Chapter 81

Chat of nowhere, Gabrielle spoke up quietly, “Why don’t you go in Jonathan?

Beth Frederick and i snapped our beads around to stair at her.

Frederick was the first to react,visibly agitated. “Nowy Tmnet letting Elise go beg him!”

But I had already fallen into thought,

After a moment, I said, “It might be the only way.

Jonathan was still on a boinens trip, and Edward probably wouldn’t bother him with something like this. That if we really wanted to get Aria out Jonathan was the enly one with that kind of pull

“Il geling to Jonathan is the only way to get Arla released, then honestly—there’s nothing to hesitate about.”

Frederick and I didn’t have any deep relationship. We were competing, helping each other for mutual benefit. But he’d taken a riskon my proposal–not jeu because of my plan, but because of me.

“I going to Jonathan is the only way to get Aria released, then honestly–there’s nothing to liesitate about.”

Frederick and I didn’t have any deep relationship. We were compering, helping each other for mutual benefit. But he’d taken a risk on my proposal – not just because of myplan, but because of me.

Otherwise, itwould’vetaken me ages to find another investor. And then, successwasn’tguaranteed.

I believed in my proposal, but lock was still part of the equation Frederick had been that bit of luck. And for that,I was willing to serum the favor—even if it going to Jonathan

Epederick looked like he was having a hand time swallowing it. His expression darkened. “I don’t agree. Elise,you’reabout to divorce him. Why would you lower yourself to ask him for help?”

“I’m not doing it for him. I’m doing it for Aria”

frowned. “The priority right now is getting her out”

Frederick stared at me, suddenly intense. “Arlaisn’tyour sister. She’s not your filed. Even our parents have abandoned her. She’smysister. So, why thehelldo

I paused, caught off guard by thequestion.

Then he stepped closet. “Elise. Is it because of me?Becauseshe matters to me, so you don’t want to see anything happen to her

Absolutely not….

named my head, throwing a desperate glance toward dabelle. She just calsed an eyebrow, smirked slightly, and casually slipped out, closing the door behind her.

I didn’tnow what to say at that moment. Then, I tumed around to see Frederick’s face up close.

He was the land ofguywith dangerously good looks, the type that practically screamed player. That charming smirk, the devil–may–care eyes—just one glance could make someone’s heart skip it they weren’t cacetal.

Hisvoicedropped. “Answerme, Elise.”

“Do you care about Aria because you care about me?

I grabbed his shouldersandpushed him back hard, “Are you out ofyourdamnmind? Your sister might be suffering right now, and this is what you’re focusedon?

fought the urge to pull my eyes. “Frederick,I’mstill married. There’s no way I’d catch deelings for someone else.”

Itwasn’tabout being node. I just didn’t want to draghiminto a mess. Being labeledahomewrecker was the last thing wither of us ded

Frederick finally seemed to put of it. He nodded, voice low. “We talk about it lates.”

“Thinkitthrough,” I sadaimply,then walked out of the bediooni.

Gabrielle was walling in the frailway. I walled up to her and said, “Gabrielle, what’s Jonathan’s worknumber?”

She raised an rybouw. “Why not just call his personal line/chilya lew people havethat.”

I pulled out myphone. “L TorporwhatI saved him as

When I opened the contact, Taunted

Tpegged and immediairly changed it to

The phone

there times lielone fur picked up…

through low anddeep,laced withstaticfrom the signal. Somehow, it soundedevensinoother than usual–rich, calm, a little amused. Maybe it was me, but he actually soundedlikehewasa good inded.