Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Tobias followed Richard’s gaze just as a sharp “crash” echoed behind them. The sudden sound of shattering glass drew their
attention.
They turned their heads to see a child had dropped their food tray, sending food and shards of porcelain scattering across the floor. The child’s parent was scolding them while apologizing to the staff.
After the minor incident, Richard glanced back, expecting to see Mandy. But she was gone–vanished into thin air.
Richard was puzzled when Tobias asked, “Dad, who did you say you saw?”
“Your wife, Penny, but I must have been mistaken,” Richard replied casually, pushing Tobias forward.
Tobias, however, wasn’t convinced. Richard had definitely seen “Penny“.
He scanned the room and noticed Emma peeking from under a table covered with a white cloth, smiling and waving at him. He saw Emma, but there was no sign of Mandy. Still, he was certain she was hiding there.
He didn’t lift the tablecloth to check. In his eyes, even if he let her and Emma face Richard, she would have plenty of
excuses.
But once the DNA test results came out tomorrow, she wouldn’t be able to deny it. He decided to let her enjoy her last dinner in peace.
Mandy had no idea that her secret had been completely exposed. All she knew was sheer terror. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she could barely catch her breath.
She never expected to run into Richard here. The moment she saw him, her only thought was to keep Emma out of sight.
In her mind, if Richard saw Emma, it would reveal the truth about the secret of her marriage and Emma’s birth.
As Mandy hid under the table, she realized how guilty she must look. Even if Richard saw her with Emma, she could claim Emma was a friend’s child. But at that moment, she was too panicked to think of any explanations.
After Richard was out of sight, Mandy and Emma emerged from under the tablecloth. Instead of heading back to the dessert station, they returned to their seats.
Fiona was still nowhere to be seen with the food. Seeing Mandy’s flustered expression, Simon asked, “What’s going on? Why are you back so soon?”
Mandy didn’t hesitate. “There’s an emergency at work. I need to go.”
The unexpected encounter with Richard had left her feeling uneasy. She couldn’t stay a moment longer. In her mind, the only way to protect her secret was to leave.
But she didn’t want to alarm her friends. She knew they’d want to leave with her if they knew the truth. Richard didn’t know them, and they could stay and enjoy their meal without any trouble.
Simon didn’t question her. After all, emergencies in her department were pretty common.
Mandy quickly gave Emma a few instructions, kissed her on the cheek, and grabbed her bag.
As she made her way out, she kept glancing around nervously, like a thief trying to avoid being caught. She was ready to duck out of sight if she saw Richard again.
With her best efforts, Mandy thought the chances of running into Richard again were slim. But just as she was about to reach the entrance, she saw him coming from another direction, phone in hand, walking quickly.
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Chapter 13
Her heart skipped a beat. Panicking, she spun around to find a place to hide. In her haste, she twisted her ankle as she stepped down the stairs and stumbled forward.
From a few meters away, Tobias watched the scene unfold. His wheelchair was no ordinary device. Customized to perfection, it boasted agility and speed that left store–bought models in the dust.
With a flick of his wrist, Tobias sent the wheelchair hurtling toward Mandy like a bullet. Just as she was about to crumble to the ground, he swooped her up into his arms.
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Holding her close, Tobias felt a subtle, intoxicating fragrance drift into his senses. It was sweet and tantalizing, like a memory from another life.
Except for the widow from three years ago, he hadn’t been this close to any woman in ages. Yet, at this moment, a strange sense of familiarity washed over him.
‘Have we met before?‘ He furrowed his brows, studying Mandy in his arms. Her face was bare of makeup, but her features were strikingly beautiful and full of life.
Tobias’s mind raced as he tried to place her face. But try as he might, nothing clicked.
Meanwhile, Mandy was still reeling from the shock. When she finally came to her senses and realized she was sitting on Tobias’s lap, she scrambled to her feet, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
She said, “Mr. Lancaster, thank you so much. I would’ve been troubled without you. Are you dining here too?”
She wasn’t surprised to see him here. She had just run into Tobias at the hotel entrance earlier.
Tobias nodded, recalling how she had been looking around nervously when he first spotted her. “Are you looking for Barry?” he asked.
Mandy’s confusion was evident on her face. She paused, still processing his question.
But before she could respond, Tobias’s phone buzzed to life. The caller ID read “Barry.”
Tobias’s brow furrowed as he answered the call. As soon as he pressed the button, Barry’s frantic cries pierced through the line. “Tobias, save me!”
Tobias sat in his car outside the police station, fingers drumming on the steering wheel as he stared at the building. He’d been there for just ten minutes, but it felt like an eternity. The reason? Barry.
Barry had been reported for solicitation. The police had swooped in on a tip–off, catching him red–handed with a woman who claimed to be a sex worker.
But something didn’t add up. Tobias thought, ‘Barry’s a notorious party guy, but he’s never gone this far. And he’s supposed to be with Mandy, right? So how did he end up in this mess?‘
As the door to the station swung open, Tobias’s thoughts were interrupted.
Barry walked out, looking disheveled in a bathrobe and hotel slippers. He climbed into the car and lit a cigarette, taking a long drag as he settled in.
Tobias glanced over, watching as Barry exhaled a cloud of smoke. “What the hell happened?” he asked, his voice tinged with
frustration.
Barry grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Do you actually believe I was hiring a prostitute?”
Barry was known for being a party guy, but he’d never hire anyone. Yet, the police caught him in his room with a call gir
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Tobias raised an eyebrow and thought, ‘So it was a setup?‘
Barry knew what he was thinking and sneered, “Yeah, definitely a setup.”
Tobias furrowed his brow. “Who did this?”
Barry nodded, his expression turning serious. “That young doctor. She did this.”
Tobias’s mind immediately flashed to Mandy. “You mean Mandy?” he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
“Yep. Mandy,” Barry said, her name rolling off his tongue with a hint of fascination.
Tobias’s mind raced. So she really had come to have a meal. He’d completely misjudged her.
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But before he could say anything, Barry leaned back and asked, “Hey, do you think that young doctor is being genuine, or is she playing hard to get?”
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