The Bride He Took For Granted novel Chapter 61

The Bride He Took for Granted

Chapter 61

As the Rolls-Royce neared Maplewood Estates, Elise knew it was time to tell Jane the truth.

That she was living alone now. That Leonard had slapped her…

She was still trying to figure out where to start when Jane spoke first.

“Daisy, do you have a cold?”

Elise immediately realized it was because she still had her mask

There was no way she could hide her face from Jane forever. She would have to take the mask off sooner or later.

After a moment, Elise braced herself and removed it. “

Jane’s expression changed instantly.

“Oh my God, what happened to your face?”

She reached over and gently touched the bruise on Elise’s cheek. “Did Landon do this?”

Harold glanced at them in the rearview mirror, then returned his attention to the road.

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Chapter 61

“No,” Elise said. “My dad did.”

“Your dad?” Jane stared at her. “Why would he hit you?”

Elise saw no reason to hide the truth just because Harold was there.

Besides, by now, almost everyone in their circle knew there were problems between her and Landon.

“He… doesn’t want me to call off the engagement. We got into an argument, and he lost his temper. That’s why I’m not living at home anymore.”

Jane’s heart ached.

Her thumb brushed gently over the bruise on Elise’s cheek.

How could Leonard bring himself to hit her?

The car turned into Maplewood Estates.

When Jane saw the apartment building, she recognized it immediately. It was the place Elise had told her she could stay whenever she came to Los Angeles.

Of course Jane wanted to see her daughter more often.

Buy if she moved here, Eric would inevitably come looking fog:10

Chapter 61

She had only made the trip this time because Elise had called and said she missed her.

Even so, Jane planned to leave by noon the next day.

Elise got out first, then helped Jane from the car.

Jane turned to Harold gratefully.

“I’m so sorry to have put you through all this for Daisy…”

She caught herself and quickly corrected, “For Elise. You drove her there and brought us all the way back. I really don’t know how to thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me,” Harold said calmly. “I was coming home anyway. I live next door to Ms. White.”

He walked around to the back of the car and took out Elise’s

suitcase.

“I can take it,” Elise said, reaching for the handle.

Harold handed it over without arguing.

“You don’t need to come into the office for the next couple of days.” After a beat, he added, “If you have time, help me feed

Blitz.”

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“I’d be happy to. Thank you, Mr. Nash.”

Harold gave her the code to his door.

“Five-five-five-five.”

Elise blinked.

It was the same as his phone passcode. He seemed to have a thing for the number five. Maybe it meant something to him.

Harold gave Jane a polite nod, then got back into the car.

Jane nodded back. “Thank you again.”

Elise pulled the suitcase behind her as she held Jane’s hand and took her upstairs. On the way, she told her about Blitz.

Seeing the bright smile return to Elise’s face, Jane finally relaxed a little.

After lunch, Elise had Jane take a shower and get some rest.

The trip from Seattle had been exhausting. By the time Jane lay down, her lower back was so stiff she could barely turn over.

Elise sat beside her and massaged it for her.

Around four that afternoon, they went to the mall.

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Chapter 61

Jane had only planned to stay one night, so she had packed just one change of clothes in her cloth bag. Those clothes had gone into the trash along with everything else at Lafitte Estates, so this time, she let Elise buy her a few new things without protesting too much.

Afterward, they stopped at the supermarket.

Elise picked up a box of chocolate rolls and dropped it into the

cart.

“Chloe likes these.”

Then she spotted a yogurt cheesecake.

“She likes this too.”

Before long, beef jerky and prunes had joined them in the cart, all because Chloe liked them.

Then Elise started adding things Jane liked-donut peaches, dried fruit, rice crackers…

Jane finally stopped her.

“That’s enough. Leave some room for the beef and oranges.”

Elise looked at her.

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