The Genius Ex-Wife’s Revenge Portfolio novel Chapter 72

“You’ve been drugged.” Ella’s voice was barely above a whisper.

David pressed his lips together, his jaw tight. He already knew something was off.

They were both squeezed behind the curtain, her delicate body pressed up against him, her soft hand clamped over his mouth. Every nerve in his body felt like it was on fire. His mind was spinning, losing focus.

He had definitely been drugged.

David reached out and grabbed Ella’s arm, pulling her out from behind the curtain with him.

The room outside was chaos. People were shouting, all eyes on the two families fighting, so no one noticed as David led Ella out of the Irvine villa and straight into his waiting Rolls-Royce.

Aiden looked up from the driver’s seat. “Where to, sir?”

“Briarwood Estate,” David answered.

***

This was Ella’s first time at Briarwood Estate.

The place was his private villa, somewhere she’d never even been allowed near before. Funny how it took him being drugged for her to actually step inside.

He led her straight to the master bedroom. “Stay here. Don’t go wandering around.”

She nodded quickly. “Okay.”

David left for his study without another word.

Inside, he shrugged off his suit jacket, trying to cool down. Aiden stepped in, lowering his voice. “Sir, we looked into it. Tonight, it was Rachel who lit the incense in the room. She meant to lure Mrs. Harmon in and have her nephew Robert take advantage, but somehow, Maureen ended up there instead.”

David’s mouth twisted into a slight, inscrutable smile. “It wasn’t really ‘somehow.’ Ella saw through it. She swapped herself out for Maureen, turned the whole party into her stage.”

Ella stayed put in the bedroom, hesitant to move.

It was such a masculine space, understated and expensive. Every detail was cool and elegant, just like him.

Behind her, David’s voice broke the silence. “What are you looking at?”

Ella turned, startled. She hadn’t even heard him come in.

Busted. He must’ve seen her checking out his room, and her cheeks burned with embarrassment. She tried to take a step back, but her knees hit the edge of the bed and she lost her balance, landing right on the mattress.

This was so embarrassing.

She started to get up, but David was already standing in front of her. He was so tall. She was sitting, and he was towering over her. She had to tilt her face up to meet his eyes.

“Um… did you find an antidote? I could… I could help you.”