Way Back Into Love (Essie)

Chapter 122 He Loved You

Hatred burned in Leila's eyes as she glared at Essie.

She had been here for quite some time, hiding in a corner and observing Zac and the others.

She wanted to come over, but she didn't have the courage. She couldn't bear the fact that he was

married. Moreover, she was afraid that Zac might find out that it was her who leaked the information to

Valery. If he knew, he would definitely cut her off from his life altogether. Zac was a person who was

absolutely intolerant of cheating and betrayal. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Essie had a calm expression, and she knew exactly how to read the situation.

Valery was a capable woman, and Leila herself was quite powerful. Should they decide to join forces

against her, her chances of winning would be greatly diminished.

She couldn't allow that to happen. She must win over Leila.

"You're probably wondering why he married me, right?" Essie whispered when she saw that there was

no one else in the dressing room.

"What do you want to say?" Leila frowned.

"This is not a good place to talk. Let's talk outside." Essie exited the room, with Leila following close

behind. Her curiosity regarding the circumstances of their marriage was killing her.

They sat at a dark corner concealed by curtains.

Essie took another two glasses of cocktail and handed one to Leila.

"Zac and I got married for one thing, and one thing only: to get rid of Valery." Essie's words rang out

slowly and clearly. "Now, I'm his legal spouse as long as we don't divorce, it would be impossible for

him to marry her. You may think that he treats me well and takes good care of me, but that's only

because he needs me and I'm the only one who can play this role."

Leila was overcome with violent shivers. She remembered Zac saying that he had already figured out a

way to deal with Valery. Was he talking about marriage to Essie?

"Why are you the only one who can act as his wife?"

"What sort of woman wouldn't like a man from a rich family? If he asked just any woman to act as his

wife, wouldn't he get into more trouble if that woman ended up falling for him? How different would that

be compared to his situation with Valery. I, on the other hand, will never fall for him, because I'm in love

with someone else." Essie's tone was firm, brooking no disagreement or doubt. In any case, she was

speaking the truth.

"What's in it for you, then? What do you get out of your arrangement?" Leila quirked one eyebrow, her

tone no longer as malicious as before.

"I want him to help me become famous. Remember, I'm the grand winner of the show Beauty on

Runway? Once I become famous, then Hanson's family will accept me." After her explanation, Essie

took a sip of the cocktail.

"Why are you telling me these things?" Leila stared at her for a moment, suspicious that Essie was

lying to her. However, Essie was the picture of calm, and not a blush crossed her face. She saw

nothing amiss, and the worry in her chest eased up. After all, she was hoping from the bottom of her

heart that everything Essie said was true.

"He loves you. He did all these things for you. He was supposed to marry you. However, even with your

influential background, Valery would have made you the villain if you had married Zac." After a slight

pause, she took another sip of her drink and continued, "He couldn't tell you the plan because the

fewer people who knew, the better. Otherwise, all of his efforts would go down the drain. You don't

know how his mind works. He always complains to me. Right now, I'm taking the bullet for you and

paving your way. I am innocent, and you should know that."

By then, Leila's heart felt unburdened, and she was over the moon in her elation. He loved her? He did

all of these things for her? She was the happiest woman in the world!

Her happiness and excitement nearly overflowed her body, and her lips curved up in an ecstatic smile.

For some reason, the happier Leila became, the more depressed Essie felt.

She told Leila no lies. Leila was the one who Zac truly loved and the one he wanted to marry. Essie

was no one but cannon fodder who would lose her usefulness once she beat Valery. He did treat her

well, care about her, and show her affection, but such actions were all for show.

Leila was the happy main character, whereas she was destined to be a poor supporting role. She only

needed to act temporarily as the lead in a love triangle story arc.

After a long time, Leila finally came back to her senses. She suddenly felt sorry for Essie; after all, it

was she who released the secret letter and almost ruined Essie's plan.

"You must have met Valery, right?"

"Yes. We fight the all day long. Zac's mother supports her, and her witch mother does the planning for

her. It's very difficult to deal with her." Essie sighed heavily again. "Had I known that the woman was so

terrible, I wouldn't have said yes. I don't intend to die for fame; it isn't worth it."

"Don't give up." Leila grasped her hands and said earnestly, "That woman is arrogant because she's

pregnant with Zac's baby. You must find a way to get rid of her baby."

"No way," Essie said emphatically. She shook her head. "There are people around her 24/7. Even I find

it difficult to approach her. What's more, your boyfriend has made it clear to me that he wants the baby

that we must let her give birth to the baby in peace."

"Why? Zac doesn't even like Valery. Why does he want to keep her baby?" A flash of pain showed up

in Leila's eyes.

"The baby is his flesh and blood. Even if he hates the woman carrying his child, the baby is innocent."

"Women are replaceable, but a child isn't. A child is a permanent encumbrance. You have to be

mentally prepared for the situation. Even if Valery got driven out, her relationship with the child and Zac

would remain, and they might end up falling in love because of the child." Her words clearly told Leila

that while Essie herself would never be a threat to her, Valery would be her lifelong rival.

Leila's pretty face was distorted in jealousy, and her eyes flashed with hatred. Essie's confession was a

wake-up call to her. In the past, she didn't think much about it; all along, she thought that Valery was no

threat to her because Zac did not love her. Now, she realized that she was too naive in thinking that;

the child would forever bind Zac and Valery. Maybe he would end up accepting Valery as the child's

mother and his wife.

She turned toward Essie. "If you need help, just let me know. Don't give up. I'll help you."

"Okay." Essie nodded. An unnoticeable smile lifted one corner of her mouth. "You can't let Zac know

that I've told you my plan. You know how cruel he can be. He'll definitely kill me."

"Got it." Leila nodded seriously.

The curtains parted slightly in the darkness, but neither of them noticed it.

When Essie returned to Zac's side, Alice was looking at her with an unreadable expression in her eyes.

She couldn't read that look, so she took a sip from her wine glass, trying to quash the uneasiness in

her heart.

"What took you so long?" Zac asked casually.

"My makeup was ruined, so I had to fix it."

She wrinkled her nose and pouted her lips. Mindful of the child beside her, Zac pointed at her lips and

said, "Except for that, your face is purely natural. Did you apply more?"

"Applying lip makeup is also an art. If you don't know how to do it well, you may end up with clown lips.

Aren't you scared of having nightmares at the thought?" She stuck out her tongue at him childishly.

"I'll be devouring it, anyway, so you didn't really have to do that." He smiled evilly.

"Behave yourself. There's a child here." She gave him a peevish look. This big bad wolf, in addition to

teasing her, he did something to her. In the past, he had been immoderate in her territory. Now he

became unscrupulous in his territory. The worst thing about it was that she had no way to resist him.

Since they did not get divorced, did that mean she would be unable to fight back in the future?

She felt so distressed!

While she was sadly contemplating her dire future involving relentless bullying from Zac, Holy's

innocent voice said, "Sister Essie, it doesn't matter. I often watch Brother Jim act with others on TV, so

I'm used to it."

Again, Jim got accidentally involved!

"Little devil, that was just a performance! No one really kissed!" There were two rules in Jim's filming:

no kissing, and no bed scenes. In either case, they typically used a stand-in for him.

"Oh. Isn't that boring?" Holy was extremely disappointed. "Brother Jim, maybe you're just bad at it,

that's why you never do it?"

Jim pretended to faint from shock.

This attack was the cruelest and most powerful!

This kid should be called the most savage little devil.

Holding back the urge to laugh, Essie touched Holy's head and said, "You're really a genius!" It

definitely looked like he would grow up to be meaner than Zac.

Zac looked at Jim in sympathy. "Bro, how about acting by yourself in your next film?" That suggestion

was purely a joke. He was well aware of the other man's secret. Jim had a hidden illness: he was a

cleanliness freak. He hated kissing women he didn't know. He would only kiss someone after making

sure that she was healthy and as fastidious about cleanliness like he was.

Jim pinched Holy's face and said, "Ok, imp. Someday, once I find the right leading lady, I'll show you

what I can do!"

After the party was over, Essie sat quietly in the car, lost in thought.

"Alice, you're not coming with mom and me?"

"Cathy, I can't go. I want to stay with dad."

"Why? Dad no longer wants us. He already has Valery and Vinton. He is not our father anymore."

"That's why I can't leave. If I come with you, then they would have completely taken dad away."

"I don't understand. Didn't you say that we would never be apart? Please, come with us and don't stay

with dad."

"Cathy, don't cry. When I'm old enough, I'll go find you and mom, okay?"

"No! Forget it! You're as bad as dad. Both of you have abandoned mom and me. You're not my sister

anymore. Just go and be a sister to Valery and Vinton. I don't want to see you anymore! "

"What's wrong?" Zac's low voice interrupted her recollection of the past. He was used to Essie's lively

chatter beside him. She was being too quiet, which worried him a little.

"Where is Holy's mother?" She couldn't help but wonder about what sort of woman the romantic Baron

would date.

"She passed away a few years ago," Zac said casually.

"Huh? How did she die?" Essie murmured, shocked.