Chapter 8
Before he could say a word, Lottie had already walked to the front door. She pulled on a cream-colored wool coat, wrapped a scarf around her neck. Her small, oval face was nearly hidden-just her clear, dark eyes still visible above
the fabric.
Then, she stepped outside.
But something about the way she walked seemed… off.
Nigel was about to call after her when Esther, beside him, suddenly let out a sharp hiss. “Ah-my back! That really hurts!”
He snapped out of it and helped her back down onto the couch. “Still hurting that badly? I’ll take you to the hospital.”
“I don’t want to go.”
Esther bit her lip and glanced at the gift box in his hands, muttering, “And you still say you’re not in love with her? You’re holding her gift like it’s some kind of treasure.”
Nigel’s brows furrowed. “Esther, I already told you-I owe her. Deeply.”
Tears spilled down Esther’s cheeks. “What about me? Nigel, where do I stand in all this? Are you just going to let her keep bullying me and Rolland?”
“I’ve told you-Lottie isn’t like that.”
“Enough!” Esther snapped. “Don’t you hear yourself? Every single thing you say is defending her!”
She stood abruptly, dragging a sniffling Rolland with her as she stormed upstairs.
Nigel stood frozen for a moment, then exhaled a slow, heavy breath.
He wasn’t even sure what he was thinking anymore.
He just knew one thing-he couldn’t stand hearing anyone speak ill of her.
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Snow had been falling on and off for two days.
That morning, Lottie had gone to the traditional medicine clinic to see patients. In the afternoon, a visiting doctor from overseas had scheduled time to observe her mentor’s acupuncture technique.
But her mentor had an emergency and passed the task to her instead.
She wrapped up at five, rushed home to change, and added a touch of light makeup.
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Chapter 8
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Lottie didn’t need much-her bright eyes and porcelain skin turned heads even without trying. A little polish, and she became the kind of woman people couldn’t help but look at twice.
As she came downstairs, she noticed something strange-ever since she got home, the house had been suspiciously quiet.
That mother and son duo had been… oddly well-behaved.
“Lottie.”
She was just pulling on her boots when a sweet, mocking voice rang out behind her.
Esther. “Tell me-who do you think he’d choose? You, or me?”
Lottie paused for a beat, then turned with a soft smile. “Esther, I’m not sure I follow.”
“What, you don’t think it’s obvious? You’re trying to play out some scandalous drama-widowed sister-in-law seduces her brother-in-law?”
“Lottie!!”
The jab hit its mark. Esther was fuming, jaw clenched.
But Lottie simply fastened the belt on her cashmere cape, unbothered, and smiled again. “I don’t have time for this. Nigel’s already waiting.”
Esther followed her gaze through the tall windows-Nigel’s car was parked in the driveway.
She nearly choked on her anger.
Back when she agreed to let Nigel marry Lottie, it was because she thought Lottie was soft-easy to manipulate.
Who would’ve thought she’d turn out to be a rabbit with claws.
Lottie slid into the passenger seat and glanced over. “Hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”
“No, I just got here,” Nigel replied.
He reached over and gently squeezed her hand. Then, noticing the sliver of bare skin showing beneath the hem of her skirt-smooth, pale, almost glowing under the interior lights-his brows furrowed.
“It’s freezing. Why are you dressed like that?”
She smiled faintly. “Either in the car or at the old house-there’s heating anyway.”
At the clinic, she was always patient, repeatedly reminding others to keep warm and take care of themselves.
But when it came to her own health, she didn’t seem to care much,
Nigel could only sigh. “What are you going to do if you catch a cold or come down with a fever?”
