Chapter 56
"Of course!" Esme snapped.
Elizabeth nodded, cool as a cucumber. "Awesome! Lily's gonna flip when she gets it!"
Esme chuckled. "Elizabeth, you're a trip! I'm Alexander's next wife, and here you are, all chill."
She couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Elizabeth touched her nose. She was here to watch Esme make a fool of herself, this idiot!
Elizabeth put on a mock-pout. "What else can I do? Ms. Russell, you're so capable. I can't compete."
"It's not that you can't compete; it's that you don't have Alexander backing you up!" Esme gloated. She'd been reckless all these years because Alexander always had her back.
Elizabeth never liked Esme's tone, but today, she silently agreed.
Elizabeth lowered her head.
Esme smirked, feeling smug. "Did I hit a nerve? Elizabeth, I'm curious. Since Alexander doesn't love you, how'd you keep the marriage going for three years?"
Elizabeth met Esme's gaze.
Esme leaned over the table, staring straight at Elizabeth. "Did Alexander ever sleep with you?"
Elizabeth's breath hitched. "Did he sleep with you?" she snapped.
A flicker of anger flashed in Esme's eyes.
Three years in love, and the Tudor family still didn't acknowledge her. Alexander hadn't even touched her.
She remembered that night by the sea when she tried to kiss him, and he dodged. Total humiliation.
Esme swallowed, then locked eyes with Elizabeth. "He loves me so much; what do you think?"
No way she was telling Elizabeth about Alexander's refusal. She had to make it seem like they were intimate.
Esme blinked, feigning shyness. "That morning you came to the villa, I was wearing his clothes. Isn't that obvious enough?"
Elizabeth recalled that morning. Esme in Alexander's white shirt, Alexander fresh out of the shower. Three years of intimacy, no wonder he ignored her.
"Elizabeth, you're really pitiful," Esme's voice cut like a knife.
Elizabeth lowered her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips. Not sleeping with him wasn't the sad part. Clinging to this sham of a marriage and lover, now that was sad.
Esme glanced at her phone and muttered, "It's one in the afternoon. Where the heck is Glory M?"
Is this jerk standing her up again?
Seeing Esme's anxiety, Elizabeth chimed in, "Esme, even if you don't know Glory M, I wouldn't laugh at you."
Esme frowned, ready to snap at her.
Elizabeth continued, "Look, it's way past the time you agreed on. He clearly doesn't care."
"Esme, I'm done waiting. You can wait by yourself!" Elizabeth stood up, doubting Esme knew Glory M at all.
Esme panicked. "Glory M will definitely show up today! If he doesn't, you can laugh at me all you want!"
"But it's been so long already," Elizabeth said softly.
Esme pulled out her phone. "I have Glory M's contact! I'll message him right now!"
She shoved her phone in Elizabeth's face, ready to prove it.
Esme opened the chat, about to send a message, when a prompt popped up.
[Glory M has refused to receive your message. To send a message, please add Glory M as a friend.]
Elizabeth looked at her, surprised.
