Chapter 28
Nice Gestures?
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Rachel’s Pov
As the car came to a stop in front of Russo’s mansion, a small smile formed on my face as Xavier held my hands.
“Ready?” he asked.
I nodded as I picked up the envelope, “Time for chaos.”
As Xavier and I stepped out of the car and approached the Russo mansion, I could already feel the tension in the air.
We barely made it past the entrance when Gerald stormed toward us, his face red with
anger.
“What the hell are you both doing here?” he spat. “Haven’t you done enough? My company is all over the news because of you!”
Xavier remained unfazed, slipping his hands into his pockets.
“If you have nothing to do with my mother’s death, then you shouldn’t be scared when the police start their investigation.”
His tone was calm, almost amused, but his eyes were sharp.
Gerald’s jaw tightened. “You have no proof of anything.”
“Yet,” Xavier corrected. “But we will.”
Gerald took a step forward, his fists clenching as if he wanted to throw a punch.
But before he could say another word, Maria walked in, her face the picture of calmness.
“Gerald, please,” she said sweetly, placing a gentle hand on his arm. “Let’s not harass our guests. Xavier is your son and he’s with your daughter–in–law.”
Guests? Son? Daughter–in–law?
What is happening?!
I narrowed my eyes. Maria was never this… polite. Something felt off.
Xavier didn’t look convinced either. “Since when do you welcome us so warmly?”
Jam
Maria let out a soft chuckle. “Come now, Xavier. Let’s not be rude. Rachel, dear, why don’t you and Xavier come inside?”
I exchanged a glance with Xavier, and though we both knew better than to trust Maria, we followed her into the mansion.
The butler served us drinks, and I took a cautious sip, keeping my eyes on Maria the whole time. She was up to something.
“Rachel,” Maria said suddenly, turning to me with an unreadable smile. “Would you mind giving Xavier and me a moment to talk?”
Xavier immediately frowned. “Anything you have to say, you can say in front of Rachel.” Maria waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, it’s just a little chat. Nothing serious.”
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giving Xavier and me a moment to talk?”
Xavier immediately frowned. “Anything you have to say, you can say in front of Rachel.” Maria waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, it’s just a little chat. Nothing serious.”
Before we could refuse again, Susan suddenly appeared, her lips curled in a playful smirk. “I’ll keep Rachel company,” she chirped. “We’ll take a walk. Catch up on old times.”
I stiffened. “No, thank you.”
Susan laughed and looped her arm through mine before I could protest further. “Oh, come on. Don’t be so cold.”
I cast one last glance at Xavier, who gave me a look that said he didn’t like this either, but we both knew we had no choice but to play along.
Susan led me through the mansion until we reached the garden. As soon as we were alone, I pulled my arm away.
“Alright, Susan,” I said, folding my arms. “What do you want?”
She tilted her head. “Why do you always assume I want something?”
I scoffed. “Because you always do.”
Susan sighed dramatically. “If I’m mean to you, you complain. If I’m nice, you still complain. Make up your mind, Rachel.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Cut the act. What game are you playing?”
Susan’s lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Trolled my eyes and pulled something from my purse–a gold–plated wedding invitation. I
held it out to her, watching as her smile faltered.
“I actually came here for something important,” I said sweetly. “I wanted to personally invite you to my grand wedding. Xavier and I are getting married again.”
Susan’s fingers curled around the invitation, her knuckles turning white. “How wonderful,” she said through gritted teeth.
I smirked. “When are you and Michael finally getting married? After the baby comes?” I tilted my head, feigning innocence. “That is, if you’re even pregnant.”
Susan’s entire body stiffened. Her eyes flashed with something dark, something dangerous.
“Stop saying things you know nothing about,” she snapped.
I stepped closer, dropping my voice to a whisper. “Hit a nerve, did I?”
Susan opened her mouth to respond, but suddenly, the world tilted around me.
I blinked rapidly, trying to steady myself, but my vision blurred. My head felt heavy, my body weak.
I swayed on my feet.
Susan’s voice sounded distant. “Rachel? Are you okay?”
I tried to answer, but the dizziness intensified.
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I rolled my eyes and pulled something from my purse–a gold–plated wedding invitation. I held it out to her, watching as her smile faltered.
“I actually came here for something important,” I said sweetly. “I wanted to personally invite you to my grand wedding. Xavier and I are getting married again.”
Susan’s fingers curled around the invitation, her knuckles turning white. “How wonderful, she said through gritted teeth.
I smirked. “When are you and Michael finally getting married? After the baby comes?” tilted my head, feigning innocence. “That is, if you’re even pregnant.”
Susan’s entire body stiffened. Her eyes flashed with something dark, somethin dangerous.
“Stop saying things you know nothing about,” she snapped.
I stepped closer, dropping my voice to a whisper. “Hit a nerve, did I?’
Susan opened her mouth to respond, but suddenly, the world tilted around me.
I blinked rapidly, trying to steady myself, but my vision blurred. My head felt heavy, my bo weak.
I swayed on my feet.
Susan’s voice sounded distant. “Rachel? Are you okay?”
I tried to answer, but the dizziness intensified.
Everything spun.
And then-
