Chapter 6
Arlene barely had d time to react before a sudden force from behind shoved her aside
She crashed hard into the coffee table, her forehead smacking against the comer Blood immediately began to well up from the wound.!!
The pain drained the color from her face. Drawing in a sharp breath, she looked up at Emery, who had just barged in.
But Emery didn’t even spare her a glance. He was entirely focused on Rosalie, gently disinfecting her injused finger, carefully pressing a bandage over the cut. The tenderness in his eyes was impossible to miss X
In that moment, Arlene finally understood the little performance Rosalie was putting on
Shakily, she pulled herself to her feet and bent to pick up the bloodstained tam that had fallen to the floor Holding it out, she placed it right in front of Rosalie
Emery assumed she was trying to show off, and a surge of anger mse within him X
He opened his mouth, ready to lash out, but Arlene cut him off before he could get a single word in
If you like it so much, it’s yours. Take it
Rosalie was caught off guard, forgetting even to squeeze out more tears
Emery frowned, completely at a loss for what Arlene was scheming.
This was a gift from Mom and Dad,” he said, voice tight
For her?
No, it was for their daughter–in–law!
And soon, Arlene would no longer be the Tucker family’s daughter–in–law
Arlene set the tiara down. Tm a bit of a neat freak. Bloodstained things are bad luck. Let her have it
Without another glance at either of them, she turned and walked out of the office.
Emery watched her leave, her calm, unhurried figure fading from view, and his frown only deepened
Ever since they got mamed, Arlene had two famously well–known hobbies: buying real estate and collecting jewelry. Whenever she was upset, he would always use one of those things to cook her!!!
But now, she was walking away from a priceless, collectors–edition piece without a second thought
On Arlene’s birthday, Emery still hadn’t come home.
At the party, everyone was asking where he was, speculating to Arlene that maybe he was planning some kind of surprise. After all, he was usually glued to her side at events like this
But Arlene didn’t care where he’d gone. All she wanted was to enjoy her birthday
After tonight, shed be twenty–seven, on the verge of a brand–new chapter in her life
Why waste another moment on people and things that belonged to the past?
She ignored their questions, grabbed a bottle of champagne, gave it a celebratory shake, and popped it open with a flourish, just like setting off fireworks.
To me happy birthday!
Her words rang out, light and free, so full of relief that everyone around her laughed and raised their glasses.
“To the most charming, beautiful, and delightful Mrs. Tucker–happy birthday!
Mas Tucker?i
Arlene smiled. “Not for much longer Emery and I are X
But the word “divorced” was swallowed by the sound of the front door swinging open.
All eyes turned, just in time to see Rosalie helping a drunken Emery through the doorway, her expression flustered and unsure
Under the weight of so many stares, Rosalie’s face flushed bright red and she stammered, “S–sorry to interrupt. I just brought Mr. Tucker home
Why was Emery out drinking tonight, of all nights–on Arlene’s birthday? The question hung in the alt, unspoken but obvious to every questi
Arlene, however remained calm. She set her glass down and walked over to the doot ready to help Emery inside
But he refused to let go of Rosalie’s hand. Instead, he pulled her closer, and to everyone’s shack, pressed a kiss to her forehead right there in front of the entire party Rosales cheeks flamed with embarrassment.X
Gasps and wide–eyed looks rippled through the room.
Arlene pretended not to see any of it. She only tightened her grip on Emery’s am, trying to support him
He shoved her away with initation, then buried his face in the crook of Rosalie’s neck, his tone thick with drunken flirtation
“Mmm, why do you smell so good?”
The room went dead lent
Rosalie’s checks were scarlet, though there was a glint of trumph in her eyes, even as she kept up her innocent act “Mrs. Tucker, Mr. Tucker’s just drunk and rambling. Please don’t take it to heart. He’s just been working too hard–he must’ve forgotten your birthday by accident
Her saccharine words were enough to make Arlene feel sick.
She couldn’t be bothered to expose Rosalie’s little charade Instead, she simply stepped back, giving them space X
The master bedroom’s upstairs, last door on the left. You can help him up
