From Ashes of Scandals to His Embrace novel Chapter 458

“He’s just as ruthless as ever.”

“Odette, you finally got to see the real Patten, didn’t you? How does it feel? Is this the man you always dreamed about?”

“He’s completely useless, but you act like he’s the best thing in the world. I honestly can’t imagine what it’s like for you—barely thirty but sharing a bed with a man who’s almost fifty. Can your perfume even cover up that old-man smell?”

“And by the way, the guy hasn’t been able to perform without pills since he was thirty-five. Still loves cheating on the side too. It’s honestly pathetic.”

Odette’s hand went to her throat. She couldn’t even speak, but Cara just grinned wider, ready to twist the knife.

“You’re so young. What do you even get out of being with a man like him? I still remember when you came all high and mighty, telling me Patten was gentle, thoughtful, and so sweet to you. I laughed then and I’m laughing now. Patten’s never had a good temperament. If he feels ignored, he blames everyone else—his parents, the world, anyone but himself. He never thinks maybe he’s the reason things go wrong.”

“Oh, and let’s not forget he gets violent. Honestly, you were lucky you got together when his career was taking off. He was riding high, so of course he treated you like a princess. Things are different now. Because of you, he’s back where he started, a failure. I bet your tough times are only beginning. If you’re smart, go get yourself some insurance. Who knows, he might lose it and hurt you one of these days. Take care of yourself.”

“There’s one more thing. I’ve been wanting to say this for a while… Thanks for setting me free. Thanks to you, I got away from a useless cheater and wound up with the sympathy of Adolphus’s grandparents on top of it all. Guess what? My son has already started running Patten’s old company. You got the man you wanted, but everything else? You get nothing.”

Cara stood up, clearly satisfied, and left without even a glance back, her steps light with victory. She didn’t care at all how badly Odette had been hit.

Odette opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Her chest burned with anger and humiliation, and she had nowhere to let it out.

She thought about going to talk to Adolphus’s grandparents, to ask why they treated her so differently. After all, weren’t both she and Cara their daughters-in-law? But in her heart, she knew they never saw her as one of their own.

She wanted to find Patten, but she was afraid. She’d seen something cold in his eyes, something almost deadly.

She didn’t know how things had ended up like this. She had thrown herself at Patten for the sake of The Charles family, but now the family had fallen apart, and she had no way out.

***

Once all the guests had left, Tanya tried to get Laurinda to stay the night at the Lane Estate, but Laurinda politely refused.

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