Chapter 460
Since they were now officially a couple, checking into a hotel together seemed only natural.
Lana kept her gaze lowered, following behind Jarrett as they walked in. Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she and Jarrett had skipped a few steps along the way.
For instance…
Had Jarrett ever actually said he liked her?
Her doubts were quickly soothed by Jarrett’s sweet words, and before ong, they found themselves tangled in the sheets again. This time, at east, Lana didn’t pass out from the discomfort, but afterward she was so embarrassed she couldn’t even look Jarrett in the face.
They lay side by side on the king-sized bed, the air between them thick with both intimacy and awkwardness.
_ana had always thought of herself as outgoing, the kind of person who could keep any conversation going. Now, though, she couldn’t think of a single thing to say to Jarrett.
‘Lana…” Jarrett was the first to break the silence.
He reached for her hand, his touch gentle. “Tell me about yourself.”
‘About me?”
‘Yeah… We haven’t known each other long, and I want to know more. What were you like back in school?”
Finally, a topic she could run with. Lana relaxed and started talking, her words tumbling out more easily.
Jarrett listened, occasionally prompting her as she described her high school days.
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“I was closest with Nia and Elmer back then…”
“Nia-you mean Niamh, right?”
“Of course!”
“I heard she’s Jonathan’s wife…”
“Ex-wife. Ex-wife!” Lana corrected him, making a face. “Don’t even mention that jerk. Just thinking about him pisses me off.”
Jarrett couldn’t help chuckling.
“From what you’ve told me, Niamh came from a pretty ordinary family. How’d she end up marrying the head of The Thomas Group?”
Lana launched into the story of how Niamh had once saved Jonathan.
“But Nia said she and Jonathan actually met way back when she was thirteen. He was her first crush, but that idiot didn’t even remember her-completely forgot about her, actually.”
“…So that’s how it was…” Jarrett arched an eyebrow, intrigued.
“Tell me more. I love hearing you talk, Lana.”
And just like that, the conversation flowed deep into the night. Ostensibly, Jarrett was getting to know Lana, but most of the stories she shared somehow circled back to Niamh.
After the first signs of spring, the weather finally began to warm up. Today, there was a real hint of the new season in the air.
Niamh had been invited to the Aurelian Pavilion.
The Burton family was hosting an outdoor reception on the pavilion’s lawn to welcome Michael back home for good.
Fresh from his studies in Varythia, Michael was now a newly-minted PhD-a golden boy in every sense.
Nearly everyone of importance in Aldenville’s business and political
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circles had been invited. Despite the old rivalry between The Burton Group and The Thomas Group, the FZZL project had brought them together, so Jonathan was on the guest list as well.
Niamh hadn’t expected to be included.
She was well-known in the world of jewelry design, but her status in the business world was comparatively modest.
The invitation, however, was handwritten by Michael himself—a gesture that made his sincerity plain. So she accepted.
The days were warmer, but a revealing evening dress was still no match for the outdoor chill. Niamh chose an emerald-green velvet gown with three-quarter sleeves, the square neckline edged with sparkling crystals and sequins. The sleek mermaid skirt was embroidered with delicate gold thread.
For warmth, she draped a white mink stole over her shoulders.
The moment she stepped onto the lawn, she could feel dozens of eyes on
her.
Among them: Michael. Peter. Preston. And-
Jonathan.
