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Madam Sarah gave a cold snort. “What’s this? You can slap Tracy for Yvonne’s sake, but I can’t strike you for hers?”
Jared’s lips parted as if to argue, but in the end he said nothing. He grabbed his coat from the sofa. “I’m going back to the office.”
She was still his grandmother. No matter how furious he was, talking back to her felt wrong.
“Any of you still have a problem with what I said?” Madam Sarah’s sharp gaze swept the room.
“No,” everyone chorused.
When she spoke, no one dared object. Even if they had grievances, they swallowed them whole.
At the office, Quinton placed a file on Chandler’s desk and hesitated. “Mr. Gaunt, today seems to be the madam’s birthday. Should I order a cake for her?”
He had wanted to mention it in the morning, but thought surely Mr. Gaunt would remember on his own. Now, with half the day gone and no sign of it, he forced himself to speak up.
Chandler’s pen paused mid-signature. He glanced up, eyes cool. “Something that trivial doesn’t need to come across my desk.”
Trivial. His wife’s birthday was a trifle. Quinton lowered his gaze, biting back words. So Yvonne’s whims are important, but not the woman he married?
He stepped out to make the call himself.
Later, Jennie signed for the delivery and dialed Tracy’s number. After a long ring, the call connected.
“Ms. Tracy,” Jennie said excitedly, “sir ordered you a birthday cake! He said he’s coming home to celebrate. You should come back soon!”
Sitting at a red light, Tracy’s lips curved faintly. “Okay.”
She said it, but inside she felt nothing. She no longer believed his promises. Too many times she had waited only for him never to show.
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Chapter 27 Stay With Me Tonight, Won’t You
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She wandered the city instead, grabbed dinner on her own. The thought of watching Chandler across the table, pretending nothing was wrong, made her stomach churn.
When Jennie had dinner ready, she called Chandler. The first time he didn’t answer. The second time, after several rings, he finally picked up, voice laced with impatience. “What is it?”
Jennie lowered her tone. “Sir, you had a cake sent for Ms. Tracy. Will you be home tonight to celebrate with her?”
“I heard you,” Chandler said flatly, and hung up.
The shower stopped in the background. Yvonne emerged wrapped in a bath towel, dripping hair cascading like a freshly bloomed lotus.
She tied her damp hair into a turban and sauntered over, sliding onto Chandler’s lap. She plucked the phone from his hand and set it aside, then tugged loose his tie and slipped open the first button of his shirt. Her fingers trailed along his Adam’s apple.
Chandler leaned back, eyes closed, breath slowing, already forgetting the call.
Yvonne kissed down the line of his throat, unbuttoning as she went. Her voice was soft, sultr “Stay with me tonight, won’t you?”
She had timed it carefully. On Tracy’s birthday, she had made sure Chandler wouldn’t go home.
He sucked in a breath, fighting the fire surging in him. “Not tonight. I have to-”
But she didn’t let him finish. The metallic snap of his belt came loose, tossed to the floor. Her lips grazed his ear, her hand sketching circles across his chest. “Are you really going back?”
His body went taut. A moment later, she pushed him onto the bed, kissing his mouth, his throat, leaving lipstick marks down his skin.
She knew exactly how to unravel him. Soon he grabbed her waist, flipped her beneath him. “You’re rushing. Don’t cry to me later when you can’t handle it.”
Her robe slid away. She smiled lazily. “You’re terrible.”
The hook was set. Chandler pulled the robe off completely, pressing her into the mattress.
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Chapter 27 Stay With Me Tonight, Won’t You
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At home, Tracy sat at the dining table. The dishes had gone cold. Good thing she’d eaten already-otherwise she’d be doubled over from the hunger pains again.
She waited a while longer, then stood. Of course he’s not coming.
Her mind wandered to years ago, when he had brought out a towering cake, slipped a ring onto her finger, and promised to love her forever.
Now, all those words were air.
She crossed to the calendar, tore off the square marked July 18, and went upstairs.
There was no point waiting.
And just as she had guessed, Chandler never came home that night.
Jennie, uneasy, whispered the next morning, “Ms. Tracy…”
Tracy looked up from her breakfast. “What is it?”
Jennie hesitated, then forced a smile. “Nothing. I was just asking if you’ll be going out today- it’s the weekend.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Why?”
“No reason.” Jennie ducked out, muttering something about buying groceries.
Tracy didn’t dwell on it.
Around ten, her phone rang. Sam’s warm voice came through. “Tracy, our teacher’s birthday is next week. We’re hosting a dinner at Garden Pavilion for him. Do you want to come?”
She blinked. July 22. She’d nearly forgotten. Marriage had turned her world so small that she had even skipped her mentor’s celebrations.
“I’ll go,” she said firmly.
“Great. I’ll pick you up. Oh-and I heard that legendary senior will be there too.”
Tracy stilled. The mysterious prodigy. She had only ever heard his name, never seen him. The teacher often held him up as an example.
“I understand,” she said softly, a flicker of anticipation in her chest.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
