From Ashes of Scandal to His Embrace (Laurinda) novel Chapter 9

After lunch with Fidelia, Laurinda waited until she drifted off to sleep before slipping out of the room. Holding the gift box close, she made her way down the hall toward the doctor's office. Before she could even knock, the door opened, and a tall man stepped out. He glanced down at her, and for a moment, Laurinda caught a perfect view of his face.

He had striking features and a strong jawline, with sharp brows that framed dark, expressive eyes. His nose was straight and proud, and his lips were full, adding a touch of softness to his otherwise sculpted face. When Laurinda looked into his eyes, she sensed a cool, distant aura that made him seem untouchable.

He was so tall that Laurinda, even at five foot six, felt small standing in front of him. He nodded at her politely, then stepped aside to leave. As he passed, a hint of pine drifted through the air, clean and subtle.

Laurinda found herself staring at his retreating figure, lost in thought, until the office door swung open again. Earl, with his unmistakable blond hair, poked his head out.

“What are you staring at? He’s already gone,” Earl teased, grinning.

Laurinda shook herself out of her daze and turned to face him. “That guy seemed kind of familiar. I feel like I’ve seen him before.”

“Him? No way. He’s from Cabinda. Do you know anyone in the Lane family?”

Laurinda squinted, thinking, but then shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

“That checks out.” Earl leaned against the doorframe, clearly in gossip mode. “He was basically the apple of the Lane family’s eye growing up. Super hard to get along with. I’ve never seen him act friendly with anyone, not even his fiancée. She doesn’t have any say in front of him.”

Laurinda blinked. “Fiancée? He’s engaged?”

Out the back door of the rehab center, Laurinda spotted a tall, elegant figure standing by her car. She frowned, not expecting to see him here.

She walked over, noticing he didn’t seem in any rush to leave. “Do you need something?” she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.

Remembering he had a fiancée, Laurinda didn’t want to get tangled up in any awkward conversation. She was ready to head out.

The man had clearly been waiting for her, but when he saw the look on her face, he hesitated. Was she annoyed with him?

“My friend had an emergency and took the car. It’s pretty far from the city, and it’s tough to catch a ride out here. Would you mind giving me a lift?”