Chapter 55
Chapter 55:
“What?” The revelation sent a shock wave through the vehicle as the three voiced their astonishment in chorus.
“What’s with all the stunned faces?” Janice inquired, a playful smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.
Prescott was beside himself, hands buried in his hair as disbelief washed over his face. “Janice, are you kidding me? You’re actually married?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re just this calm about it?” Prescott’s perception of Janice, as a fierce and independent force, seemed to shatter right before his eyes. To him, she had always been a lone queen, a woman whose brilliance needed no man’s shadow. Yet, here she was, nonchalantly revealing her marriage.
It felt like the end of the world.
Leah, who was usually in sync with Prescott’s thoughts, let her lollipop fall to the floor in shock. “Janice, this can’t be real. What sort of trickery has this man used to mess with your head?”
With a jarring screech, the car jerked to a stop.
Costello, silent till now, turned sharply to look at Janice, his eyes piercing.
His gaze seemed to ask whether that man had drugged Janice, ready to confront him if necessary.
“Stop!” Janice exclaimed, raising her hand to silence them, a wry smile crossing her face. “You all are overreacting. It’s just a marriage certificate, and yet here you are, losing your minds. If I were actually walking down the aisle, what? Would you resort to murder?”
“Wait just a second,” Leah said, her brow furrowing as she cast a wary glance at Janice. “Janice, are you telling us it’s just a certificate, not an actual marriage? What exactly does that mean?”
Janice let out a weary sigh before responding. “To put it simply, Aiden and I got legally married as part of an arrangement. Once our agreement concludes, we plan to dissolve the marriage.” A collective sigh of relief escaped her friends’ lips.
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“Even if it’s only an arrangement, I can’t say I’m thrilled about it,” Prescott remarked, adjusting his glasses with a hint of irritation. “Janice, engaging in a mere contract with that man? He’s definitely getting the better end of the deal.”
“Indeed!” Leah exclaimed, throwing her hands up in exasperation. “But ultimately, it’s Janice’s call. She’s always been stubborn. What else can we possibly do about it?” The group lapsed into silence for a brief moment.
After a while, Prescott managed to shake off the somber mood that had settled on him since learning of Janice’s marriage to another.
He straightened his glasses. “Janice, I’ve just learned that Edwards Group is bidding on a project.”
Janice, intrigued, leaned forward slightly. “Which project is that?”
“It’s a major development venture in the western suburbs, spearheaded by Forest Corp. They’re opening it up for external bids.”
A sharp spark lit up in Janice’s eyes, and she instinctively brought her hand to her chin, her mind racing.
Forest Corp had climbed the ranks in recent years, yet the mastermind behind its ascent remained shrouded in secrecy.
It was odd, Janice thought, given her vast network and resources, that she hadn’t been able to uncover even the slightest detail about the enigmatic owner.
She had a knack for unveiling the intricacies of Efrery’s most influential business figures and their operations with ease. But this owner, whoever they were, had mastered the art of remaining a ghost, eluding even her far-reaching grasp.
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