The Cherished Wife



"Is that true?" Julian had been in the dark, so he was pretty shocked to hear about it. "How did you find out?"

Jade let out a sigh. "It's all because of the recent drama." She knew something was up, so after overhearing Winter and Suzy that day, she did a little digging on J. Boy, did she get the surprise of her life! "J's had a crush on Charles since they were kids, but Charles has never given her a second glance."

"Go on!" Julian leaned in, hooked. "I want to hear if it all ties together."

"Okay, here goes!" Jade gathered her thoughts and laid out the whole saga for Julian. "And then there's Clarisse, who's a real piece of work. I get why her brother likes J. She's his first love's daughter, but Clarisse is way too nice to J for no good reason. She even plotted against her own son for J's sake! Years ago, when Charles visited Capiton, Clarisse slipped him a drug and then... she actually put J in Charles's bed. Can you believe it?"

Julian's eyebrow shot up. "Did she pull it off?"

"How could you even think that?" Jade scoffed, her voice dripping with disbelief. "Charles didn't waste a second before he kicked J out and left himself. But the Bakers wouldn't let it go. They kept hounding Charles, claiming he forced himself on J that day and demanding he own up to it. Even Clarisse took J's side. Charles made it crystal clear he'd never marry J, and he banned Clarisse from setting foot in Brookville again."

"Really?" Julian was genuinely

surprised. He had not heard a

whisper about that. It was a big deal, and news like that usually travels fast. However, then again, the whole mess went down in Capiton, and with Brookville under the Hoffman family's control, it made sense they would keep a lid on it. "So, what happened after that?"

"The Bakers threw an engagement party for J, even without Charles there. So now, J's been parading around as Charles's fiancee ever since."

Jade snapped out of her recounting, a realization dawning on her. "This has to be J's handiwork."

2.19

Julian shook his head, not quite convinced. "I wouldn't jump to conclusions. J's just a small player. She doesn't have the clout for this kind of drama."

"Then what are you suggesting?" Jade's curiosity was piqued. If not J, then who was behind it all?novelbin

"Have you totally forgotten about

et

J's dad, Milo Baker?" Julian snapped to attention. "Who else would dare to spill the beans and trash-talk Winter, while Charles just sits back and does nothing? It's gotta be someone from the Baker family, don't you think?"