After Betrayal - I Married a Handsome Tycoon-Chapter 48: Who Do You Take Him For?

Moira Sloan startled awake.

Her sensual dream had twisted into a nightmare, and the glistening sweat of passion had turned into a cold, clammy sheen.

Moira Sloan stared at the ceiling for a while, dazed. She got out of bed to take a warm shower and drank a glass of water to calm her nerves. Then, wrapping a towel around herself, she stood by the window to gaze at the nightscape.

The apartment complex she lived in was older than she was. Even the elevators had been a later addition, with each household chipping in for the renovation.

The view wasn’t much to look at—just a jumble of old, mismatched buildings that possessed neither beauty nor grandeur.

Still, it offered a unique kind of warmth.

It was the feeling of finally coming home after being adrift for so long.

Moira Sloan stood there watching, from three-thirty in the morning until five.

As the sun began to rise, she squinted against the glare, then turned and, clutching her towel, went back to the bedroom to try and get some more sleep.

Having been awake for half the night, Moira felt an indescribable weightlessness as she lay back down on the bed.

It was as if she were suspended in mid-air, her body and soul detached.

Once she fell asleep, however, she was dead to the world.

Mid-morning, while Moira was sound asleep, the phone on her nightstand suddenly rang, pulling her from her deep slumber.

She groggily opened her eyes, her slender, pale arm reaching out from under the covers to grab the phone and answer.

"Hello."

Moira’s voice was languid, tinged with the soft gentleness that comes after a good, long sleep.

Shauna Duane was taken aback when she heard her voice, then asked tentatively, "Moira, are you not coming to the shop today?"

Moira pinched the bridge of her nose. Something occurred to her, and she rolled over. "No, I won’t be in for the next few days. You hold down the fort."

Shauna’s curiosity got the better of her. "Why?"

Moira said, "My ex is getting married."

Shauna was stunned. "Are you going to crash the wedding?"

Moira scoffed. "I’m going to sit at the head table."

Shauna didn’t get it. "Huh?"

There were some things Moira couldn’t explain to Shauna in detail, so she decided not to. "Just be good and watch the shop. I’ll give you a big red envelope when I get back."

Shauna might be naive, but she wasn’t stupid. She could tell Moira didn’t want to talk about it, so she didn’t press, just gave a sullen "Mhm."

A moment later, they hung up. Just as Moira was about to get up, her phone vibrated. Shauna, still worried, had sent her a text: Be safe, okay? Don’t get beaten up.

Moira chuckled and replied: Good girl.

Shauna, all bark and no bite, texted back: I’m not worried about you. I’m worried I’ll be stuck working myself to death at the shop if you get hurt.

Moira: I know. You’re worried about me.

After texting with Shauna, Moira got out of bed with a smile on her face and went to freshen up.

Shane Jennings was getting married in three days, which meant she had to leave today.

Today, Atheria. Tomorrow, visit Lillian Kidd. The day after, rest and recharge. And the day after that, show up at the wedding looking drop-dead gorgeous.

As the saying goes, it was about saving face, not settling a score.

When attending an ex’s wedding, you have to look even more radiant than you would at your own.

After freshening up, Moira walked back to the bedroom, picked up her phone, and dialed Connor Quinn’s number.

Neither of them had said a word when they parted ways yesterday, and the awkwardness still lingered for Moira today. But things had reached a point where she had no other choice.

When the call connected, Moira spoke first. "Shane Jennings’s wedding is in three days. Are you planning on going the day after tomorrow, or on the day of?"

Connor Quinn’s voice was deep and cool. "What about you?"

Moira said, "I’m going today."

Connor, "Hm?"

Moira didn’t want to explain. She felt their relationship hadn’t reached that level. But after his "suspicions" yesterday, she felt inexplicably guilty and had to offer a reasonable explanation. "I have other things to do in Atheria. I need to go early."

After Moira finished speaking, Connor didn’t answer right away. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

After three to five seconds, she heard Connor say, "Zachary Curran, you take over."

A moment later, another, more playful voice chimed in, "Yes, Connor."

A few minutes passed. It sounded like Connor had walked some distance. Then, with the CLICK of a lighter, he spoke, his voice low as he took a drag from a cigarette. "Moira Sloan, are you trying to end this arrangement with me?"

Moira, "..."

’It’s a shame Connor Quinn isn’t telling fortunes on some street corner,’ Moira thought. ’Everwood County is missing out on a master psychic.’

Connor Quinn was right. That was exactly what she was planning.

She had been thinking that as soon as Shane Jennings’s wedding was over, she would spend a fortune to hire a ’fake boyfriend’ and then terminate her arrangement with him.

When Moira didn’t respond, Connor knew he’d guessed correctly. He took a slow drag from his cigarette and let out a very quiet, cold laugh. "Moira Sloan, who do you take me for? Someone you can sleep with whenever you want and then just cast aside?"