Chapter 54

In the days that followed the incident, Eleanor kept herself out of sight. Not once did she dare step near Hope House.

The fear of Nolan lingered. If he turned up again and pressed her with more questions, sooner or later she would give herself away.

But while Eleanor hid, Lillian grew restless. One afternoon, she marched straight to the Podium Apartments and all but dragged Eleanor outside.

Reluctantly, Eleanor let herself be pulled along,agreeing to a shopping trip she hadn't wanted.

Their timing, however, couldn't have been worse. By sheer misfortune, they crossed paths with Lainey and Jonny.

Lillian muttered a curse at their rotten luck and was about to steer Eleanor away when a sharp voice rang out.

"Jonny, you don't even bother looking properly before saying I'm stunning!"

Something about that voice made Lillian pause mid-step. Her eyes flicked to Eleanor's, and in the same instant, they both stopped moving.

Inside the bridal boutique, Jonny stood before an irritated Lainey, rubbing his temple like the weight of her words had triggered an instant headache.

Yet what choice did he have? Placating her was the only way forward.

"For me, Lainey," he replied weakly, offering the most hollow reassurance he could muster, "you'll always be the most beautiful."

The words were flat, so empty they barely passed as sincerity.

Frustration twisted Lainey's face as her fingers clenched the hem of the gown. Since the day their wedding date was announced,Jonny had worn the look of a man being marched to execution.

And as if that weren't enough, Sallie had the audacity to survive her ordeal-and then starve herself in some pathetic attempt to derail their marriage.

Fortunately, Vickie had stepped in on her behalf,cutting Sallie off before she could succeed.

None of it mattered in the end.

Every setback only pushed Lainey closer to her goal.

Sooner or later, she would become Jonny's wife.

The thought brought a smile back to her lips. She slipped her arm through Jonny's and spoke in a coaxing tone. "Jonny, you really are too sweet. But these dresses don't please me. Let's try another boutique."

Jonny's reply was little more than a grunt, neither yes nor no. Pretending not to notice his indifference, Lainey turned briskly toward the fitting room to change.

From where they stood, Lillian let out a low whistle."Would you look at that? Lainey really does have the patience of a saint."

Eleanor smirked and lifted her thumb in mock praise."Oh, she's got plenty."

So much for true love.

Right after their wedding date was set, Jonny's mask started to slip.

Men always longed for what wasn't theirs.

When Lainey stepped out of the bridal shop with Jonny at her side, the first thing she caught were the mocking looks plastered across Lillian's and Eleanor's faces.

A prick of heat crawled up her neck.

Had they seen everything inside?

She swallowed the embarrassment down, refusing to let it surface. Straightening her spine, she plastered on a triumphant air, chin tilted high. "Miss Warren, if you're that desperate to cross paths with Jonny, you don't need to drag poor Ms. Brooks along as cover."

Lainey had always known how to weaponize her tongue.

With one cutting remark, she managed to jab at Eleanor while sowing seeds of discord toward Lillian.

But the trap fell flat-Lillian didn't flinch.

Instead, she circled the couple slowly, her lips curling into a smile that dripped with venom. "A tramp and a fool-you deserve each other. May you both choke on your happiness."

"You-" Lainey's anger nearly boiled over, but she choked back the words before they escaped.

This was Lillian, spoiled by the Brooks family. She wasn't someone she could afford to cross.

StilI, resentment festered. How could Eleanor-ordinary, with no power or pedigree-earn the protection of both the Stewarts and the Brooks family? It was unbearable.

Lainey was ready to spit more poison, when Jonny suddenly tugged her hand.

"Lainey, drop it. We're leaving," he said.

Something about sitting across from Eleanor unsettled Jonny. The sight of his ex-wife-calm,unruffled, radiant in her own quiet way-left a strange flicker of shame gnawing at him.

He should have been boasting, showing her how far above her he now stood.

Yet the memory of that hundred-million wedding gift from Lainey's father weighed heavy on him, making his pride feel cheap.

One day, he promised himself, once his company survived this crisis, he would pay it back in full-then rub his success in her face.

With his word given, Lainey had no room left to press the matter. Still, in her heart, one truth remained unshakable:when the wedding came, she had to be the star.

The gown she wore needed to scream perfection.Nothing less would do.

Before leaving, Lainey cast Eleanor one last poisonous glare, then spun on her heel and stormed off.

Across the way, Eleanor lifted her thumb toward Lillian with a small, knowing grin. Nicely done.