When Love Is a Lie (Whitney and Damian) novel Chapter 86

"I borrowed Thomas' suite yesterday to let a friend stay here for a couple of days. I came by to bring her a few things," Noel explained to the woman.

Whitney froze in place as she listened. This presidential suite belonged to Thomas? Then, this woman…

The woman with curly hair looked Whitney up and down before giving a sly smile. "A friend? This is the first time I've seen a woman around you."

Noel ignored her teasing and gestured for Whitney to come inside. He introduced the woman to Whitney, "This is Thomas' sister, Amelia York."

Thomas' sister? Whitney's cheeks flushed in embarrassment as she greeted Amelia, "Hi, Ms. Amelia."

Amelia smiled knowingly. "So, you're not the cleaning lady anymore?"

Noel raised an eyebrow. "Cleaning lady?"

Amelia chuckled. "Before you arrived, she called herself your hired help. I guess she mistook me for your girlfriend and didn't want you to misunderstand."

Both Noel and Amelia turned their gazes to Whitney.

Whitney's face burned as she looked down, staring intently at her feet. If she could, she'd dig a hole right there to bury herself in.

Amelia walked over to the chaise by the window and picked up her lace nightgown. "I stayed here a couple of days ago and left this behind. I'll be on my way now."

As the door closed behind Amelia, Noel stepped closer to Whitney and handed her the paper bag he was carrying.

His deep, gravelly voice sounded right above her. "Did you think I was hiding a mistress here?"

Whitney's gaze dropped. She'd spotted Amelia's nightgown here last night but hadn't dared ask him.

She'd assumed this was one of his other residences and that he had another woman here.

No wonder he'd thought she was acting strangely yesterday.

Noel's warm breath was close, and Whitney unconsciously took a step back. She then only pressed herself against the wall, with nowhere left to retreat.

"I…" Whitney began to speak.

Before she could even finish her sentence, her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl.

Noel glanced at his watch. "It's nine o'clock. You haven't had breakfast yet?"

Whitney's cheeks flushed even redder from embarrassment.

He asked, "Let me guess, you were so worried my 'girlfriend' would notice that you didn't even touch the food in the fridge?"

Noel smirked, slipping off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves as he moved toward the fridge.

Whitney lowered her head, following him in embarrassment. She mumbled softly, "You didn't have to say it out loud."

"What was that?" Noel suddenly stopped and turned. Whitney didn't have time to react and ended up bumping her forehead against his chest.

His chest was solid and firm. Whitney rubbed her forehead, murmuring, "Nothing. I… I'll cook for myself."

Noel looked at her for a moment. "Did you really think I was going to cook for you?"

"Huh?" Whitney looked up, clearly taken aback.

Whitney read each message one by one. Apart from her friends' messages, the rest were all from Westley.

"You think you're all grown up now, running away like this? Get back here immediately!" Westley's message was laced with anger and impatience.

"Whitney, can't you think about the Spencers and your father?" Another message came through, pressing on her sense of family duty.

"Do you know how many women would kill to marry into the Howard family? Damian just made a mistake all men will make. Why can't you forgive him? I won't allow you to break off the engagement. It's for your own good!" His final message was relentless, pushing his own agenda as he tried to dismiss her feelings.

Whitney scrolled through, each word from her father making her heart sink further.

She'd hoped that a day apart would give him time to understand, maybe even empathize with her.

But no. He still only cared about himself and the Spencer Group's interests.

A bitter taste filled her throat, and she finally understood. Her father's love and kindness were conditional, entirely dependent on her usefulness to him.

The moment she jeopardized those interests, he showed his true colors.

The messages continued, full of blame and pressure.

Finally, she reached the last message, and it chilled her to the core, like she'd been plunged into icy waters.

The timestamp was just a few moments ago.

"Do you want your mother to open her eyes again? Be at the Phoenix Hotel tonight at seven. If you don't show up, I'll have the hospital cease all of her treatments."

Westley's threat lingered on the screen, each word cutting deeper than the last.