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Chapter 24
Whitfield had always known he would compromise in the end, and he’d already slipped the evidence of Gentry’s and The Tobin Group’s crimes to the authorities behind closed doors #
For years, he’d kept to the shadows, all for the sake of unearthing the Tobin family’s dirty secrets.
He hadn’t lied to Lynne, though he shared their name, he’d never truly considered himself part of the Tobin family.%
He’d never been interested in becoming their heir or taking the reins of power,”
To Whitfield, the Tobin family was never worth the trouble.
With the evidence Lynne had provided and Whitfield’s intervention, Gentry’s guilt was sealed beyond doubt.”
Soon after, the Tobin family found themselves under investigation by every relevant agency.”
The next time Lynne ran into Cynthia was outside a bar.
She was just passing by, but Cynthia, drunk and unsteady, grabbed her arm in a death grip.
“Lynne, you’re alive! I knew it!” Cynthia’s eyes burned with hatred as she glared at her.”
Lynne coolly shook off her hand. “Whether I’m alive or not has nothing to do with you.” Cynthia was rattled by her indifference./
For days, she’d been calling Balfour, but he never picked up. The other night, he’d even kicked her out of bed without a second thought.”
She’d cursed Balfour, pouring out her heartbreak, even showing him her injured hand as proof of her suffering.”
But all Cynthia saw was Balfour’s furrowed brow and thinly veiled disgust as he told her to get it away from him.”
Looking at Cynthia now, seething with resentment, Lynne almost laughed.”
Really, of all people, was Cynthia the one who had any right to blame her?”
“Cynthia, I owe you nothing. If anything, you’re the one who owes me–more than you can imagine.“/
“You’re lying! If it weren’t for you, Balfour wouldn’t treat me this way! He loved me. He was ready to give up everything to run away with me, but because of you–because you faked your death–he left me!“”
With a snarl, Cynthia lunged, her nails clawing for Lynne’s face.
Lynne caught her wrist and slapped her, the sound ringing out sharp and clear.”
Cynthia froze in shock. “You hit me-“W
Before she could finish, Lynne’s hand struck the other side of her face.
Lynne’s eyes were cold, unwavering, as if she could see right through Cynthia.”
“Lynne! You’re insane!”
Another slap echoed in the night.
“Cynthia, these three slaps are what you owe me. Do you really think you, so naïve and reckless back then, had any real qualifications to work at The Tobin Group? Your self–righteous idea of saving anyone was always a joke. And I bet you never realized: the person who doubted you most was the one you loved the most.”
Cynthia stood there, stunned.}
She remembered it now–fresh out of college, burning with ambition, she’d gone to interview at The Tobin Group. But at the worst possible moment, someone had deliberately spilled coffee on her clothes.M
She’d hidden in a corner, fighting back tears, when Balfour appeared out of nowhere, handing her a silk scarf to cover the stain.!
She hadn’t even managed a thank you before he turned and walked away.
ཆ ཉ ཧ ཋ
Then, when she entered the conference room, she saw–the man who’d helped her was the company’s CEO.
That was the day her crush on Balfour began.
She hadn’t cared that he was married, or that she’d only ever be the other woman.
She’d fallen for him–the man who’d swept in like a hero and lifted her out of her misery.”
But she’d never once wondered how Balfour had just happened to have a woman’s silk scarf, or why he’d found her outside the ladies‘ room at exactly the right moment.
Later that evening, Lynne finished her shopping and headed for Whitfield’s house, arms full of groceries.
She ran into Balfour at the bottom of the stairs, looking exhausted and out of sorts X
Chapter 24
His eyes lingered on her grocery bags, then on the smile that faded from her face the moment she saw him.”
For a moment, pain flickered in his chest as he remembered the way things used to be–how they’d go grocery shopping together, cook dinner side by side, share a home.}
He even remembered how, because of his weak stomach, Lynne had taken cooking classes just to prepare meals he could enjoy.”
