Chapter 145
She was standing by the pool’s edge, chatting animatedly with a group of people. She looked stunning, as always, her long dark hair cascading in waves over her shoulders, and her one–piece swimsuit accentuated her graceful figure.
Faye waved us over. “Hey, Doris! Odette! Over here!”
I walked towards her, with Cyrus bouncing excitedly beside me. As I neared Odette, she turned to face me, her expression lighting up with recognition.
“Doris, it’s so good to see you outside of work,” she said warmly, her smile genuine.
“You too, Odette,” I replied, feeling the weight of the recent tension slip away. “This place looks amazing. Thanks for inviting me.”
“Of course! I’m glad you could make it. I’ve heard so much about you from Carlos. He speaks very highly of you.”
I felt a warmth spread across my chest at her words. The mention of Carlos made me pause for a brief moment, but I quickly pushed the thoughts away. It was nice to talk to someone who
wasn’t involved in all the drama.
As we continued to chat, Odette’s eyes flicked toward the sunflowers in the garden. She smiled and turned back to me. “You know, Doris, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you have a very sunny aura about you. It’s like there’s a light around you. I’m drawn to this, sunny scent of yours that I sense”
I blinked, unsure of what to say. “Sunny aura? I… I’ve never been told that before.”
Odette’s smile widened. “I’m serious. It’s just something I sense. I’ve been painting a lot of sunflowers lately, and there’s one in particular that I think would suit you perfectly. Hold on, I’ll grab it.”
Before I could respond, she darted inside the house and returned with a small portrait framed in gold.
The vibrant, yellow sunflowers seemed to glow, capturing the warmth Odette had sensed in
“Giving Up My First Love For Secret Research Second Chance at Happiness.
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- me. She handed it to me with a soft smile. “This is for you. It’s a gift, to remind you of your inner light.”
I was touched by the gesture, and I couldn’t help but smile in return. “Thank you, Odette. It’s beautiful. I’ll cherish it.”
As we continued chatting, Carlos appeared from the side, walking toward us with his usual
fident stride. Odette’s face shifted slightly, but the moment he reached us, she turned toward him with determination.
“Carlos,” she said, “I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, and I’ve made up my mind. I think it’s time for us to break off the engagement.”
Carlos’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and for a brief moment, I saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Then, he looked at Odette and nodded slowly.
“I agree,” he said, his tone surprisingly calm. “It’s for the best.”
The words hit me like a wave. The engagement between Carlos and Odette had been a topic of gossip for weeks, but hearing it confirmed in such a public setting was surreal.
I watched as Odette took a deep breath, looking relieved as though a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride for her. She was making the choice that was right for her. But a part of me couldn’t ignore the undercurrent of sadness that was in the air. It felt like the end of something big, something that had been brewing for years.
I looked around, noticing a person lurking in the corner of the yard with their phone held up, capturing the entire exchange.
The flash from his camera was quick, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of discomfort.
Before I could react, the moment passed, and Carlos gently placed his hand on my shoulder. “We’ll take care of everything,” he assured me, “Don’t worry about the public. reaction. I’ll handle it.”
The next morning, the headlines hit me like a punch to the gut. “Young Prince Breaks Off
Engagement with Noble Lady for Divorced Woman.”
The a
article was of half–truths, conjecture, and scandal. My name wasn’t mentioned directly, but the insinuations were clear enough.
I sat there in stunned silence, the weight of it all crashing down on me. How had it gotten so out of hand? I felt a deep sense of unease. But just as the frustration began to build inside me,
my phone buzzed with a message from Carlos.
“Don’t worry about it,” the text read. “I’ll handle this. I promise you, Doris. Let me take care
of the fallout.”
I stared at the screen for a long moment. Carlos had always been the protector, the one who handled the messy parts. But now, I was starting to wonder just how far his protection
could reach.
The rest of the day was a blur of phone calls and media inquiries.
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