Chapter 131
Chapter 131:
Jocelyn stared at the screen. Misunderstanding. She let out a quiet, humorless scoff. The apology was as cold and transactional as her mother’s love had always been.
But it was an apology. The first one in twenty-six years.
She looked toward the kitchen. Gaston was leaning over the stove, tasting the sauce.
“Did you do this?” she asked.
He didn’t turn around. “I had a chat with Robert p>
“You threatened him,” she said.
“I clarified the boundaries,” he corrected.
Jocelyn set her phone down and walked into the kitchen. She stopped close to him — close enough to smell the tomato sauce mingling with his sandalwood cologne.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
Gaston turned. He leaned back against the counter with his arms crossed, looking at her. “You don’t need to thank me for basic decency p>
“It isn’t basic to me,” she admitted. “No one has ever done this p>
F𝗶𝗇d ոo𝘷𝘦𝗹 𝗣𝘋𝗙s 𝗼𝗇 g𝘢𝘭ո𝘰𝘃e𝗹𝘴.со𝗆
His eyes softened. They dropped briefly to her lips. He wanted to close the distance between them so badly it was a physical ache.
“Get used to it,” he said instead, and turned back to the stove.
Jocelyn stood there a moment longer, watching his back, her heart beating too fast for comfort.
Don’t fall for him, she warned herself. He is just a good friend. Don’t fall for him.
Kieran had requested a meeting. His email stated he wished to “mediate on a matter concerning Schneider Holdings.” Gaston agreed, purely to watch him squirm.
Kieran entered the Collins Corp conference room looking polished, but the shadows under his eyes betrayed him.
“Collins. I think we can work something out regarding the land,” he began, sitting down without waiting to be offered a chair.
“There is nothing to work out,” Gaston said. He had no papers in front of him. He didn’t need any. “It’s mine p>
“Robert is family. My future father-in-law,” Kieran said, appealing to some imagined sense of solidarity between them.
“And Jocelyn is my wife,” Gaston replied. “Her mother hit her p>
Kieran went still. “What p>
“You didn’t know? Your future mother-in-law assaulted my wife. Slapped her across the face.” Gaston let the silence sit for a moment. “Interesting family you’re marrying into p>
Kieran blinked. “That’s… unfortunate. But business is business. Personal matters shouldn’t interfere p>
Gaston laughed — a harsh, sudden sound that made the lawyers along the wall flinch.
“That is exactly why you lost her, Kieran. You always thought business came first p>
“I didn’t lose her,” Kieran said, with the unshakeable conviction of a man who has thoroughly convinced himself of his own narrative. “She’s having a tantrum. She’ll come back once she realizes what she’s thrown away p>
Gaston leaned forward slowly. “She despises you. And I don’t respect you.” He leaned back. “You’re a boy playing with men’s toys. Get out of my building p>
Kieran rose to his feet, his face darkening. “You are making a mistake, Collins p>
“The only mistake was letting you in.” Gaston signaled to security with a single look.
Kieran was escorted out. Walking through the lobby, past the receptionist and the glass doors and onto the street, he felt small. Diminished.