AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Drake’s heart beat wildly. He never intended for Alessandra to learn the truth about their wedding day. And here, his perceptive ex had his feet to the fire.
“I wanted Alessandra Russo. She was always supposed to be mine!” He was riled up and almost divulged everything. He sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. “You need to leave now, Riley. The doorman will call you a cab and ensure you have enough money to return to your hotel safely. You’re not welcome here anymore. This is my home.
“I’m going to pack up your belongings and send them to storage. I’ll let you know where they end up and pay for the first three months. After that, it’s on you.”
“This isn’t over, Drake,” she hissed.
Before going to bed that night, Drake received a text from Alessandra that confirmed she was safe, with a pin containing Jenny Nguyen’s contact information.
Drake:Thank you for taking care of my wife.
Jenny:I didn’t do it for you, Mr. Walker.
Drake:Despite what people think, I care about her. I’m not a monster.
Jenny:I’m billing you for this conversation.
Drake: I don’t give a shit about your billable hours. Just keep Alessandra safe. Let me know if she needs anything.
Jenny: I’ll see you in court.
* * *
The first thing Drake did the following day was hire a packing and moving service. He paid an exorbitant amount of money to have them there that afternoon. It was a pittance to him, and he should’ve done it sooner.
The next thing he did was call his stylist. He placed an order for a new wardrobe, including shoes and accessories. This was Alessandra’s home now, and he hoped to create a more hospitable atmosphere for her homecoming. Her appreciation of his efforts wasn’t necessary.
Unsure of Alessandra’s favorite foods, Drake hired a chef to assemble a menu for the week and a shopper to purchase the ingredients. Assorted fresh fruits filled the bowl on the counter. He grabbed a banana, chocolate protein powder, peanut butter, and almond milk, threw all the ingredients into a blender, and made himself a protein shake.
Lastly, he called his housekeeper and asked her to spend the day organizing the loft. He planned to tip her a month’s salary on her next check for her trouble.
He readied himself to meet his parents for lunch to try to explain the clusterfuck that was his wedding day. He arrived at The Lake Forest Club, where his family had been members for as long as he could remember. The large club had a pool and diving well, twelve tennis courts, and four paddle courts. The dining options changed several times through the seasons and featured new weekly specials.
His parents were already seated when the hostess showed him to the table. Bitsy Walker, the family matriarch, gracefully rose to greet her eldest son. She was impeccably dressed from head to toe. Not a single hair was out of place nor a wrinkle on her filler-injected face. She could only muster a tight smile in greeting as he kissed her cheek.
“Hello, Drake.” Bitsy smoothed her tailored Chanel suit before sitting back down.
“Hello, Mother. Hello, Father.”
“Hello, son.” Dick Walker greeted his son with a clap on the shoulder.
They sat down, and Drake ordered a filet and beer. They exchanged pleasantries while waiting for their food to arrive. Bitsy shared gossip regarding her friends from the country club and briefed him on the upcoming charity event that she was organizing. Dick told him about his latest golf game.
Once the food arrived, Bitsy shook the linen napkin out and placed it delicately in her lap. Drake and Dick followed suit. Bitsy sighed in discontent over her salad. It was time for them to discuss the matter at hand.
“The Watsons weren’t happy about the wedding,” Bitsy sniffed.
“I paid for the damn thing. They didn’t bother coming to the church.”
“Regardless of whether or not Riley called off your engagement, you should’ve canceled the wedding. You made us look like fools in front of our friends.”
“I’m sorry, Mother. Rest assured, I am not concerned with the opinions of your friends.”
“Watch your tone with your mother, Drake,” Dick cautioned.
Bitsy didn’t cry, nor did she suffer fools. Drake had committed the greatest sin in her book by creating a public scene with his outburst in church. But he didn’t give a fuck about their affluent friends anymore. His priority was his wife. Drake adopted a stoic expression and checked his emotions.
“Who is this girl?” his father asked.
