The Bride He Took For Granted novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Chloe had always been easygoing. As far as she was concerned, the whole thing was no big deal.

She’d only been trying to help when she told Elise to warn the new neighbor about the formaldehyde. Sure, the infertility comment had been ridiculous, but she’d meant

well.

Besides, he was a grown man. Surely he wouldn’t hold a grudge over one stupid joke.

So Chloe ate her fill, said goodbye, and left without a care

in the world.

Elise wasn’t nearly as relaxed.

She still had to clear the balcony, clean the apartment, and somehow figure out how to apologize to Harold.

She hadn’t told Chloe that he lived in 601.

She knew her best friend too well. Chloe’s mind was always bouncing from one thing to the next. If she found qutyHarold lived next door, she’d be shocked for all of five

seconds. Then she’d get excited and start looking for ways

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That would only make things worse.

Elise waited on the balcony for a while, but Harold never came back out.

The lights in his living room were still on. He was probably awake.

A little later, she found herself standing outside. apartment 601.

She raised her hand to knock, then stopped.

After hesitating there for what felt like forever, she let out a quiet sigh and turned to leave.

The door opened behind her.

Elise froze and looked back.

Harold stood in the doorway in dark gray loungewear, both hands tucked into his pockets. His gaze settled on her, calm and unreadable.

“Why have you been lurking outside my door?”

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Heat rushed to Elise’s face, but she forced herself to stay

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Inside, she was panicking.

How does he know how long I’ve been standing here?

Her gaze shifted past him and landed on the video intercom in the living room.

Beside it was a large security monitor showing everything outside his front door.

Elise went still.

Oh my God. He saw all of that?

My ear against his door. My hand hanging in the air. Me standing out here taking deep breaths like a complete idiot…

Elise’s ears burned, but she forced herself to speak.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I hope you won’t hold it against her.”

Harold narrowed his eyes slightly. “You mean the part where she said formaldehyde could make me infertile?”

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Heat rushed to Elise’s face.

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mean anything by it. I’m sorry if she offended you.”

She was about to bow her head when Harold raised a hand to stop her.

“I’m not offended,” he said evenly. “And even if I were, she should be the one apologizing.”

His gaze rested on her.

“Ms. White, do you always apologize for other people?”

Elise was caught off guard.

Landon was blunt and proud. Whenever he clashed with someone, she was always the one who stepped in to explain, apologize, and clean up the mess.

Harold’s expression remained unreadable.

“Let people own their mistakes. Keep apologizing for them, and they’ll start taking it for granted.”

Elise went still.

She looked up, but Harold had already closed the door:16

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No one had ever said anything like that to her before.

Still turning his words over in her mind, Elise went back inside.

Harold watched Elise leave through the security feed, then walked into the living room.

The phone on the coffee table kept buzzing.

His grandmother, Laurel Nash, was calling him on video.

“Harold, did you see Elise?”

“Yeah.”

“Did she ask you to dinner?”

“No.”

“No?” Laurel frowned. “Did she forget? Or did you scare her off with that face of yours? You promised you wouldn’t be cold to her.”

“I remember.” Harold sounded resigned, but his tone gemained firm. “And you agreed to six months.”

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< Chapter 24

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