From Ashes of Scandal to His Embrace (Laurinda) novel Chapter 17

Adolphus hadn’t even finished speaking when the infirmary door swung open. A tall guy stepped in, shopping bag in hand.

“Adolphus, here’s what you asked for.”

Adolphus got up, peeled off his rubber gloves, and took the bag from Foley. He pulled out a long cashmere coat and held it out to Laurinda.

“Put this on. It’s cold outside. Don’t catch a cold.”

Laurinda eyed the coat, her lips pressed tight. The pieces were finally starting to fit together in her mind. If she still couldn’t see what he was after after all this, she’d have to be blind.

“Sorry. I’m not interested in men with fiancées.”

She brushed past the hand blocking her, heading straight for the door. She pushed it open and left without a single glance back.

Adolphus just stood there, coat still in hand, completely thrown. He looked over at Foley, who seemed just as confused.

“Fiancée? Since when do I have a fiancée?”

Foley shook his head. He didn’t think the fiancée thing was really the point here. What mattered was that girl who’d just walked out. Was Adolphus actually catching feelings?

For the next few days, Adolphus didn’t run into Laurinda again. Sometimes he’d hear her name pop up when Irvin was talking, but that was it.

Foley had no idea who Laurinda was, but he could read Adolphus’s face. The guy clearly wanted to know more, so Foley ended up asking.

“Irvin, is Laurinda really that impressive? She managed to get a teacher replaced?”

Adolphus spoke up suddenly. “So you’re saying The Gates Family was involved too?”

“Yeah, that’s what I heard. People say Laurinda and Fabian used to be a thing, but after some family drama, Fabian turned on her. When Laurinda wanted the teacher gone, Fabian tried to block her, but in the end the teacher still got transferred.”

“People say The Gates Family let it go just so the principal wouldn’t lose face or look weak.”

Adolphus laughed quietly, tapping his fingers against the table.

“Quit wasting your time on gossip and focus on your schoolwork. If you don’t get your grades up this time, your dad’s really going to send you out to the desert to dig ditches.”

He got up and walked out. Foley watched him leave, feeling a chill run down his spine. Someone was definitely in for some trouble.