Marrying my secret admirer after my husband's fake death novel Chapter 91

She was prepared for any reaction from Justin, but all he did was furrow

his brow ever so slightly. “Yeah, I know. I had the painting put in the

study’s safe. The code is your birthday.”

Edith was caught off–guard by more than one part of that simple

statement.

“That painting is my work–it’s not worth anything. There’s really no need to lock it away in the safe. And–how did you even find out my birthday?”

Justin answered her without the slightest rush, his voice calm and

patient.

“It’s precisely because it’s your work that I kept it in the safe. And your birthday isn’t exactly a state secret, Edith. I did my homework.”

Edith paused, a little stunned.

Of course. A family like the Hawksleys would never welcome a woman into the house on a whim. Even if there were some things left unsaid, she was a soon–to–be bride. They were bound to have looked into her background.

Something as basic as her birthday–of course they’d know.

She had just worked this out when her phone suddenly rang, the shrill sound cutting through the quiet dining room.

It was Jayne calling.

The room was so still that even Justin could clearly hear Jayne’s words through the phone.

“Edith, are you at the Hawksleys‘ again? Honestly, you’re far too

thoughtless. Your wedding to Justin is just around the corner. If you keep staying over there every other night, and the Hawksley relatives catch wind of it, it’ll look bad.”

Edith understood exactly what her mother meant.

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She drew in a steadying breath, unsure how to explain, and could only reply softly, “Mom, once I come home today, I won’t go back again until the wedding.”

Justin’s lips curled into a faint smile, but by the time Edith glanced up at him, his expression was already neutral again.

He waited until she hung up before giving his instructions. “I’ll have the driver take you back to the Sumners‘. And if you’re uneasy about leaving the painting here, you can take it with you.”

Edith waved him off. “No, it’s fine. I trust you. Just leave it here.”

There was probably no one left in this world who would use something like that to threaten her–not the way Beckett once had.

As she was leaving, Justin walked her to the car. Just as she was about to step inside, he seemed to recall something.

“Edith, at the Vance house–was there anything else you wanted to take, but didn’t get the chance?”

Edith shook her head firmly. Apart from that painting, there was nothing

else worth keeping.

Justin looked reassured. “Alright. Good. Get some rest these next few days. If you need anything, call me.”

Edith climbed into the car and, through the window, looked back at Justin. For a moment, it felt as though he was plotting something she couldn’t quite see.

The car pulled away, but Justin remained where he was. Instead of hurrying off, he pulled out his phone and dialed his assistant.

“Cancel the deal with Pioneer Prime,” he said flatly.

The assistant sounded stunned. “Excuse me?”

He wondered if he’d misheard. Justin wasn’t known for being capricious.

This project had already gone through a rollercoaster–from originally

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being slated with Pioneer Prime, to changing partners, then back to Pioneer Prime. And now, it was about to change again.

Justin’s brow creased, his tone leaving no room for misunderstanding. “I said, this partnership is permanently off. Pioneer Prime is blacklisted. Our group won’t be working with them, ever again.”

That was as good as shutting Pioneer Prime out of the industry–softly but completely.