Chapter 20



It dawned on her that Verena didn’t recognize her. It made sense—after all, even Ryan had failed to recognize her before at the banquet, and Verena was much less familiar with her than Ryan.

“Can we talk?” Verena asked.

Belinda responded with a slight smile. “Of course.”

Curiosity piqued, Belinda was interested in what Verena wanted to say to her, unaware of her true identity.

They moved together to the balcony.

Once there, Belinda got straight to the point and asked Verena, “What do you want to talk about?”

Verena’s gaze lingered on Belinda’s strikingly beautiful face, a face that sparked envy in every woman.

With a tight smile, Verena said to Belinda, “Miss Thomas, as someone closely associated with the head of the Thomas family, surely you wouldn’t covet someone else’s man, right?”

Belinda paused, stunned for a moment. Was she being accused of seducing someone else’s man? Who was Verena talking about?

Anticipating the direction of the conversation, Belinda cautiously inquired, “Who is the man you just mentioned?”

“I am talking about Lucas,” Verena replied.

Belinda, having expected this, burst into laughter and faced Verena directly. “Who do you think you are to say that to me?”

Verena bit her lip and responded, “I am saying that as the woman who will marry Lucas in the future.”

Belinda’s gaze turned scornful. “In the future? Perhaps you should come back to me with your warnings once you’re actually his wife.”

Verena looked at Belinda purposefully, cautioning, “Miss Thomas, surely you wouldn’t want to be seen as a mistress, right?”

Belinda’s laughter rang out, full of derision. “Why should I worry, Miss Reed? After all, you are the one who is entangled with a married man.”

Those words struck Verena like a slap.

Color flushed and drained from Verena’s face.

Belinda tilted her head, her eyes brimming with disdain. “Miss Reed, you’re hardly in a position to warn me here.”

Ignoring Verena’s reaction, Belinda walked away.

This calmness she now felt when dealing with Verena was reassuring. It signified that she was gradually letting go of the past.

As she watched Belinda depart, Verena clenched her jaw in frustration.

She had to admit that Belinda had a point.

If she didn’t become Lucas’s wife, her claims would hold no weight. Securing a divorce between Lucas and Belinda should become her focus now.

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