All Chapters of Rejected by One, Wanted by Another : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

The call with Adrian ended, and Zoe stared at her phone until the screen went black. She could still hear the tension in his voice. All he seemed to care about was Lucy’s whereabouts and Lucy’s silence. Zoe had done everything right, yet Adrian was still chasing a girl who was clearly laughing at him behind his back."He needs to see it," Zoe whispered to the empty room. "He needs to see what she really is."Zoe stood up and walked to her closet. She didn't want to just deliver news; she wanted to be the distraction he needed. She pulled out a short, tight black dress that clung to every curve. Underneath, she stepped into a set of red lace lingerie, the kind she knew Adrian liked. She spent extra time on her makeup, darkening her eyes and painting her lips a deep red. She looked in the mirror and felt confident. She was going to give him a reason to forget about Lucy Quinn.She counted her remaining cash and called for a taxi. The ride to the Matthews estate was long, but she used th

Every time the screen lit up with Jonathan’s name, Lucy felt nauseous. The sound of her phone buzzing felt like torture. She sat on the edge of her bed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap to keep them from reaching out. She watched the notifications pile up.'Are you okay? I haven't seen you all morning.''Lucy, did I do something wrong? Please talk to me.''I’m at our spot in the library. I’ll wait for you.'Each message was like a knife piercing through her heart. She wanted to tell him everything. She wanted to tell him that his scholarship was in danger, and that her father’s life depended on her silence. But she knew Adrian’s reach. She knew that any contact, even a warning, could be tracked. She had to keep avoiding Jonathan. She stood up and grabbed her bag, and walked out of her dorm room, but instead of taking the direct path, she turned and took a longer hidden route that kept her away from the library and the common areas where Jonathan usually passed.The heat of the s

The sun was bright when Lucy pulled the old family car into the gravel parking lot of the county funfair. The air was filled with the scent of fried dough, popcorn, and cotton candies. It was a big difference from the quiet halls of Lakeland Hospital. Lucy reached into her bag and felt the small envelope of cash she had hidden away for months. It was money she had saved for textbooks or a rainy day. Today, the rain was pouring down on her family’s spirit, and she was going to spend every cent to stop it."We are actually here?" Leo asked, his face pressed against the car window. His eyes were wide as he stared at the giant Ferris wheel turning slowly against the blue sky."We are actually here," Lucy said, forcing a cheerful tone. "And today, the rule is that we don't talk about school, work, and we definitely don't talk about doctors."Martha sat in the passenger seat, her skin appearing pale in the bright sunlight. She looked at the colorful banners fluttering at the entrance and

Lucy was still pulling her hair into a low bun when her phone started ringing. She saw Victoria’s name on the screen and steeled herself for a lecture on punctuality."Lucy," Victoria said the moment the call connected. "An emergency has developed with the charity board. I cannot join you this morning. However, the staff at Maison de Mariée have my specific notes on the silhouette and the lace. Go there as planned. They will provide whatever you need. I expect a full report and photos of the top three choices by this afternoon.""I understand, Victoria," Lucy replied."Do not pick anything too modest. We are making a statement, not hiding a secret. Goodbye."The line went dead. Lucy let out a long breath and slumped against her dresser. Being alone was better than being under Victoria’s critical eye. She picked up her bag and headed toward the university gates to meet Zoe.Zoe was already there, leaning against a pillar and scrolling through her phone. She was dressed in a vibrant red

The car stopped in front of the boutique, and Lucy didn't move for a long moment. She stared at the gold lettering on the glass door until the driver cleared his throat. She got out without a word and walked inside. The shop was quiet today. The smell of lilies was even stronger than before. "Miss Quinn," the lead attendant said, appearing from behind a rack of silk. "We have been waiting for you. The 'Masterpiece' is ready for the final zip. The seamstress has finished the delicate work on the train."Lucy followed her to the large dressing suite. The dress sat on a velvet-covered mannequin in the center of the room. The white lace was so bright it seemed to glow under the spotlights."Please, step inside," the attendant said, pulling the heavy curtain shut.Lucy stripped off her clothes. Her skin felt cold in the chilled room. She stepped into the center of the dress, and two women moved in to lift the fabric. They pulled it up over her hips and shoulders. One of them knelt to adj