Chapter 106
At the Cartier Residence, Summer smiled as soon as she saw her husband entering their bedroom. She removed her reading glasses and quickly set aside the book she had been reading on the bedside table. Rising to meet him, she welcomed Arlan with a warm hug and kiss.
After twenty years of marriage, their bond had only grown stronger. “I got you a present,” Arlan whispered softly in her ear.
Summer chuckled, her eyes lighting up. “Did you get me one of Vernice’s pieces?” She had wanted to attend the art exhibit with him, but prior commitments had kept her away, leaving Arlan to go on his own.
“Yes, come and see,” he said, gently pulling her by the hand. As they approached the hallway near their master bedroom, her eyes widened. There, on display, was the sculpture she had admired for months. “The Ethereal Forms,” she gasped, moving closer to touch it.
She turned to her husband, kissed his cheek, and wrapped him in a tight embrace. “Thank you! It’s beautiful p>
Arlan chuckled, enjoying the warmth of her hug. “It’s nothing. I’m still trying to convince Vernice to sell me *Endurance,* but she’s quite attached to it. Also he trailed off, his expression suddenly tense.
Sensing the shift, Summer pulled away slightly, studying his face. “What is it?” she asked, concern edging into her voice.
Arlan sighed deeply before responding. “Alexander was there p>
“Alexander? Attending an event?” Summer repeated in disbelief. Alexander had always clashed with Carla over his reluctance to attend social functions, so this was unexpected.
“Yes, and he wasn’t alone,” Arlan added cautiously. “He was with a woman p>
Summer’s heart sank. “A woman? You mean he’s already seeing someone p>
Arlan nodded and proceeded to explain how they had learned about it. “Do you know her?” he asked.
“Of course. I like that girl. She’s kind and always helping others. I was even thinking of asking her to assist me with the upcoming election,” Summer replied thoughtfully. However, her plans would have to change. It wasn’t that she viewed Rain differently now, but Carla was still her daughter, and she couldn’t risk straining their relationship.
“It’s a shame. She seems impressive. I already pulled her records from GIS, and like Rock said, she’s remarkable,” Arlan said.
Summer’s eyes widened. “Wait, are you saying she’s part of GIS as well as being a lawyer p>
“Yes, that’s the same girl Brandon’s been praising. She’s been doing undercover work for his operations since she was sixteen,” Arlan explained.
Summer bit her lip, feeling a pang of sympathy for her daughter. “Carla’s coming home early because of Alexander. She’s so excited to be with him again,” she whispered, her voice laced with concern.
Arlan nodded. “But you can’t expect Alexander to wait forever. They broke up without really addressing their issues p>
A
“I know,” Summer sighed, her shoulders drooping. “Maybe they weren’t meant to be. But I still worry about Carla… you know how she is p>
At Country of AZU
“What have you done?!” Renzo, Carla’s manager, rushed into her apartment, his eyes widening at the chaotic scene. Shattered items were strewn across the floor, a clear indication of Carla’s emotional outburst.
Carla was sobbing uncontrollably. “What’s going on? Are you hurt?” Renzo asked, anxiously checking her for any cuts or bruises. Relieved to find none, he wrapped his arms around her as she pulled him into a tight hug.
“Renzo she choked between sobs, “I just saw Sarah’s messages. When I called her, she told me Xander brought a woman home. He got married!” Her voice trembled, her words heavy with disbelief. Renzo’s expression darkened. He knew Sarah, the chef he had recommended to infiltrate the Lancaster Mansion, reporting back to Carla about everything happening in Alexander’s life while she was away.
Renzo had been Carla’s manager for years and knew all of her secrets—especially her intense feelings for Alexander. The man had been her first love, her only love. The news that he had married someone else hit her like a truck, and Renzo could see the toll it had taken.
At least this time, her apartment bore the brunt of her anger and not her body. In the past, she had hurt herself when her emotions overwhelmed her, and he feared her obsession with Alexander was taking over again.
“He married so suddenly and brought that woman into his home,” Carla continued, her voice quivering. “Sarah said it felt strange like it happened out of nowhere. She never heard anything about him dating anyone, not even a girlfriend.” Carla pulled back slightly, her face pale with panic. “What if I go back now p>
The desperation in her voice was palpable. Renzo sighed deeply, meeting her frantic gaze. “Carla, you’re almost finished with this project. If you leave now, there will be consequences. We’ll face major losses for breaching the contract. This is the biggest film of your career so far p>
Carla’s eyes flickered with indecision, torn between her professional obligations and the emotional turmoil consuming her. Renzo placed a hand on her shoulder, steadying her. “It’s your decision, Carla, but think carefully. Is this what you want to throw everything away for p>
“But Xander Carla grunted, her frustration bubbling over.
Renzo sighed, his voice steady as he tried to reason with her. “If he’s already married, like Sarah said, what do you think you can do now? You know Alexander better than I do. You need to think this through. Winter is coming. It’s just a few more weeks, and then you can return home as the star you’ve always wanted to be. This big-budget movie could catapult you to the top, the world-class celebrity list p>
Carla paused, wiping away her tears, as Renzo’s words sank in. “Right,” she muttered, regaining some composure. “I’ve worked so hard for this, sacrificed everything, even breaking up with Xander. So what if he’s married? I’ll make sure he gets a divorce as soon as I come back p>
Renzo blinked in shock, momentarily speechless.
“Xander owes me his life,” Carla continued, her voice laced with bitter determination. “He can’t just treat me like this! You’ll see, Renzo… As soon as I return, he’ll come to his senses and divorce whoever that woman is p>
Her confidence left Renzo uneasy. He knew Carla’s obsession with Alexander had always been intense, but this—this was something alarming p>