Chapter 5

"Oh, right. I just remembered Mr. Clinton has piled a ton of work on me," Hugo added. "He'd definitely have a problem with me taking time off at the last minute."

He paused.

"Or we could go to Grandview Park," he suggested. "I know how much you fancy those spacious apartments with ocean views."

"Last night, you said you'd do anything I asked," I cut him off, a mocking smile tugging at my lips. "Hugo, you're not keeping a mistress at Northdale Heights, are you? I'm just going to look at houses, not interrogate you. Why are you so nervous?"

Realizing he'd let his anxiety show, Hugo gave an awkward laugh and could only keep driving in silence. He kept looking for opportunities to text on his phone throughout the entire drive.

His anxiety was impossible to miss.

When we arrived, I pulled him straight into the sales office.

Regina was arranging the architectural models when she looked up. Her gaze lingered on Hugo for a moment, and a blush crept across her cheeks.

Hugo, however, was so tense that even the muscles in his forearms turned rock-solid. His eyes met hers for an instant before he jerked his gaze away, as though he'd been burned.

He tried to head left, but I deliberately tugged him to the right, straight toward Regina.

"What a coincidence!" I exclaimed. "Regina works here, too… Do you remember her? She was the agent who helped us buy our marital home."

All the color drained from Hugo's face. He stood rooted to the spot, as though he'd been frozen in place.

I slipped my arm through his and feigned confusion.

"Do you really not remember her?"

"No!" Hugo snapped back to his senses, his voice shooting up an octave. "I don't remember her. We've dealt with so many agents… Besides, I was focused on looking at houses. Who pays attention to what the agents look like?"

Regina's expression fell. Her fingers tightened around the brochure she was holding.

"Regina, you look so pale," I said, feigning concern as I glanced at the rows of architectural models. "Has work been wearing you out?

"It's really hard for a woman to make it on her own. It's a good thing Hugo's doing so well. After buying our marital home, he's now planning to buy another place for our baby and put it in my name. Honestly, what am I supposed to do with so many properties?

"Oh, by the way, you're always up at dawn and working late to meet clients. Can you even afford a place here on your salary?"

Regina's eyes instantly reddened.

"I could never be as lucky as you, Selena," she ground out. "I make just enough to get by."

As we continued viewing the properties, Regina's expression grew increasingly strained.

Hugo didn't even dare to look up, terrified that his eyes might meet hers.

I stopped in front of Unit 1604.

"This one, then. I really like the number. Your birthday is April sixteenth, isn't it, Regina?"

Regina didn't answer, resentment plain in her eyes. Hugo's lips parted slightly, as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.

Tension hung thick in the air, wrapping around the three of us like an invisible web.

I watched with interest as the tension between them mounted, until both Hugo and Regina were breathing more heavily.

Finally, Hugo broke the silence, surrendering to the inevitable.

"Fine," he relented. "We'll take this one."

Regina stared at him in disbelief, her voice trembling on the verge of tears.

"But you promised me…"

As though she'd suffered some terrible injustice, she could no longer contain herself. She spun around and hurried away.

I smirked. Was that all it took to break her? I'd barely even gotten started.