Marrying my secret admirer after my husband's fake death novel Chapter 140

Lauren’s eyes went wide. “What? You ran into Connor? Are you serious? He’s a big deal! How could you not remember someone like Connor?”

Judging by Lauren’s astonished expression, Edith had the sinking feeling she’d forgotten someone she absolutely shouldn’t have. But honestly, she’d only been six at the time–barely out of kindergarten. How was she supposed to remember?

“I really don’t recall him at all,” Edith admitted. “Absolutely nothing rings a

bell.”

Lauren was a few years older and, apparently, Connor had left a much deeper impression on her. But even so, her memories of the grown–up Connor were much clearer than her childhood recollections.

“I organized a few gallery events in LA,” Lauren said, getting a faraway look in her eyes. “I had the chance to meet some legal bigwigs who collect art, and even among that crowd, I’d hear Connor’s name come

up.”

That made Edith laugh. “So, is he really that impressive?”

Lauren arched an eyebrow. “Oh, absolutely! And what’s more, he’s actually a great guy. Not the least bit arrogant. There was this one time, I was taking a client out to dinner in LA, and Connor happened to be there. I called him over to help me out, and he actually showed up.”

As she talked about Connor, a look of genuine admiration flickered in Lauren’s eyes. Then she turned to Edith, her gaze mischievous. “You really don’t remember anything about him? Not even a little?”

Edith couldn’t shake the feeling that Lauren’s smile was hiding something. She shook her head, honest as ever. “Nope. Nothing.”

Lauren burst out laughing. “You mean you don’t even remember who you had your first kiss with?”

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Edith frowned. “What does my first kiss have to do with any of this?”

Lauren shot her a sly look. “When you were six, your mom and dad wouldn’t let you have any candy, so you ran off to Connor and begged him for some. He told you he had a piece in his mouth, and you–absolutely shameless–snatched it right out from between his lips!” The memory hit Edith like a freight train. Back at the airport, Connor had joked about her love for sweets and how she used to beg him for candy. Now her cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

She was so mortified she could hardly breathe. After a long pause, she managed to sputter, “Okay, I know I liked sweets as a kid, but I didn’t realize I was that desperate! That’s just humiliating!”

Lauren giggled, clearly enjoying herself. “Oh, come on, you were adorable. Honestly, you still are.”

The two of them joked and laughed all the way back to the Hawksley

estate.

As their car rolled smoothly through the gates, Lauren immediately sensed something unexpected. She’d assumed Edith’s new husband was just some nouveau riche type, maybe the son of a self–made millionaire. But one look at the manicured grounds told her this was something else

entirely.

That was a good thing, she supposed.

After parking in the garage, Lauren reached over and squeezed Edith’s hand, a hint of worry creasing her brow.

This girl had never been the calculating type. If Edith had married into a family of self–made millionaires, Lauren would’ve felt more at

ease–those types tended to be generous with money but not all that shrewd. But with this kind of old money… Lauren felt compelled to give her a word of advice.

“Edith,” she said quietly, “you walked away from the Vance family with nothing to show for it but a few wasted years and a broken heart. This

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time, you have to be smarter, all right? Think of it like you’ve stepped into an orchard heavy with fruit. But here’s the thing: those apples only count if you put them in your own basket.”

Lauren hesitated, realizing she sounded a bit too calculating, so she softened her tone. “I’m not saying you have to grab everything you can. Just… make sure you’re never stuck with nothing. You should always be able to walk away if you need to. Life’s unpredictable, and you’ve got to be ready for whatever it throws at you.”