A Marriage Deal To Remember のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 81 - チャプター 90

LINDEN Andrea's mother died in St. Ives Hospital, it was thirty minutes after she left my place. The drive to the hospital felt like I was stepping into a world I swore I wouldn't ever enter. I ignored the honking of cars and the blur of passers-by. Monroe's words sat in my head like a broken tape: "Some things are better left buried, Linden”. It should actually be buried but something told me I needed to find out the truth. For Andrea. I had read the autopsy result three times since leaving Monroe in Hudson. Every line clawed at me. The fact that alcohol was found in her blood was weird. According to the result, it was higher than I ever remembered her drinking. There were bruises on her wrists too, inconsistent cuts here and there. And the fact that her seatbelt was off: she always wore a seatbelt. Always. These things didn't matter to me because I gave them no importance. She didn't want me to have Andrea and she would go to any length to have me as her lover. All that mattere

LINDENI sat in my car for a moment, listening to the new playlist my driver set up for me. I was driving alone today because of something important I needed to catch up with. There was just one thing I wanted to find out.Jensyn had ushered me out this morning. She thought she’d won the game of sending me off, she thought I’d gone off to work like a good husband.This thought wouldn't have bothered me, but it did, because of what Lev told me.So I didn’t drive far. I stopped a couple blocks away, then parked beneath the shade of an oak tree. I switched the engine off and relaxed in the car. The air outside was cold, thick, and heavy. The sun hadn't found its way out so I just rested till it was time.But then, the minutes dragged. My phone blinked once on the console and I saw the emails stacking, the clients were waiting. I ignored it.Then, the gate to my house opened and the car I gave Jensyn pulled out. She had dark sunglasses which made her look calm and perfect. I started the

JENSYNThe car came to a halt, and I let out a breath I didn’t realise I’d been holding. It was darker now even though my phone ticked 7:30 pm. My eyes scanned the parking lot carefully until I saw that Linden's sleek black Mercedes wasn't there. My heart, which had curled into a clenched fist in my chest the entire ride home, loosened with that discovery.He was not home.A triumphed smile creased my face, the kind of smile you give when you’ve escaped a bullet to your head by an inch.With that smile now radiating my whole body, I pushed through the front door with my key, hoping Madeline or anyone else wouldn't wake up. I was careful not to make a noise. The house greeted me with silence and darkness that soothed me immediately.Good.I flicked on my phone’s flashlight, trying to remember which damn wall held the switch. The glow of my flashlight danced over the house and I finally found what I was looking for. When my fingers finally brushed it, I exhaled and flipped it on.Light

LINDENThe chandeliers cast a warm glow over the hall, making everything look expensive. A small band played soft music near the bar filled, making the atmosphere lighter. Waiters weaved through the crowds with trays of champagne and snacks. People, who were mostly my family, my business associates, and everyone who contributed to the success of the Rawlings Foundation, were present. I adjusted my tie and allowed my eyes to travel around in search of my wife and daughter. I found them somewhere near the stage. Jensyn was chatting animatedly with Willow and Andrea seemed to be having the best moment of her life.What could go wrong?Nothing went wrong until I saw my father, Arthur.He was standing with an older woman whose presence near him appeared a little cosy. Her hand brushed his sleeve lightly as they laughed. The scene wasn't casual, it was intentional, too bold. The woman's face wasn't familiar—I had never seen her before. I cautioned myself not to worry about her. My presenc

LINDENArthur fixed the event at the venue of his choice. It was smaller, though having the same features as the first one. What caught my attention was that he called the media. That was new and it was too late to ask them to leave. I would just discuss it with him later. I hoped nothing extraordinary would happen.I adjusted the collar of my tux, not moving from my seat. Around me, laughter dripped too sweet, too loud, too forced. They all loved Arthur Rawlings events, the yearly report of the companies and all that he owned, they loved the fact that he organised an event to let everyone know how money was spent, how much was made, and how much went to charity.Arthur climbed the podium with the help of Lev. He was aging really fast. If I wasn't mistaken, Arthur was sixty five years old (he still looked good enough to be seen around Jennifer Farrow). She was absent.That should make me glad, but it didn't shake the fact that she was my mother's rival, the reason my mother died.Art