Their time together had been brief, and their connection was still developing. Yet, she was surprised to find it difficult to picture her life without him.
Lost in her thoughts, she was jolted back to reality by the sudden ringing of her phone.
She shook off her musings and reached for the phone, wondering if it was a work call.
A glance at the caller ID brought a wave of surprise.
It was Marisol Wells, Felix’s mother.
During the five years she had been with Felix, Marisol had maintained a cool distance, never making any direct contact with her.
Linsey, an orphan without any family ties, didn’t align with Marisol’s vision of an ideal daughter-in-law. In Marisol’s eyes, Joanna had always been a more fitting partner for Felix.
The unexpected call from Marisol could only mean one thing. It was about Felix.
After a brief hesitation, Linsey answered the phone.
Marisol’s voice filled the line. “Linsey, I’ve heard about Felix’s actions. I never imagined he would do something so awful. I feel terribly guilty. Would it be possible for me to meet with you today and apologize in person?”
Linsey was surprised. She hadn’t expected Marisol to contact her to apologize.
Before Linsey could reply, Marisol continued, “If you refuse to see me, I fear I’ll be consumed by guilt and regret. We’ve known each other for so long; please, do me this small favor.”
Given Marisol’s seniority and the genuine tone in her voice, Linsey felt obligated to agree.
“Alright,” Linsey conceded.
Marisol’s voice instantly lifted with delight. “Wonderful! Let’s meet at that cafe we both like.”
The call concluded shortly thereafter.
Unbeknownst to Linsey, Marisol wasn’t alone. Seated beside her was Joanna.
As Marisol ended the call, Joanna’s anxiety was palpable.
“Marisol, what are you playing at? Weren’t you supposed to convince Linsey to drop the charges against Felix? Why on earth did you say you wanted to apologize?”
The sincerity that Marisol had previously displayed vanished, instantly replaced by a cold, calculating expression. She scoffed, saying, “If I had been direct, she would have never agreed. This was the only way to manipulate her into meeting me. Don’t you worry. Once I have her face-to-face, I’ll ensure she complies.”
Her tone oozed arrogance; she was utterly convinced she could easily manipulate someone like Linsey.
Joanna breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s a relief. Felix has been locked up for days now. I’m terrified something dreadful might happen to him.”
Witnessing Joanna’s concern for Felix, Marisol sighed. “Joanna, you truly are the only one worthy of being my daughter-in-law. You’ve remained loyal through good times and bad, and you’re the only one who genuinely cares for Felix.”
Marisol’s voice hardened as she sneered, “I warned Felix before-Linsey comes from nothing, she has no connections, and her personality leaves much to be desired.”
She utterly unsuitable for our family. Now he’s finally learned his lesson. Once he’s out, I’ll ensure he marries you and gives you the grand wedding you deserve.”
A surge of satisfaction coursed through Joanna.
She surmised that while Felix had once been smitten with Linsey, this ordeal would undoubtedly expose Linsey’s true nature, prompting him to move on.
Linsey had lost to her. Joanna was convinced that she would soon secure her position as Felix’s wife and ascend to a coveted place within Grester’s elite social circles.
Meanwhile, Linsey remained blissfully ignorant of the machinations swirling around her. She had no inkling that Joanna and Marisol were under the impression that she still cared for Felix.
Having prepared herself, Linsey departed Vista Villa and reached the designated cafe. However, as she neared the entrance, something out of the ordinary caught her eye.
A cluster of reporters armed with cameras had congregated nearby, their lenses poised like predators anticipating their prey.
Her face clouded over.
She had initially believed that Marisol’s apology was sincere, but the current circumstances painted a different picture-something was amiss.
Without a moment’s delay, she turned on her heel to depart. However, Marisol, stationed outside, had been keenly anticipating Linsey’s arrival.
Observing that Linsey had finally stepped into her carefully laid trap, she naturally wasn’t about to let her escape. With swift determination, she stepped forward and seized Linsey’s arm. “Linsey, why this rush to leave?”
Linsey’s gaze swept over the throng of reporters, their cameras poised and hungry for a story. Her expression hardened with annoyance.
“Marisol,” she demanded, her voice laced with frustration. “What’s the meaning of this? You said you wanted to apologize. Why are all these vultures here?”
Marisol’s phone call had been a carefully crafted ruse to draw Linsey into a public confrontation.
Now that the trap was sprung, there was no need for pretense.
Marisol’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Linsey, I advise you to choose your next words carefully. Drop all charges against my son, and I’ll forget this whole unpleasantness ever happened,” she hissed.
A bitter laugh escaped Linsey’s lips. The sheer audacity of Marisol’s threat was almost comical. How could she have been so naive as to believe her?
Felix and Marisol were two peas in a pod, both masters of manipulation and cruelty.
“Marisol, let’s be clear. Felix kidnapped me and attempted to assault me. He’ll face the consequences of his actions. End of discussion,” Linsey stated coldly.
Linsey’s face became an impassive mask as she turned to depart. Before Linsey could make her escape, Marisol lunged forward, grasping her hands and dramatically falling to her knees. Linsey winced as Marisol’s nails dug into her flesh.
Despite the pain she was inflicting, Marisol wailed theatrically, “Linsey, I beg you! Let my son off!”
Marisol’s desperate plea was the cue for the reporters to emerge from their hiding places, swarming Linsey and cutting off her escape route. Linsey, her arm throbbing, wrenched her hand free from Marisol’s grasp.
Marisol crumpled to the ground with a dramatic flourish, eliciting gasps from the onlookers. Their eyes turned on Linsey, filled with condemnation.
As if on cue, Joanna materialized at Marisol’s side, fussing over her with theatrical concern.
“Linsey!” Joanna shrieked, pointing a trembling finger at her. “How could you be so heartless? You put Felix behind bars, and now you’re attacking his mother?”
Joanna’s performance was a masterpiece of manipulation, painting Linsey as the heartless aggressor.
Marisol turned to the reporters, her voice dripping with feigned outrage. “Look at this heartless woman!” she shrieked. “She dumped her boyfriend to marry another man, humiliating him in front of everyone! And then she had him thrown in jail! And now, after we came here to beg for her forgiveness, she shoved his poor mother to the ground! How cruel can she be?”
The reporters, who were clearly in cahoots with Marisol and Joanna, instantly swarmed Linsey, their cameras flashing.
The barrage of camera flashes blinded Linsey, making it impossible for her to see, let alone escape the mob of reporters.
The reporters bombarded her with questions, their voices echoing in the small space.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.