His Secret Wife Was My Best Friend Chapter 04

His Secret Wife Was My Best Friend Chapter 04 His Word Against Hers
Cecily stared at him. “Have you lost your mind, Gareth? This is my family’s exhibition, and you bring your mistress here? What do you take us for?” He gave a dismissive smile. “The woman who represents the Hollis family needs to know how to handle people. Are you telling me you can’t even manage this? “Don’t make me lose respect for you, Cecily.” As the tension between them mounted, Daphne spoke in a small, hesitant voice. “It’s my fault, Cecily. Some people were pressuring me to drink that night, and I happened to run into Gareth. He knew I was your friend, so he offered to take me home. We just… got carried away.” She sounded as though she were making excuses, but Cecily could hear the boast beneath them. Daphne had barely begun to cry when Gareth cut in angrily. “She’s pregnant, Cecily. If you’re angry, take it out on me. Why are you picking on her?” Cecily said nothing. She only looked at him with deep disappointment. With the pretense stripped away, he seemed like someone she had never met: quick to anger and unwilling to distinguish right from wrong. In the end, she nodded, if only to keep her mother satisfied. “Fine. I understand.” She calmly took Daphne to the VIP lounge. Watching her walk away, Gareth was struck by how lonely she looked. For some reason, it made his chest ache. He had expected her to argue or plead, perhaps even lose control and make a public scene. He hadn’t expected her to be so composed. The Suttons were leaders in the jewelry business, and their exhibition glittered with spectacular pieces. Cecily patiently explained the different stones and their quality to several wealthy guests. She had just seen them off when a soft voice spoke behind her. “Cecily, do you hate me?” She neither turned nor answered. Daphne bit her lip and came to stand beside her. “You know I don’t matter much to my family. All I had to look forward to was a marriage my parents chose for me. I never dreamed someone like Gareth would want me, let alone have a child with me. “I’ve spent years following you around. I know how good you’ve been to me. This is the last thing I’ll ever ask: please let me have this baby in peace. I don’t need a place in his life. I won’t interfere with you and Gareth afterward.” Cecily gave a short, scornful laugh. “You don’t need a place in his life? Didn’t you already talk him into making you his legal wife?” Daphne faltered, her face flushing. After a beat, Cecily added, “You wanted me to find those shorts in your bag, didn’t you? You were trying to break us up for good before the wedding.” With her intentions exposed, the color drained from Daphne’s lips. She struggled to answer. “I wasn’t thinking that far ahead. I know he’ll never tell people I’m his wife. As far as everyone else is concerned, you’re the only woman who belongs at his side.” Cecily had no patience left for the performance. She turned to go. An attendant approached just then. “Ms. Sutton, shall we bring out the Solstice diamond now? The largest one?” She checked the time and nodded. Daphne stared after her, biting her lip. Guilt briefly warred with resentment before resentment won. As the dazzling stone was carried past them, she suddenly lurched forward and knocked the tray from the attendant’s hands. The large diamond rolled across the floor. Gasps broke out around the room. Cecily’s mother hurried over. “What happened?” Cecily frowned at Daphne. “Daphne knocked the diamond off the tray.” “What?” Her mother’s face twisted with fury. She looked ready to tear Daphne apart. “Someone has already made me an offer for that diamond. Do you have any idea what it’s worth? How would a girl like you pay for it? “Are your parents here? I intend to speak to them. We’ll see how much they’re prepared to pay.” Gareth had just helped Daphne up. At the mention of her parents, fear finally caught up with her. If Mrs. Sutton pursued compensation, the sum alone would make her parents skin her alive. Daphne waved her hands frantically. “It wasn’t me. I didn’t knock it over.” Mrs. Sutton took out her phone to call the Keenes, but Gareth spoke up. “Mrs. Sutton, Daphne didn’t do it.” She gave him a suspicious look. “You saw what happened, Gareth? Then tell me.” He hesitated before looking at Cecily. Her heart dropped. Gareth’s voice was cold. “I saw Cecily push Daphne. That’s why she hit the tray.”