Louis thought for a moment. “Let’s just say I’m crashing here for a while.”
He was only off for the weekend and would be heading back to work soon, so “crashing” sounded about right.
Hans was surprised. From what he knew of Daniel, he’d have expected Louis to be kicked out the front door, not offered a place to stay.
Letting Louis stay here… Daniel really had changed.
“I heard your mother’s setting you up on blind dates?” Hans asked Louis.
There was a time he’d even hoped to match up Nora and Louis, to make good on the dream Nora had as a teenager. But life had other plans, and Nora had gone back to Daniel anyway.
Still, Hans couldn’t help but think Louis seemed a better fit for her.
Louis rubbed his forehead. Just the mention of it made his head ache. “She’s always meddling.”
Daniel’s interest was instantly piqued. “If you haven’t met anyone you like, Mr. Winters, I could introduce you to someone.”
He’d love nothing more than to see Louis go on a few dates. Maybe get married soon.
Louis shot him a look. “No need.”
But Daniel pressed on, “It’s about time, Louis. Your mother will only relax when you’re settled down.”
Louis snorted, “You mean you’ll only relax.”
Daniel just chuckled. He was in a great mood.
He already had someone in mind.
“My cousin just moved over from Heoa. She’s young, beautiful, sharp, and about to join the company. If you’re interested, I could set something up.”
Hans leaned on his elbow. “Dan, you’re overthinking it. The Winters family would only accept a daughter-in-law who’s in public service.”
Even if it didn’t help Louis’s career, at the very least, they needed someone with a spotless background and steady prospects. Someone like the Chambers family wouldn’t even be considered—for the Winters, everything was about the family’s future.
Daniel’s wish to introduce his own cousin was, frankly, a non-starter.
Daniel frowned. If that was the case, he’d probably have to ask Will to look into it.
But Louis spoke up.
“Your cousin—is her name Judy?”
“You know her?”
“We were in the same club at university.”
Hans’s expression chilled. He fixed his gaze on Daniel. “You know what kind of person Eleanor is by now, don’t you?”
Daniel said nothing.
In his mind, Eleanor was still the naive girl who used to trail after him. Sweet and obedient.
Not the person she’d become.
“Do what you want,” Hans muttered.
Daniel had only promised Eleanor that he’d let her marry Hans if that’s what she wanted; he’d never promised to hold her hand through the marriage itself.
Some paths, you had to walk on your own.
Hans raised his glass in a silent toast, a quiet thank you to Daniel.
After Hans left, Daniel returned to the master bedroom.
One side of the lake-blue bed was slightly raised—a sign someone was already in.
He took a few steps, but the smell of alcohol on himself made him pause. He decided to shower and brush his teeth first, then slipped into bed.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Trash Husband, I'm the Top