Chapter 39

Chapter 39

“Man, the drama in high society never ends, does it?” Selina mused, her expression a mix of awe and amusement. “Makes my dad’s little affair a child’s play.”

Joy gave her a side-eye and said, “Girl, are you for real?”

“I’ll tell you all about it some other time.” Selina waved off the question and turned to Leanne. “So, did you go through with it?”

A bittersweet smile tugged at Leanne’s lips. It was meant to be a grimace, but instead, there was a serene coldness to it as if she was facing her destiny with a calm

indifference.

Unlike Selina, who was accustomed to the luxuries of nobility, Leanne had lost the shield of her parents early in life, growing up amidst one struggle after another.

All she ever wanted was some peace and stability.

If she had a choice, she wouldn’t have wanted to get involved in this mess.

She had wanted to say no, but Jennifer, already aggravated by Mary, had snapped, “Leanne, we took you in, raised you and funded your education. Now our family needs your help, and you don’t get to say no.”

Spoiled Selina wasn’t about to worry about obligations.

“That’s nothing. You gotta look out for yourself and forget about so-called debts of gratitude. If you feel like repaying, fine. If not, they can go kick rocks! I mean, you’re just a little too sincere. If it were me and my parents died because of someone else, I’d be milking them for all they’re worth, not just settling for a ‘thank you!”

It was hard to say. After all, squeezing money out of the Richardson family wasn’t going to be a walk in the park, was it?

At that moment, Leanne just felt weary, a deep mental exhaustion. She responded absently, “Sure, next time.”

But there wouldn’t be a next time.

At the sight of Leanne’s subdued mood, Joy didn’t bother arguing with Selina and instead took Leanne out to grab a bite to eat.

At the dinner table, when Leanne mentioned she had brought up divorce with Curtis, Joy nearly dropped her steak.

“Honey, you finally saw the light! You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this day!” Leanne offered a weak smile. “Why does it seem like the whole world wants us to split?”

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“Who else is there?”

“Jennifer, Devin, the tabloids…” Leanne paused, “And himself.”

Curtis had probably wanted a divorce for a long time.

Although Joy had been rooting for the divorce, hearing it out loud still stung. She knew the kind of life Leanne had been living these past years.

Others might not care, but Joy did.

“Curtis is just a pretty face with a fat wallet. What’s so great about that?” Joy declared, flippantly. “You’re better off without him. Let’s go find you a fresh college boy! I mean, you know what’s harder than a diamond in this world?”

do

Leanne’s thoughts were elsewhere, so she didn’t anticipate where Joy’s loud voice would take them. The violin music in the restaurant was suddenly drowned out by Joy’s booming declaration, “It’s the dick of an eighteen-year-old college jock!”

The restaurant fell into an awkward silence.

The violin faltered its melody, waiters stared with open mouths, and a girl in a white dress accidentally spat her drink onto her date.

Bathed in the gazes of everyone around her, Leanne couldn’t even pretend to be upset

anymore.

She propped her forehead with her hand, shielding her eyes from the onlookers, and muttered, “Thanks for the comfort, Joy. I’m not sad at all now.”

Because, at that moment, she was consumed by embarrassment.

Joy shrugged off the stares, defiantly glaring back at the other patrons, proud as a peacock. “You gotta admit, it worked.”

After dinner, it was late. Leanne and Joy went their separate ways. Leanne hailed a back to her Crystal Cove Villas.

As night deepened, the car weaved through the glittering stream of neon lights. Slowly vibrant cityscape gave way to the tranquil vistas that led to her home.

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