The Mysterious Billionaire and His Substitute Bride

Chapter 597

Initially, Janet had only planned to stay one night at the beach. However, the seaside was so beautiful, and Ethan hadn’t relaxed in so long, so they decided to stay the whole weekend.

Come Monday, Janet went back to Barnes. She felt bad for asking for a week’s leave. Moreover, she hadn’t been able to contact Laney ever since she left her house.

Janet was worried that something might’ve happened to Laney, but Ethan kept reassuring her that Laney was a tough woman and a bodyguard. If anyone could protect her from harm, it would be herself.

Still, Janet went directly to Laney’s apartment when she landed in Barnes.

She rang the doorbell a couple of times before the door was finally opened.

“Laney, you haven’t replied to any of my texts. Did you ever stop to consider how worried I’d be?” Janet pulled a long face.

She had brought with her two bags of groceries. Laney was by no means a good cook, so Janet knew that Laney hadn’t been taking care of herself while she was gone.

Laney stepped aside and let Janet in. She was still in low spirits, but she managed to force a smile. “Sorry. My phone’s screen broke the day you left, so I had it repaired and didn’t get it back until today.”

Looking at the dullness in her eyes, Janet didn’t have the heart to scold her again.

Instead, she went straight to the kitchen and got busy. Soon, the sound of vegetables being chopped echoed in the apartment.

Laney stood by the kitchen counter and watched Janet cook absentmindedly. Seeing how listless she looked, Janet sighed. “What’s on your mind? Tell me. Maybe I can help.”

“Garrett used to come to me all the time, with all kinds of excuses. But ever since I rejected him, he has never showed up,” Laney said in a low voice.

Janet stopped what she was doing and looked at Laney seriously. “If you feel sad without him, then be with him. Don’t worry about what might happen in the future and just enjoy being with him.”

Laney shook her head. “I can’t do that. Janet, when will the sadness go away? I’m just not used to the fact that Garrett’s not in my life anymore. But I’ll get used to it someday, right?”

Janet looked at her sympathetically. “I can’t give you an answer. If I chose to break up with Ethan after finding out that he was actually Brandon Larson, I have no idea what my life would have been like now. Maybe I would’ve felt bad about it for a while, but I just know I’d find another guy, get married, and have children. I can’t make a mess of my life just because of a single man.”

Laney took a deep breath and smiled with relief. “I see.”

After preparing dinner and sharing it with Laney, Janet left.

She had come to check how Laney was doing. Seeing that Laney was going to be fine, she was relieved.

As for the issue between her and Garrett, Janet believed that Laney would find the answer herself.

*******

Laney knew that the only way she could get rid of her rambling thoughts was to bury herself in work.

Fortunately, the new members of Pole Shadow trained by her finally got their first order. Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

They were tasked to get the financial statements of a club. However, this club was protected by local gangs, thus Laney’s subordinates suffered a setback on their first mission.

One subordinate was even captured. Given the gravity of the situation, Laney went to the club disguised as a bar girl to rescue him.

The rescue mission went smoothly. With Laney’s help, the subordinate managed to escape through the back door.

But just as Laney was about to slip away through the entrance, the door to a private room next to her was suddenly opened from the inside.

“Hmm…” A crazed-looking Garrett jumped out of the room and threw himself at Laney.

“What the hell are you doing, Garrett?”

Laney wanted to push him away, but she soon noticed that there was something wrong with him. His face was flushed and his body was burning hot.

Suddenly, she heard a woman’s voice from inside the private room. Laney frowned and asked, “Did… Did someone drug you?”

Before Garrett could respond, a middle-aged, heavily made-up woman came out of the private room. She pulled a long face and whined, “I didn’t expect that Mr. Harding would be really difficult to deal with. I’ve never seen anyone so stubborn even after being drugged. Is he gay? Why does he run away as though my girls are monsters?”

She wiped the sweat on her neck with a silk scarf and glanced at Laney approvingly. “You came at the right time. He seems to like you. Go and get a room upstairs. Take good care of Mr. Harding, understand?”

After saying that, the woman left with a complacent look on her face.

Laney pursed her lips tightly. Before she could refuse, Garrett hugged her tightly, pressing his burning face against her neck.

He breathed in Laney’s scent and said hoarsely, “You smell just like the woman who dumped me.”