Chapter 96
And yet, all it boiled down to was being “used p>
It was pathetic. It was a joke.
Maeve thought she had grown numb to the heartbreak.
But admitting the ugly truth of her marriage out loud still felt like a rusted knife carving out her chest.
Vivian was so devastated for her daughter that she started to cry, her muffled sobs carrying through the receiver.
When Marcus spoke again, his voice was thick with emotion.
“Alright. Come back as soon as you can. We’ll be right here waiting for you p>
Maeve sniffled, a tiny flicker of comfort settling over her heart.
They were right.
At least she wasn’t alone. She still had her parents. As long as she gritted her teeth and survived this ordeal, it would all be over soon.
“I will p>
After chatting for a few more minutes and urging them to take care of themselves, Maeve reluctantly ended the call.
She tossed and turned in bed, entirely unable to sleep. Remembering the clients Jonathan Giles had sent her, and realizing she still had the essential oils and equipment Yvette Giles had gifted her, she decided to get a head start on the orders.
Finishing the custom fragrances early would impress the clients and help her secure a loyal customer base.
She worked until midnight. Exhausted, she took a hot shower and finally crashed.
She slept deeply, free from nightmares, and woke up feeling somewhat rested.
Knock, knock, knock.
Maeve was roused by a persistent tapping at her door the next morning.
Throwing off the covers, she opened it to find Martha standing in the hallway.
Stifling a yawn, she asked, “What is it, Martha p>
Martha gestured toward the downstairs living room.
“Mr. Fairchild brought in a styling team. He said they’re here to do your makeup so you’ll look good on camera today p>
Maeve nodded in understanding. “Give me a second to brush my teeth and wash my face p>
After freshening up, Maeve headed downstairs, ate a quick breakfast, and let the makeup artists go to work. She slipped into the outfit the stylists had prepared, grabbed her designer bag, and walked out the door.
The stylist had pinned her hair back into an elegant half-updo, pairing it with a luminous, natural makeup look that highlighted her striking features. Dressed in a chic, light blue embroidered sheath dress, her every movement exuded an aura of effortless, cold nobility.
Stepping out the front door, she frowned slightly at the sight of the familiar Maybach idling in the driveway.
She had assumed a driver was taking her. She certainly hadn’t expected Frederick to be here.
The tinted window slowly rolled down, and she locked eyes with him.
Frederick seemed to freeze for a split second. His gaze swept over her dress, his expression darkening into something unreadable.
Maeve found his reaction baffling. Was he upset about her outfit? Her makeup? He just sat there, staring without saying a word.
When the window descended completely, she spotted Zoe sitting comfortably in the passenger seat.
Zoe flashed her trademark delicate, innocent smile.
“Sorry to bother you again, Maeve p>
In the past, Zoe would never have dared to claim the passenger seat. The fact that she was doing it so brazenly now proved that being the favorite came with a sense of untouchable entitlement.
Maeve’s lips curved into a flawless, practiced smile. “You’re far too polite p>
Since she couldn’t change the situation, she would simply play the game with a smile.
She was absolutely done wasting genuine emotion on these two.
Maeve gathered her composure, smoothly opened the rear door, and slid inside. Settling into a comfortable position, she pulled out her phone and began reviewing notes on fragrance blending.
Frederick watched her through the rearview mirror. Seeing her looking so relaxed and unbothered, his grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles cracked.
Had she completely lost her mind today?
Seeing Zoe sitting in the passenger seat hadn’t provoked a single reaction out of her.