From His Wife to His Uncle's Wife novel Chapter 156

He’d heard his sister mention Eleanor before, but she never seemed important enough for Kennedy to care. Even when Eleanor accused Jessie of being Peter’s other woman, he barely paid attention.

“Mr. Sidler,” Kennedy said with a cool, practiced smile, “you really think you can drag my sister’s name through the mud with a single letter from your lawyer? Isn’t that a bit much?”

Linden didn’t even blink. “So you’re calling it slander? Sounds like you’ve already decided you don’t want to work this out quietly.” He stood up, straightening his suit. “Alright then. I guess we’ll settle this in court.”

Kennedy thought he could stall, maybe talk his way around things, but Linden wasn’t playing. He just walked out, not even looking back. Now Kennedy had nothing to show for the meeting, and somehow, everything felt even messier.

Adam came in, frowning. “Kennedy, is that guy actually insane?”

Kennedy shot him a dark look. “What did Jessie say? Did she really accept those gifts? Was she really involved with Peter?”

Deep down, Kennedy was just like their father. He hated this kind of mess, hated anything that might embarrass the family.

Adam jumped to Jessie’s defense. “Kennedy, that woman twisted everything and set Jessie up. Are you really going to blame your own sister over some outsider’s lies?”

Kennedy’s eyes narrowed. “If I was really on Eleanor’s side, I’d let the whole world know. We can’t let this blow up any more than it already has. It’s only half a billion. Find another excuse and get the money back to Peter Clarkson. We don’t need any more gossip.”

“Kennedy!”

“That’s enough. Just do it. Unless you want this to get out of hand and have Dad come down on Jessie.”

Adam remembered how cold their father had been just days before. His face fell, and he said nothing. In his mind, though, he repeated Eleanor’s name. He wasn’t going to forget this.

***

The next day, Eleanor’s phone rang. It was Mr. Sidler, and for once, he sounded upbeat.

“Well, thank you, Mr. Sidler. I can swing by after work to pick it up.”

“No need,” Linden replied. “I’m meeting Max later anyway. I’ll bring it with me.”

That actually made things easier for Eleanor. “Thank you again, Mr. Sidler.”

After the call, Linden dropped his phone and shook his head. “Honestly, Max, why couldn’t you just give her the ticket yourself?”

Max just smiled. “Of course I could. But it’s better if it comes from you.”

Linden raised a brow. “How is that better?”

Max took a slow sip of coffee, eyes twinkling. “If you’re the one who gives her the ticket, then when I see her at the exhibition, it’ll look like a total coincidence.”