All Chapters of The Woman He Couldn’t Keep : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Francesca’s POVKatherine dropped her bag beside the table and pulled out the chair opposite mine. She picked up the sketchbook, flipped through the pages, and studied the designs I had marked.“Okay, explain this one to me.”I leaned over to see which design she meant. “The bracelet?”“Yes. Why did you use different stones instead of keeping them all the same?”“Because I wanted the colours to stand out against each other. If I used the same stone throughout, it would look too ordinary.”Katherine looked at the sketch again. “I see what you mean. I like it.”We went through a few more designs, discussing the stones, the arrangement, and which pieces I thought showed my work best.We were making progress until she picked up my phone from the table to move it out of the way.“So,” she said, placing it beside my sketchbook, “when are you seeing Alessandro again?”I looked up from the bracelet in my hand. “We are not talking about Alessandro.”“Why not?”“Because you came here to help me

Julian’s POV Francesca had been gone for more than a month, and I knew less about where she was than I did the night she left. I had done everything money could do. After Davis shut me down, I hired a proper investigator. He went through her bank account, which she hadn’t touched since the wedding. Her phone went to a dead line because she’d changed her number. He checked bus stations, shelters, and everywhere I could think of. I called Elise myself, and she told me that she hadn’t heard from Francesca since the gala. I didn’t fully believe her, but I had nothing to argue with. The one real lead was a café. Someone had seen her at an event and mentioned it, and I sent my man to the block it was on. The woman there said she’d never heard the name. The only thing he’d turned up since was that Francesca had been selling jewelry. Small pieces, to someone, somewhere. On Wednesday morning my assistant called to say Richard Waldorf was in the lobby without an appointment. I almost had se

Francesca’s POVImmediately I left the building I called Alessandro to fill him in on what happened. He answered on the second ring.“How did it go?” he asked “Well…, good and bad I think. She doesn’t fully believe me but she wants me to go with her to the launch of Hale & Wren.”“What, why?”“She said whoever has the sketch will be there and then she’ll know if I’m lying or not.”“That doesn’t make sense to me.” he said“I don’t fully get it either, but I’m suspecting my sister. So if she’s there, I’ll be sure she’s the one that stole it.” “Okay. Did she say anything about the founder or who has Hale & Wren?”“Yeah. She said his name was Marcus Barnes.” I said.The line went quiet. I checked the screen to see if the call had dropped. “Alessandro?”“I’m here. Sorry I was just a bit distracted.”“Ohh that’s fine.”“You know, I just remembered that I was also invited to the launch.” he said.“Oh. How come?” I asked “I don’t know, I got an invitation but I didn’t really think much of

Sophie’s POVI woke up with a nurse holding my wrist and a light in my face.“There she is,” the nurse said. “Don’t sit up yet.”I sat up anyway. The room was small, with a curtain around the bed and a machine that kept beeping. There was a needle taped to the back of my hand and my head hurt.“Can I have some water?”She filled a plastic cup from the jug on the table and held it while I drank. “Don’t gulp it.”“What time is it?”“Almost eleven. You passed out at a party, do you remember that?”I remembered all of it. Odile asking me about the jewelry and me feeling hot.“The doctor will be in soon,” the nurse said, and pulled the curtain back on her way out.Marcus was in the chair by the window with his jacket across his knee, scrolling through his phone. He didn’t look up. “You’re awake.”“Obviously.”“They said it’s your blood pressure. You didn’t eat anything today.”“I was busy.”“I told you to eat.” He turned the phone over in his hand. “At least it got you out of that room.”“

Julian’s POVSophie ate two slices of toast and most of a bowl of fruit. She hadn’t eaten like that in weeks.I’d slept maybe two hours. I had a cup of coffee in front of me and I hadn’t touched it. Sophie had pushed hers away when Marta offered it and said she couldn’t have it now.“You’re not eating,” Sophie said.“I’m not hungry.”“You should have something. You’ll make yourself sick.”“I’m fine.”She put her toast down. “Did you tell anyone yet?”“Davis. I went to see him yesterday afternoon. My parents after that.”“What did they say?”“My mother wants you to see her doctor this week. She’s sending a car.”“That’s nice of her.” Sophie smiled at her plate. “I’ll call my parents myself later. I’ll tell them myself.”“Okay.”“I was thinking we could turn the blue room into a nursery.”“It’s nine weeks, Sophie.”“It’s never too early to plan.”After eating a bit, I left for the office. I got to the office at nine and my private investigator was waiting in the lobby with a folder unde