Hilary Windsor Bennett actually brought his fiancee to the house; he didn't even make mention of it to me at all. I pressed my forehead against the cool wall of my room, my hands were shaking as if they couldn’t decide whether to clench into fists or just hang uselessly by my side. My heart wouldn’t stop beating hard, like what I feared the most had finally catched up with me. Somehow I could still smell the faint traces of food drifting from the kitchen earlier.I couldn’t stand it. Every time my mind replayed the image of her in that kitchen, working like she’d lived here for years, my chest tightened. What was I supposed to do in this house now? Pretend I didn’t exist? Watch Bennett and his lover do their things, while I stay here as a third wheel?I gripped my head, pacing back and forth in the room. Why would he bring her here? after signing a contract with me and making it clear that no romance was allowed, then he brings his fiancée into the house like I was invisible?Do th
Bennett Landon If I wanted to get a chef that would make sure Hilary eats then it had to be a professional and there was only one place I knew that employed top culinarys in the country, the Landons estate. I scrolled through my contacts and landed on the only number I knew would fix this. “Mum,” I said as soon as she picked up.“Bennett,” her voice sounded so controlled as always. “It's late. What’s the matter?”I rubbed the bridge of my nose. “ I need something urgently. Can you send one of the chefs from the mansion over here? Permanently.”Her tone changed as she bombarded me with questions. “You want one of our chefs? Are you okay? Have you been starving yourself?”“Mum, its nothing like that” I assured her so doesnt get worried "I just feel like I am finally in need of one"“All right, all right.” She sounded relieved now, but her tone was now more serious “Would you like to make a selection yourself? You know we only hire the best.”I leaned back into the couch, thinking. I d
Hilary Windsor After I left Bennett, on getting to my room, I closed my door behind me, I wasn’t even sure what I was feeling anymore. My legs felt weak, my heart was still pounding from that phone call with Vivian. How in the world had I managed to speak to her like that? It felt like someone else had taken over my body.I sat on the edge of my bed, my hands were still trembling slightly. In between all this, for some reasons I felt so satisfied. Just then my stomach gave a loud growl, interrupting my thoughts. I pressed a hand over it and frowned. I hadn’t eaten properly all day, and the truth was, I was starving. But I didn’t want to admit it. Not after walking away from the food Bennett had cooked earlier. I had wanted to just take a breath and calm down in my room and now I was curled up in my room, sulking and hungry.Fine. If I wasn’t going to eat, then I needed a distraction. I turned on the sewing machine, letting myself get busy. Work was my only escape. Out of nowhere th
Bennett LandonI didn’t think it was possible for Hilary to surprise me anymore, but tonight she proved me wrong. The moment Vivian’s voice came through the line, with that venomous tone as ever, I thought Hilary would crumble.For a second, I regretted pushing her into the corner she hadn’t asked for. But then something shifted about her. Her tone changed, she spoke out in a very calculated tone, I could hardly believe those words were hers. She handled Vivian like she had been preparing for this moment her whole life. Where had this fire been hiding?I sat there frozen, I was amused and in awe, as she flipped the tables on Vivian. I watched her bargain and threaten Vivian at the same time. It was like seeing another side of her emerge, I couldn’t stop staring. I was proud of her, impressed in ways I hadn’t expected. And if I was being honest with myself, there was something unsettling about how much I liked this side of her. When she finally ended the call, she looked… victorious. A
Hilary Windsor “I’m not sure I’ll try anything like that,” I muttered, stabbing at the pasta on my plate. I felt completely helpless because the idea of inviting Vivian and Emily into anything involving to my life would be that I was digging my own graveBennett only chuckled like an amused kind of chuckle “Do you have your phone with you?”My head snapped up instantly “Yes,” I said slowly, narrowing my eyes at him. “Why are you suddenly asking for it?”“Can I borrow it for a few seconds?” he asked, almost casually like we used to do this before.I frowned. Borrow it? Since when did Bennett need my phone? “What do you want to use it for?”He only shrugged calmly. “You’ll find out. Just lend it to me.”I hesitated. Everything in me screamed don’t. Still, something about the way he gave me that calm look made me sigh. Reluctantly, I slid the phone across the table. He picked it up, studied it for a moment, then stretched it back toward me.“Unlock it,” he said.My brows furrowed. I did
Bennett Landon It wasn’t like I wanted to make such a decision without telling Hilary. But when my mother called earlier that morning, I lost my grip on the conversation. She had asked me which day I and Hilary had concluded for the family meeting. I wanted to tell her we haven't thought about it yet,but I didn't know if it was because I wanted the marriage to be held as soon as possible. Somehow, the word tomorrow had slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.Afterwards, I regretted saying such a careless word, I kept thinking about Hilary, that morning when the notification popped up on her phone. I’d seen the flicker of panic on her face but she had walked away before I could even say anything. I really wanted to apologize for putting her in such a position.I worked from home that day, though it was hard to call what I was doing “working.” because I barely looked at the files on my desk. My eyes kept wandering toward the stairs, waiting for the sound of her door opening.