From Ashes of Scandal to His Embrace (Laurinda) novel Chapter 213

“No, I’m not coming home this week. We’ve got exams on Monday and I promised I’d help them study. Seriously, just let me sleep a little longer. I’ll hang out with you later, I’m exhausted.” Laurinda tugged her puffy jacket over her head, trying to block Adolphus out so she could get a few more minutes of rest.

Adolphus could tell she was on the verge of getting mad, so he just smiled, a little helpless, and backed off. “Alright, get some sleep then. I’ll wake you up when dinner’s ready.”

“Okay. I want beef soup.”

“You got it.”

He grabbed a blanket from the cabinet, tucked her in, and quietly left the room.

Out in the hallway, someone called out, “Adolphus, is Laurinda alright?”

“She’s sleeping. What happened this morning?” Adolphus headed to the kitchen, checked the fridge for ingredients, and rolled up his sleeves to start cooking.

“I’m not totally sure, but the girl who came with Laurinda is Aileen’s daughter, Aggie,” Foley replied. He remembered seeing Aggie with Adah back at the Lane family’s place. Adah always seemed to dote on those kids, probably hoping to score some points with their dad.

“So this has something to do with the Gates family again? They really don’t know when to quit. Tell Gaylord he can start targeting the Gates Group’s overseas companies.”

Originally, Adolphus had wanted to wait until their current deal was finished before going after the Gates Group, but now he didn’t see the point in waiting. Cutting off their international business would send a clear message. Sometimes, people only learn when things get really tough.

Foley nodded and went off to contact Gaylord, leaving Adolphus alone in the kitchen.

Laurinda, carrying her laptop, took the fruit from York and headed into the kitchen to stash it in the fridge.

Meanwhile, Edison and Orville both caught sight of how comfortable Laurinda seemed around York. Their eyes went wide. They couldn’t believe she’d just bring York here, right in front of Adolphus. Was she not even pretending anymore?

Harrell noticed their reactions. He’d suspected there was something going on between those two ever since that dinner a while back, and now, watching their faces, he was sure York was at the center of it.

He stood up, closed the door to the IV room, and sat down across from them. “So, want to tell me what’s really going on? Did York do something to you?”

The two exchanged a look. They knew they couldn’t hide it from Harrell anymore, and honestly, they were tired of pretending. It was time to come clean.