On the Ruins of His Regret I Soar novel Chapter 82

It was as if the alcohol’s haze suddenly cleared, but not completely.

Catherine stared blankly at the man before her, watching his face blur and multiply. She giggled and waved a hand in the air. "So many Lances… there are so many Lances in front of me…"

The spinning faces seemed to annoy her, and she abruptly rose onto her toes, trying to grab one. Her body lurched forward, and her lips landed squarely on the corner of his mouth.

A jolt, like an electric current, shot through Lance.

But the drunken Catherine was oblivious. She even tentatively probed with the tip of her tongue.

Just before his lips could part, Lance snapped back to reality and shoved her away.

Catherine's soft body fell backward, and with a curse, Lance quickly pulled her back into his arms. That little stumble was the final push; she was now completely out, leaning against him without moving.

Lance scooped her up and carried her toward the Brown estate.

From behind the rock garden, Jessica watched the two of them as if they were characters in a romance, two star-crossed lovers tragically separated by a wicked witch.

And unfortunately, she was the witch.

Lance held Catherine with such care, as if she were a precious treasure.

Jessica’s back slid down the cool stone of the rock garden until she was crouched on the ground. The sharp, shooting pain in her ankle was nothing compared to the agony in her heart. She wrapped her arms around herself. "If you love Catherine, why did you marry me? Why?"

"How… how do I get revenge…?" she stammered, then flushed with embarrassment as another sob caught in her throat. She quickly looked down.

Suddenly, his face was right in front of hers. Before she could react, his lips were on hers.

Jessica froze, every muscle in her body rigid, as if she'd lost the ability to think or speak.

George’s lips were cool against hers. "Give him a taste of his own medicine," he whispered, his voice a low, husky rasp. "Do to him what he's done to you."

The moment he tried to deepen the kiss, Jessica snapped back to her senses. She shoved him away and scrambled to her feet. Ignoring the searing pain in her ankle, she limped away toward the Smith estate.

George watched her retreating figure, a slow, knowing smirk spreading across his lips.