Chapter 48

I was worried. “IsFrederickgoing to be okay?”

Zimmer family and the Ford family. The

Gabrielle shook her head. “That’s tricky. Everyone lows that getting on Alicia’sbadside means you’re crossing both the z Zimmer are mostly washed up these days. It’s the Fords youhaveto watch out for.”

I furrowed my brows. “As far as I know, Frederick is part of high society. He should be able to hold has ground, right?”

Gabrielle replied, “The Guzman family is a different story. Frederich’s dad is powerful, but even he has to collaborate with jonathan sometimes.”

Ihadlost my memory, so I had no idea how things worked. Gabrielle pastlaidit all out and explained how the families were connected.

“In Harthelle’s high society, the Ford family is themostestablished name. If you know what’s good foryou, don’t cross anyone i

“The Zimmers and the Guzmans have deep roots. In particular, Frederick’s dad is the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.

“They keep a low profile, but their influence runs deep. Technically, they ate supposed to keep all the other families in line.

e from the family.

“The Zimmer family used to be a pretty big deal back then, but they have been on the decline these past few years. Even so, no one dares to mess with them because of their connection with the Ford family

“The older generation of the two families has strong ties, and the Zimmers manage to stay relevant in Harthville by riding on the Fords coattails.”

I couldn’t help but ask Gabrielle. “Who is more powerful–Fredericle’s dad, the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, or Jonathan?”

she rolled her eyes at me. “Seriously? That’s such a dumb question.”

I rubbed my hose. “I’m just curious. If Jonathan is above him in status, aren’t we basically showing up just to get lectured?”

Gabrielle passed for a moment before replying, “It’s more complicated than that. Frederick’s dad has been around longer. Plus, he is the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce,

“On paper, he definitely holds more power than Jonathan bat jonathan is pretty young, and people arealreadycomparing Jonathan to him. That says a lot. I nodded and fell into deep thought.

Jonathan was still in his late 20s, only a few years older than Gabrielle and the People were already comparing him with Frederick’sdad, who was twice his age. That alone showed how much promise he had

I couldn’t help but sich. “If he is that powerful, does that mean I can’t get a divorce unless hesaysyes?”

Gabrielle looked at me with pity. “Technically, that’s the case. That was why I kept telling you to think it through beforeyougot married, but you just wouldn’t Listen and jumped headfirst into it-”

Theld heram “Okay I get it Aren’t we trying to fix this right now?

I had been stuck on the same thought. How was I supposed to come up with 100 nulliondollarsjust to get Jonathan to give in?

A regular job wasn’t going to cut it. I would be stuck living small and pathetic forevIT

I didn’t wanttoend up divorcing Jonathan when Iwastoo old to start over. He had money, so it wouldn’t be hard for him to find someone new. Meanwhile, I would have been the one who threw away her best years

At the Guzman residence,Galle and Ihadjustgotten out of the car when a black Cullinan colled in

loration and Alida got out of the car. She still had pauze wrapped around her forehead, her tace pale as a sheet. It was hard not to feelbadjust looking at her.

She shrank backbehind Jonathan When she saw me, she parsed her lips, loolding scared and defeated.

juthas followed Alicia’s gape and saw me. His brows lovitted just a little. “Where were you last night?” 1 partended not to hearlusquestion and wallud delt by, shoulders almost touching as Ipassed