Chapter 54

Brenda continued, “The most important thing right now is to keep Jonathan in check”

After a while, Jeffrey sighed and muttered, “At this point, our best bet is Alicia.”

Brenda added, “Alicia grew up around us, and we know how she is.She shouldn’t be too hard on us. Besides…”

Shetook a pauseandpursed her lips. “She couldn’t afford to come off as too petty in front of jonathan,”

jeffret nodded and frowned, loolding like hejustremembered me. “Elise shouldn’t be a problem,right?

Brenda shook her head. “It’s no secret she is just a wife on paper. No one gets why Jonathan suddenly decided to marry some nobody from outside the circle.”

I couldn’t help but call my eyes at that. What did he mean by “some nobody“? Weren’t we all just regular people?

But honestly, I wasn’t surprised. People in those circles usually tawned over the powerful and looked down on anyone who wasn’t one of them.

However, what baffled me the most was why I still chose to many into their circle whenIalready Imew their true colors.

When I was 18, I wouldn’t have stooped that low, Ifpeopledidn’t respect me, I wouldn’t go crawling after them, not even if Iwasin love.

I kept listening. Just as I expected,their sympathy was merely a mask for how much they looked down on me.

Brenda remarked, “I did feelalittle bad for Mis. Ford. People were just waiting to see her makeafool of herself. No one took her seriously as Jonathan’s wife. 1 wouldn’t be surprisedifshe played dirty to get him to marry her.”

Jeffrey muttered, “Forget about her. Anyone could tell Alicia was the one the Ford family cared about.

Brenda nodded and sighed. “Even so, she was officially Jonathan’s wife, If he gave her that title, why didn’t hetreather properly?”

Jeffrey knitted his brow together and asked, “Are you throwing shade at me

Brenda sneered. “I didn’t. You kept things decent with me. You never put me in an awkward spot, and you never had a child outside the marriage. I really was grateful for that.”

Jeffrey responded, “Don’t start with that attitude. That was a mistake I made Brenda’s tone was dripping with contempt. “Really?”

I didn’t know any better.”

Sensing the conversation was going off the rails, I subconsciously looked at Fredericlc Of course, he looked as unfazed as ever, like he couldn’t care less about what wasbring said.

I pressed my lips together and asked, “Are you alright?”

Frederick seemed to snap out of it and coldly glanced atme.“Do you think I’m still some naive idd hoping my parents would get along? They’ve been living like strangers forver. I got used to it a long timeago.

I couldn’t quite explain how I felt, so I didn’t say a word and stood there in silence.

Suddenly, Frederick lost interest. “Forgetit Let’s headback.”

With that, he climbed back though the window and returned to his room the way he came. I had no choice but to follow him in.

Justas he stepped inside, there was a lock at the door. He walked over and opened the only to find jonathan standing there in a towering manner.

Fredenck’s expression darkened, and he tried to close thedoor. “What are you doinghere?”

Jonathan raised one hand to stop thedoorfrom closing, his expression cold and unreadable. “Winge is that bottle ofFirstLow?”

Fredericknickered. “I broke at the bar, so I threw El out. What’s wrong?

The au around jonathan seemed to be freezing,asif the temperature here had plummeted. He stepped inside without hesitation. “Hand it over. Don’t make me Search for L –

Frederick stood in front of jonathan, Booking upset. “What gives you the right to search my room? Get lost. You’re not welcome heng.”

Jonathan shoved Frederickside and couglu sight of me behind Frederick. Hisfaceinstantly darkened. “What are you doing inhisroom, Elise?“