Bait for a Gentleman novel Chapter 11

Willow had just reached the hotel garage, and Audrina had barely loaded her luggage into the car when Zachary called again.

"Where exactly are you? Why aren't you answering your phone?"

"I just woke up and didn't see it. I'm in Willow's car." Audrina slid into the passenger seat, her voice soft and even. "It was too late last night, so I went straight to her place. She's dropping me off now."

The line went dead without another word.

Willow turned the steering wheel, pulling out of the parking garage.

As they merged onto the main road, Willow stopped at a red light, turning to give her friend a long, scrutinizing look from head to toe.

"Let me get this straight. You suddenly returned to the country because you found out about Vera and Zachary. You didn't say a word, and instead turned right around and slept with another guy. Which means, right on the verge of tying the knot, you two successfully cheated on each other."

"Yeah."

Willow was her absolute best friend, someone who had been by her side since childhood. If the entire world decided to turn against her, Willow would still be standing right there in her corner.

Years ago, when the Monroe family went under, Willow had actually dropped to her knees in front of her own father, Scott Sinclair, begging him multiple times to bail the Monroes out.

But Scott could only shake his head and sigh; their family simply didn't have the capital to catch the Monroe family's colossal fall.

In the end, Willow had scraped together ten million on her own to pay off one of the Monroe's debts, but it was just a drop in the bucket. Unable to offer any more financial help, the only thing she could do was stay by Audrina's side, keeping her company through her darkest days.

Because of that unwavering loyalty, Audrina hadn't hidden a single detail about last night from her.

"...So, who did you sleep with?" The light turned green, and Willow stepped on the gas. "Is he hotter than Zachary?"

Audrina turned to look out the window, a faint smile touching her lips, but she didn't answer.

Zachary was undeniably handsome. His looks were top-tier among the Kingshire elite, but if they were really comparing... he couldn't even hold a candle to Sebastian.

"Then why would he agree to marry a ruined heiress like me back then?" Audrina asked.

Willow shook her head. "I don't know."

Soon, the car turned onto the tree-lined avenue of Lakewood Villa and pulled up to the courtyard gate.

Audrina got out with Willow and popped the trunk to grab her suitcase. Willow beat her to it, dragging the heavy luggage out and leading the way. The spinner wheels clattered loudly against the stone pavement.

Pushing the front door open, Willow rolled the suitcase into the living room and called out loudly, "Mr. Sutton, I brought her back in one piece."

Zachary descended the staircase. His gaze swept over Audrina's face before settling on Willow. "Are you staying for dinner?"

Willow waved a hand. "No thanks, I have things to do."