CHAPTER SIX

Jeffery didn’t like hesitation. He wasn’t built for it. Things were either handled or not. You said something, or you didn’t. You left, or you stayed.

But this morning, the envelope just sat there on his desk.

He was already dressed, sharp blue suit, sleeves rolled just enough to breathe. The city outside was waking up, buzzing. He didn’t care. He was standing by the window, arms crossed, just... staring at the blank air.

“You going to mail it?” Fred asked from across the room, sipping his coffee like this wasn’t weird.

“I said I would.”

“Been sitting there since seven.”

Jeffery didn’t look at him. “She’ll get it today.”

Fred waited a beat. “Still not putting your name on it?”

“Nope.”

“And you're not going to tell her what it means?”

Jeffery finally turned, his face unreadable. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

Fred snorted. “Right.” more like he didn’t believe him.

Jeffery walked over, picked up the envelope, tapped it once against his palm, then slid it into the outbox tray like he was done with it. Like it hadn’t been haunting him all morning.

“She likes cooking,” he said, too casually.

“Yeah,” Fred replied. “Still doesn’t explain why you’re sending her to Paris.”

“She needs something that isn’t this place. Or me. Or him.”

Fred raised an eyebrow. “You're sending her away to protect her?”

“No,” Jeffery muttered, walking toward the door. “I’m sending her away because I don’t know what else to do.” she needs it.

*******

The envelope came mid-morning.

Angelie opened it, sitting on the edge of her bed, still in that same soft cotton robe she hadn’t bothered to change out of. Her hair was in a messy twist, no earrings. Just her, breathing too hard for no reason.

She read through the contents once, then again.

Culinary school. Paris. All expenses paid.

It was the kind of offer she would’ve dreamed about months ago. Before all this. Before Lucas. Before everything got... twisted.

But now?

It felt like an eraser.

Like Jeffery had picked up the whole story and said, “Let’s just get rid of her.”

There wasn’t a note. Not a word. Not even his initials.

Nothing.

She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. She didn’t cry. Not yet.

But she folded the papers slowly, slid them back into the envelope, and set it on the nightstand like something fragile.

He was done.

And maybe she should be too.

****************

“Have you eaten?”

Jeffery didn’t look up when he heard the voice. He was going over contracts, his pen scratching across the page, steady and sharp.

Amaya stepped inside his office with a brown paper bag in hand, oozing a strong aura.

He said nothing.

She kept going. “I brought those sesame balls. I know you like them.”

“I’ve eaten,” he replied, flipping the page, not giving her a second glance..

“You didn’t even look.”

“I don’t need to.”

She placed the bag down quietly. Smoothed the edge of her skirt and stood there a little too long.

“I know we don’t talk. That things aren’t... simple. But I’ve been trying.”

He didn’t respond.

“I saw the envelope leave this morning,” she said. “Paris?”

Still nothing.

She nodded slowly. “That’s kind. Even if you’re pretending it’s not.”

He dropped his pen and leaned back in his chair, finally looking at her. “Why are you here?”

Amaya met his gaze, steady. “Because I’m allowed to care.”

“No one ever cared before,” he said, calm but cutting. “Not unless it benefited them.”

“I’m not them.”

“I know,” he said. “That’s why I haven’t asked you to leave yet.”

She smiled faintly. “That’s progress.”

He didn’t smile back.

************

Lucas stood outside the office, one hand in his pocket, listening. He couldn’t hear every word, but he didn’t need to. The sight of his mother walking out of Jeffery’s office, smiling to herself like she’d just cracked something open, was enough.

She looked up, surprised to see him.

“Oh. Lucas.”

“Didn’t know you were stopping by,” he said, smiling, but not with his eyes.

“I just thought I’d bring something for Jeffery.”

Lucas’s smile froze. “Of course you did, and you forgot mine as usual, mum…” he said, emphasizing the words

She paused, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. “Is everything alright?”

“Great,” Lucas said. “Everything’s perfect.”

He walked past her without another word.

********

The quiet didn’t last long.

Around noon, Grandpa Lu called Jeffery personally. Rare. Usually, he let others deliver messages.

“You’re coming to dinner tonight,” he said without mincing words.

Jeffery leaned back in his chair. “That wasn’t on the calendar.”

“It is now. Come early. We’ve got a surprise waiting.”

“I don’t like surprises.”

Grandpa chuckled, that low, rumbling kind. “You’ll like this one. Wear something decent.”

Then he hung up.

Jeffery stared at the phone for a second. Then got up, grabbed his jacket, and left the office without a word to anyone.

*************

Back at the estate, Angelie was walking down the stairs, still holding the envelope from earlier. She hadn’t decided what to do with it yet. Maybe she’d burn it.

She was halfway down when the front doors opened.

And in walked chaos.

Chanel heels. Leather trench. Sunglasses that looked more like a crown than an accessory.

Anita Wong.

The cleaner opened the door for her like she was expected. Like she belonged.

“Where should I put this?” she asked, dragging a matching suitcase behind her, grinning from ear to ear.

The butler moved to take it, and she handed it over like royalty.

Angelie stopped cold.

Anita looked up, and her smile sharpened.

“Oh,” she said, pulling off her sunglasses with one hand. “Still here, huh?”

Angelie didn’t move. “What are you doing here?”

“I live here now,” Anita said sweetly.

Angelie blinked. “Excuse me?”

Anita winked. “Well, not officially. But Grandpa Lu invited me. Said he had a surprise planned for Jeffery tonight and that I should be part of it.”

She looked around like she was shopping for real estate.

“This house hasn’t changed. Still too cold. Too quiet. But maybe we’ll fix that.”

Angelie’s throat tightened. “Welcome.”

Anita raised an eyebrow. “That is not in your place to say Angelie, don’t forget this: you don’t belong here?”

Then she laughed. A light, effortless sound that made Angelie want to scream.

She turned to the staff again. “Is my room ready?”

“Yes, Miss Wong,” the butler said. “Top floor. East wing. Same suite.”

“Perfect.” Anita turned back to Angelie, that grin still sitting too pretty on her face. “You look tired, by the way. Get some rest before dinner. You’ll need it.”

Angelie didn’t speak. Couldn’t.

She watched as Anita walked away like the house belonged to her, like Jeffery belonged to her, like this whole thing had been planned for weeks.

And maybe it had.

She gripped the envelope tighter.

She wanted to tear it in half.

But instead, she whispered to herself, just low enough for no one to hear…

“This can’t be happening.”

But it was.

And the door behind her creaked again.

She turned.

Jeffery had just walked in.

And his eyes were already locked on Anita.