Semua Bab Did I Steal My Fiancé’s Ex Identity: Bab 131 - Bab 140

Lisa’s POVLater that evening, I went to the condo that Andre had prepared for me to stay in. Riley called and came over, as she said, she couldn't let me spend my last day as an artist alone. “You’re staying here?” she asked when she arrived.“Yeah,” I said. “Wow! It's so much better than our place.”She leaned on the counter. “You know, when you told me you wanted to look into your mother’s case again, I thought you’d back out.”“I almost did,” I admitted. “But something changed. I can’t explain it. I just feel like it’s time.”She smiled faintly. “Then do it. And come back in one piece.”“I plan to.”She nudged my arm. “You'd better. Mara and I are too lazy to handle this place without you.”That made me laugh. “You’ll survive.”“Barely.”Max texted me that night: Riley told me you’re going in tomorrow. Don’t forget to send us postcards or crime updates.I replied: Sure. I will.I was glad he had moved on from wanting to date me to actually being friends.He sent back a laughing

Kenneth’s POV When Andre DeLuca’s lawyer's name came up on my phone that morning, I almost ignored it. I had not spoken to him in years, and when I did, it had been in court. He called to ask for a “favor”. I should have hung up. I should have said I was busy. But curiosity got the better of me.He said he wanted to “secure a position” for someone. A woman. A temp clerk. I told him we did not take outside recommendations. He laughed and said, “Just hear her out, Kenneth. She’s an old hand. You’ll remember her. Andre DeLuca recommended her.”When he said the name Rachel Shaw, my stomach dropped. That name had been in our records, stamped with “deceased” beside it. I asked him what he meant by “remember.” He only said, “You’ll see.” Then he hung up.So when Rachel walked into the firm later that morning, alive and dressed like she had never left, my first thought was that DeLuca was playing games. I had no interest in open conflict with the DeLucas. He had reached. His father had be

Lisa's POV.I had thought three days would be nothing. I was wrong. It felt like three months. Everything at the firm moved slowly and precisely. The work was boring. All I did was read papers about a fence between two neighbors. I typed notes into the computer. I made copies. I filed documents.I looked around the office. Other lawyers walked quickly with important files. They talked about big cases. I was stuck with a fence.I wondered why I ever became a lawyer. My past self, Rachel, must have liked this. But I did not see why. It was just rules and papers.I was sure Kenneth was trying to make me quit. He gave me too many rules. Do not talk to clients. Do not use the main printer. Do not go to the file room alone. He wanted me to fail.It wasn’t just the workload or the silence from my colleagues. It was Kenneth. He had made sure I felt like an outsider from the minute I stepped in.Every time I tried to do what I came for, but even though I was a staff member, I wasn't granted ac

Lisa’s POV The office felt like a cage. People walked past my desk without looking at me. They talked in low voices when I came near. Everyone knew who I was. “The lady who came back from the dead”, but no one wanted to be seen with me.Everyone knew my name in the firm. No one wanted to speak of it. That was the strange part. I would pass people in the hall, and they would look away like I had an infection. The partners kept their greetings short. The juniors pretended not to see me. I guess coming back from the dead didn’t sit well with them.The senior associates have that look, like they know things they shouldn’t say out loud. The younger ones just avoid me. Some move away from the coffee machine when I approach. Others pretend to get a call. I had expected awkwardness. I had not expected to be pushed away like that. It made me feel a bit lonely. I reminded myself why I was here. I had a job to do. I had questions that did not answer themselves.I kept my head down and did m

Lisa’s POV When I came in on the next Monday morning, Joan, the receptionist, was already at her desk. She smiled at me like we were old friends, which still threw me off sometimes. People here seemed to know me well, yet most of them acted like I didn’t exist.“Morning, Rachel,” she said with a grin. “You’re early. Again.”I smiled back. “I’m trying to keep busy.”She leaned closer over the counter, lowering her voice. “I heard about what you did last week. Standing up to Dwayne Steeler. Good for you. I am so happy for you. It's the best office gossip we've had in months.”For a moment, I didn’t even know what she meant. Then it clicked. She was talking about that annoying junior partner with the mean girl attitude. The one who had practically tried to embarrass me in front of everyone.“Oh,” I said. “That loudmouth? He was just on my way.”Joan laughed. “Don’t play coy. The whole floor’s been whispering. You really stepped on his ego. He’s been pushing people around here for years.