All Chapters of Too Late To Win Me Back Mr Ex Husband : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Adrian left for his business meeting early the next morning.He did not know that the moment his car left the gate, the house would change.Victoria stood at the top of the stairs in a pale blue dress, watching the car disappear down the road. Then she clapped her hands once, softly, and the maids came running."Move Miss Bennett's things to the master bedroom," she said. "Be quick about it."The youngest maid blinked. "Madam, the master bedroom?""Is there a problem?""No, Madam. It is only that Mrs. Blackwood's things are still there.""Mrs. Blackwood is not here." Victoria waved her hand. "Put her clothes in a box. Put it in the storeroom. A guest should be comfortable."Mrs. Carter had been polishing the banister at the bottom of the stairs. She put down her cloth and came up slowly, her face pale."Madam Victoria, with respect, Mr. Adrian has not agreed to this.""Mrs. Carter." Victoria turned and looked down at her. "You have worked in this house for many years. You know how far

Professor Linden's office smelled of coffee and old books.Elena stood in front of the desk with her hands folded tightly. Chloe waited outside the door, pacing the corridor in her red boots, and Elena could hear the soft thump of each step.Professor Linden did not ask her to sit. She looked at her for a long moment, then took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose."Elena. I will be honest with you.""Please.""I stood in front of that painting this morning before it went up on the wall. Vanessa carried it in herself." She paused. "I have looked at your work for three weeks. I know your hand. That is your painting."Elena's heart jumped. "Then you can tell the dean.""I wish it were that simple." Professor Linden sighed. "The list was approved yesterday afternoon. Mr. Reed called the dean personally last night. He is a very large donor, and he says his daughter worked on that piece for months. The dean does not want a scandal. Without proof, the school must follow the pap

Elena walked to the main hall with Chloe holding her arm.Her hands were cold. Her stomach felt like a stone. At the gate, Mrs. Park stood waiting in her best brown coat. She pressed something small into Elena's palm."A lucky coin," she said. "My mother gave it to me. Now it is yours.""Mrs. Park, I cannot.""Take it. And stand straight. You have done nothing wrong."Elena closed her fingers around the coin. It was warm from the old woman's hand. She nodded, because she could not speak.The main hall was huge and cold. Rows of wooden benches faced a long table at the front, where three teachers and the dean sat in dark robes. The Fifth Year stood on an easel beside them, uncovered. Seeing it there made Elena's throat tighten. It looked so alone.She took a seat in the front row. She did not look back. If Adrian was in the room, she did not want to know it yet.Vanessa sat across the aisle in a cream dress, with her father beside her. Mr. Reed was a large man with a loud watch and a s

Elena sat in the dusty attic with her knees pulled up to her chest.The light from the little window had turned from white to gold. Somewhere below, a bell rang for the end of the day. She had been sitting there for almost two hours, and her tea had gone cold.The door creaked. Chloe slipped in with a fresh paper cup."I am not asking anything," she said, setting it down. "I promised. But I have to tell you something, and then I will go."Elena's heart tightened. "What is it?""Everyone is talking. The sponsor, Mr. Blackwood, asked a student where you work. The girl told him. It is the big man in the grey suit, and nobody says no to a man like that." Chloe bit her lip. "I thought you should know."Elena did not tell her why it mattered. She only nodded and whispered, "Thank you."Chloe squeezed her hand and left without another word.Elena sat very still.Daisy's Café. He knew. And she knew Adrian well enough to be sure of one thing. When he wanted something, he did not wait. He would

Adrian did not sleep that night.By six in the morning, he was dressed and sitting in his study with a cold cup of coffee. Marcus stood across the desk with a folder in his hands."Mr. Lowell has sent your message, sir. A private meeting with Mrs. Blackwood, anywhere she likes, with her lawyer present.""And?"Marcus cleared his throat. "Her lawyer called back within the hour. The answer was no. He said she has nothing to discuss with you except the signing of the papers."Adrian said nothing. He looked at the folder on the desk, the one with Alexander Cole's name on the cover.He could not reach her through the law. He could not reach her through the college. He could not even find where she slept at night. But there was one door that was still open."Marcus. Send a message to Cole Global. Say that Blackwood Group would like to discuss a joint donation to the Westbrook art wing. Today, if possible.""Sir, that is a very quick request.""Then make it sound polite."The answer came bac