Chapter 56
Valerie gave Lucius no room to indulge his own temper. She swung a leg over him, straddling his waist through the blanket, and lifted his chin with one hand as she smiled with wicked
amusement.
“Well, well. Who knew my dear husband had two faces? I’ve always liked dealing with men like you–the ones who look all cold and restrained on the outside but turn out to be restless beasts underneath.”
Pinned beneath her, Lucius didn’t move. Flat on his back, he even looked faintly expectant, curious about what she might do next.
His voice came out low and rough. “What are you planning?”
Valerie tilted his chin higher, leaning down slowly.
He thought she meant to kiss him, but instead, like a mischievous child, she bit down on his cheek, leaving behind a neat row of teeth marks.
Never in his life had Lucius been treated that way.
Her voice was cool when she spoke. “I don’t have a good temper. I don’t take losses. Whoever makes me unhappy, I’ll make them twice as miserable.”
Lucius stayed on the bed, chuckling to himself. Valerie sure was interesting.
At that moment, the bedside phone rang, cutting through the tension.
Hannah’s voice came crisply through the speaker. “Ms. Woodward is requesting to see you, Mr. White. She says it’s urgent. She’s waiting in the living room.”
“Ms. Woodward? Sonia?” Lucius met Valerie’s gaze, hoping to catch a flicker of reaction on her face. But there was nothing–not the slightest ripple.
It seemed Valerie truly didn’t care about his entanglements with other women. A wife who never pouted, fussed, or got jealous. She was easy–going and trouble–free–almost too much
So.
Downstairs, in the Azure Bay’s living room, Sonia slid an ornate gift box across the table toward Hannah.
“A friend brought these skincare products back from overseas. There are far too many for me to use on my own, so I thought I’d share some with you.”
Sonia wasn’t a shallow person. If she aimed to become Lucius‘ wife, then everyone connected to Lucius went on her list of people to win over.
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Hannah’s breath caught when she saw the brand. It was from an international luxury line, worth easily hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sonia was being very generous.
This, Hannah thought, was the benefit of working in a wealthy household. The chores might be menial, but the people you rubbed shoulders with outshone Fortune 500 executives.
She smiled politely. “Ms. Woodward, this gift is far too valuable. I can’t accept it.”
Sonia played the role of a gracious young lady with ease. “I told you, it was a gift from a friend. It isn’t worth much. If you won’t take it, I’ll just have to throw it away. You wouldn’t want me to waste it, would you?”
Her carefully crafted persona was that of a beauty and a scholar. She had a good family, decent looks, and high intelligence–the perfect package.
Winning over Hannah meant gaining an inside line to Lucius‘ habits and movements. For Sonia, it was a bargain with nothing to lose.
Hannah wasn’t foolish. She knew the rule–if one accepted someone’s gift, they would have to do their bidding. With a box of luxury skincare in front of her, free of charge, she wasn’t about to play the martyr.
“Since it’s your kind offering, Ms. Woodward, I’ll gratefully accept.”
With that exchange, Sonia’s favorability rose a notch.
And before Lucius came downstairs, Hannah leaned in to share something useful with her.
“Mr. White lives by strict routines. After 10:00 pm and before 9:00 am, we’re forbidden from calling him on the house line, no matter the urgency. That’s why you had to wait so long. It’s the rule, and anyone who breaks it faces disciplinary action.”
Sonia was taken aback. “Disciplinary action, in this day and age? Seriously?”
Chapter 57
