Chapter 266: The Start of Tension
In the pitch-black silence of the night, memories of past-life torment resurfaced. Only fleeting indulgence momentarily eased the hollow ache within me. Even after more than a month of Carter's immense kindness, the horrors of those violent days lingered. Anna felt like a splinter lodged deep in my soul, beyond my reach. Despite the storm passing, sleep eluded me. I dressed and went downstairs.
The living room was illuminated with a warm glow. Luke sat there, a cigarette in hand. I didn't know how long he'd been there, but the ashtray overflowed with butts. He glanced at me. "Why are you still awake?"
"I can't sleep," I replied.
His eyes drifted to the faint mark above my collarbone, his expression cooling. "You and him—"
Without hesitation, I admitted, "Carter and I are married."
He offered a bitter, almost mocking smile, fully aware of his powerlessness. He was the one who chose to let me go first. No one can wait endlessly for someone who left. I couldn't decipher his thoughts, but a faint, sorrowful smile curved his lips. "This is for the best... this is for the best," he murmured. He rose slowly, as if crushed by the weight of the moment, his face etched with anguish. Turning away, he retreated to his room, his silhouette radiating deep loneliness. If he foresaw this, why did he make those choices?
I poured a glass of water and lingered in the living room, lost in thought. I wondered if Anna found peace in her sleep.
The following morning, I felt refreshed and headed to the hotel, showing no trace of exhaustion. The Sander family is a distinguished name in the area, and their cross-border marriage was a focal point of interest. The arriving and departing guests were all affluent and influential figures.
Anna, dressed in an exquisite custom-made wedding gown, walked arm in arm with Ashley. Watching the scene unfold, I sighed. Perhaps even she remained unaware of fate's twists and turns.
"Ms. Sanders, you look absolutely stunning," I said with a warm smile.
"Mrs. Bolton, you're too kind. Please, come in. I apologize for any shortcomings in my hospitality."
We exchanged pleasantries; outwardly, there was no hint of the hidden animosity. I scanned the crowd for Sadie, wondering why she hadn't arrived—she should have been here by now. Bill and my mother were already there, so I approached her. As soon as she saw me, she smiled and extended her hand. "Zoey."
"Mom, please sit down. Don't stand for too long."
"It's fine, I'm not that fragile. Actually, I haven't experienced much morning sickness lately, so it's been bearable."
Having had a miscarriage myself, I was especially concerned. "You need to take extra care. The first three months are crucial."
"Alright, alright, I'll listen to you." With my help, my mother settled into a seat.
Scanning the crowd, I spotted many familiar faces, including Monica's cheating husband, Zack! His large belly was so prominent, his shirt looked like it might rip open at any moment. I couldn't believe he had the nerve to show up in front of Bill so shamelessly! Not only did he appear, but he was walking straight toward Bill.
"Mr. Gardner, what a coincidence. And this must be Mrs. Gardner," he said, his eyes landing on my mother. The only thing I could picture was that live broadcast—the sight of his pale stomach resembling a giant watermelon. Even the way he looked at her made my skin crawl with disgust.
Bill, clearly unbothered, gave a slight nod. "Hello, Mr. Harrison." Zack's weight gain was certainly to blame—his piggish face resembled an overinflated balloon. It made it harder to notice how much Sadie's features mirrored his. Bill's dismissive attitude should have discouraged further interaction, but Zack shamelessly added, "Mrs. Gardner is so young and stunning. Mr. Gardner, you're truly fortunate. You two must be deeply in love, right?"
Even my mother picked up on the off-putting vibe, casting him a subtle yet icy glance. I cut in before she could respond, "Certainly not as loving as you and Mrs. Harrison. Five children, right? That must be a testament to your wonderful bond."
The moment those words left my mouth, Bill and my mother turned to look at me, while Zack's expression shifted. The corners of his smile froze, stiff and uneasy. Even Bill, unaware of Zack's personal life, seemed caught off guard by my knowledge. Zack, however, was likely on edge, wondering how much I knew. Wasn't he just trying to show off? Let's see if he can keep that smile now.
"Do you know me, Ms. Gardner?" he asked cautiously.
I offered a polite smile. "Of course. Mr. Harrison, you built your empire from nothing and even took your company public. Truly inspiring! Your perseverance is something we younger folks should aspire to."
Zack's expression grew even more unsightly, and after muttering a few half-hearted words, he hurried away. I could guess his thoughts: sleeping with Bill's woman and letting Bill unknowingly play the father—he probably thought he'd outsmarted him, even though Bill was clearly pulling the strings. That acting in secrecy was a way to flaunt his confidence.
Although Bill might be trash, he was still better than someone who not only climbed to power by leveraging women but also schemed to kill him. While I might have been more cautious abroad, here in the Boltons' territory in Snowville, Carter's presence gave me an overwhelming sense of safety. I wasn't worried about any schemes he might try against me. In fact, if I could drive him to desperation and push him into taking action against Bill, exposing Monica's affair in the process, that would certainly make things entertaining!
Bill, noticing the tension, frowned. "He's shady—crooked in both business and character. Keep your distance."
"I know. As long as he doesn't do anything foolish," I replied calmly. Bill seemed to sense something wasn't right but chose not to press further. "Just stay on the sidelines today and don't stir up any trouble. While the Hudsons and our family can't form a marriage alliance, we still have business ties to maintain."
"Understood," I said with a nod.
Some things, however, were entirely out of my hands. Zack had already set his sights on my mother's unborn child. What Bill didn't realize was that his fate was being plotted by someone else entirely. My aim was only to get them divorced, not to see him lose his life.
Worried that Zack might exploit the situation to hurt my mother, I gave her clear instructions and made sure the bodyguard stayed by her side at all times, never letting her out of sight. Once I had taken care of everything, I let out a sigh of relief and turned my attention to finding Carter and Damian to see if Sadie had arrived yet. He was encircled by a crowd, unable to step away. I quickly made my way over to him.
"Ms. Gardner, we meet again," a man greeted me, a glass of red wine in his hand and a faint smile on his lips. It was Taylor! I had no fondness for him, perhaps because our first encounter involved stumbling upon a disturbing scene of him forcing his advances on someone.
"Mr. Carlyn," I acknowledged him with a cool nod before continuing toward Carter. Just as I took a couple of steps, three or four children came barreling toward me, their cake and juice splashing all over my dress. Melissa hurried over, apologizing profusely while lightly smacking each of the kids on the head.
"Mrs. Bolton, I'm so sorry! These little troublemakers ruined your dress. Let me take you to the dressing room to get changed."
"Thank you," I said, keeping my tone polite as Melissa led me to a room. "Mrs. Bolton, please wait here. I'll fetch you a new dress," she offered with a smile. "Thanks again," I replied.
The moment I stepped inside, the click of a locking door reached my ears. I turned to find several men already in the room, their faces twisted with malicious grins. "Mrs. Bolton, you want to change? Let us give you a hand with that," one of them sneered.