Chapter 36
\nReturn Of The Real Heiress: Secrets And Masks novel Chapter 36<\/p>\n
Chapter 36<\/p>\n
In the living room, all heads turned at Cherise\u2019s voice. She was pushing Oliver\u2019s wheelchair, with Yves, who had joined them partway, walking alongside.<\/p>\n
Shirley looked at Cherise with a mix of envy and disbelief, wondering appear so effortlessly elegant, as if she had a magical charm about her.<\/p>\n
w so from such a modest background could<\/p>\n
Mandy, too, felt a pang of annoyance, Cherise\u2019s presence bringing back thoughts of Claire and making her jaw tighten, but she kept her feelings well disguised.<\/p>\n
Jemma greeted Oliver with a polite nod. \u201cHello, Mr. Leach. We\u2019re here to see how Shirley is after her accident,\u201d she said, then turned to Cherise with a curious look. \u201cI know Yves, but who is this young lady?\u201d she asked, gesturing towards Cherise.<\/p>\n
Jemma was well\u2013acquainted with beauty, given her daughter Melissa\u2019s luminous charm as an actress and her future daughter\u2013in\u2013law Shirley\u2019s grace. However, the young woman before her surpassed them in appeal, and Jemma sensed an uncanny familiarity with her, as if they had crossed paths before<\/p>\n
Oliver, his pride evident, made the introductions. \u201cCherise, I\u2019d like you to meet Jemma. Jemma, this is Cherise, my eldest granddaughter,\u201d he said, giving Cherise\u2019s hand a kind pat.<\/p>\n
Jemma was surprised to meet Cherise, who was nothing like the unsophisticated country girl she had imagined.<\/p>\n
Cherise\u2019s elegance put many a socialite to, shame, and Jemma couldn\u2019t help but think that someone with deep pockets must have helped her along the way. She pushed down her envy, reminding herself that beauty wasn\u2019t everything.<\/p>\n
Putting on a polite smile for Oliver, Jemma greeted Cherise. \u201cCherise, you\u2019ve grown so much. I\u2019m Jemma, a friend of your mom\u2019s from college. The last time I saw you, you were only this fall,\u201d she said, holding her hand to indicate Cherise\u2019s height as a child.<\/p>\n
Cherise responded with a simple nod. \u201cHello, Jemma.\u201d<\/p>\n
While exchanging greetings, Cherise caught sight of a man behind Jemma, staring at her as if under a spell, his mouth slightly ajar. She arched an eyebrow, somewhat unsettled, despite his charming and striking appearance.<\/p>\n
Jeffrey was completely captivated by Cherise\u2019s brilliant beauty, which appeared to surpass Shirley\u2019s, bestowing upon Cherise a luminous, almost heavenly radiance.<\/p>\n
Shirley was already on edge about Cherise\u2019s presence, and her irritation ignited when she noticed Jeffrey\u2019s gaze fixed on Cherise. In a fit of jealousy, she pinched his arm viciously.<\/p>\n
\u201cOuch! What was that for, Shirley?\u201d Jeffrey yelped, rubbing his arm.<\/p>\n
Jemma and Mandy hurried over, their voices laced with concern. \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pain from my injury just overwhelmed me, and I sort of lashed out at Jeffrey,\u201d Shirley explained, hamming it up as she settled back onto the chaise lounge.<\/p>\n
Cherise and Yves shared a skeptical look before rolling their eyes in sync.<\/p>\n
Cherise briefly appraised Jeffrey and came to the conclusion that he and Shirley could be a good fit. Neither seemed particularly sharp alone, but as a pair, they might complement each other well<\/p>\n
Oliver, feeling the noise was getting to be too much, held back from reprimanding anyone with the Chambers around. Instead, he inquired, \u201cShirley, how\u2019s your injury? What happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
Guided by Cherise and Yves, Oliver\u2019s wheelchair was rolled in closer to join the group.<\/p>\n
1\/2<\/p>\n
Chapter 36<\/p>\n
Oliver glanced at Shirley\u2019s injury and waved it off. \u201cIt\u2019s just a scratch, Shirley,\u201d he said, not too concerned.<\/p>\n
Yves, unimpressed, gave a dramatic eye roll. \u201cShirley, that cut will heal by itself if you don\u2019t get it checked, he bed, his tone dripping with sarcasm.<\/p>\n
The room fell into an uneasy quiet. Shirley, feeling the tension turned to Oliver again. The car that brought Cherise here has been parked for quite some time,\u201d she said, her voice slicing@hrough the silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cI tried to thank the driver, but he just rolled up the window and sped off, leaving me flat on my back,\u201d she continued, her eyes flicking to Cherise. \u201cIt makes you wonder if there\u2019s something in that car they don\u2019t want us to find\u201d<\/p>\n
Mandy, trying to sound casual, piped up, \u201cCherise, you can dish. We know age doesn\u2019t matter, right? A fancy car like that, the driver must be some big shot\u201d<\/p>\n
Mandy\u2019s v words prompted Cherise to think of Morris. \u201cHe\u2019s my senior, and very successful, Cherise admitted. Morris, being eight years older and Clusia\u2019s richest man, was indeed a prominent figure.<\/p>\n
Shirley\u2019s smile widened as she got the confirmation she wanted,<\/p>\n
Jemma and Jeffrey exchanged a look that showed they sided with Shirley. They thought Cherise, despite her allure, had a messy personal life and her trustworthiness was questionable, making her a poor fit for Jeffrey. They were set on ending the engagement.<\/p>\n
Oliver, frowning with worry, addressed Cherise directly. \u201cCherise, are those stories about you and another man true?\u201d<\/p>\n
Just friends,\u201d Cherise answered, keeping it straightforward.<\/p>\n
Relief washed over Oliver\u2019s face. \u201cThat\u2019s good to know,\u201d he said, clearly taking her at her word.<\/p>\n
Everyone, except for Yves and Oliver, was convinced that Cherise was seeing an affluent older man.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-61","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter\/61","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/kampoengnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}