this."

"You can. I want you to have it." Lily pushed the doll into Veyra’s hands. "You saved my life. This is the least I can do."

Veyra looked at the doll. The soft fur. The tiny stitched smile. The big round eyes.

Her throat tightened.

"Thank you," she whispered. "I will treasure it."

Lily beamed. "You’re welcome."

Veyra set the doll on the nightstand, next to the lamp. It looked small and soft and out of place among the dark wood and heavy fabrics. But she liked it there.

She turned back to Lily.

"I’m sorry I didn’t bring you pizza yesterday," Veyra said. "I promised. And I forgot."

Lily shrugged. "It’s okay. Great-Grandmother took me out. We had ice cream."

"I still owe you. How about I make you pizza? Right now. With my own hands."

Lily’s eyes went wide. "You know how to make pizza?"

"I learned in college. Before I had to drop out." Veyra smiled. "It’s not as good as Aunt Chen’s. But it’s edible."

Lily clapped her hands. "Yes! Let’s make pizza!"

She grabbed Veyra’s hand and pulled her toward the door.

The kitchen was enormous.

Veyra had seen it before, but she had never cooked in it. Six ovens lined one wall. A marble island dominated the center. Copper pots hung from hooks over the stove. The refrigerator was the size of a small closet.

Two maids stood at attention near the sink. A chef in a white coat was chopping vegetables at a side station.

"We don’t need help," Veyra said to the maids. "Lily and I can manage on our own."

The maids exchanged glances. Then they nodded and left.

Lily climbed onto a stool at the island. She swung her legs. "What do we do first?"

Veyra tied an apron around her waist. She found flour, yeast, warm water, salt, olive oil.

"Dough," she said. "Everything starts with dough."

She measured the flour into a large bowl. She added the yeast and salt. She poured in the warm water and olive oil.

Lily watched with wide eyes.

"Can I help?" Lily asked.

"You can stir." Veyra handed her a wooden spoon. "Mix it until it comes together."

Lily stirred. Her small arm moved in circles. The flour puffed into the air. It dusted her apron. Her cheeks. Her nose.

Veyra laughed. "You have flour on your face."

"So do you."

Veyra touched her own cheek. Flour. She laughed again.

When the dough came together, she turned it out onto the floured counter. She kneaded it with her hands. Push. Fold. Turn. Push. Fold. Turn.

Lily watched in fascination.

"Why do you keep pushing it?" Lily asked.

"It makes the gluten strong. That’s what gives the crust its chew." Veyra kneaded for five more minutes. Then she formed the dough into a smooth ball.

She called a maid back in. "Can you put this somewhere warm to rise? It needs an hour or maybe two."

The maid nodded. She took the dough and disappeared into the back kitchen.

Lily looked disappointed. "We have to wait an hour?"

"At least." Veyra washed her hands. "But we don’t have to wait here. Is there somewhere you want to go?"

Lily’s face lit up. "The cinema!"

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify