Chapter 26

Sarah

I could not resist the intoxicating sensations coursing through me as Philip's gentle caresses danced across my skin. His lips, the soft breath escaping them, and the gentle caress igniting every nerve ending on my skin all conspired to engulf my consciousness.

"Sarah..." His voice, whispering my name, stirred me further.

Just as I leaned in toward him, Megan's voice pierced through the air, shattering the moment like icy water dousing a flame.

"Move! I want to see Philip! Why won't you let Philip out?" Megan's demand reverberated through the living room.

"Damn it!" Philip's frustration was palpable as he retreated to the bed. "I'll handle the commotion outside."

"Send Megan back to the hotel if you want to avoid trouble," I interjected casually, turning away from Philip.

Confusion and turmoil waged a fierce battle within me. I reluctantly acknowledge the persistent ember of affection that smolders in the depths of my heart for Philip, an affection I thought extinguished but stubbornly refuses to die, so it's only natural for me to feel hurt in Megan's presence.

'Pull yourself together, Sarah! Don't fall back into the mess!'

I smoothed out my disheveled attire and trailed after Philip as he left the room. Megan's astonishment was palpable when she saw Philip and me emerging from the same room.

"Why is Sarah here?" she demanded, her surprise evident.

I nonchalantly shrugged my shoulders. Megan's opinion didn't hold much weight with me. "This is my rented apartment. If there's anyone unexpected here, it's Philip."

Megan's reaction was evident as she clenched her teeth.

"Since Megan is already picking you up, why not go with her?" I suggested to Philip.

"No, Sarah. P-please do not misunderstand my presence here. I-I'm not picking up Philip. It just so happened that I got robbed at the hotel, so I'm here to look for him," Megan clarified.

"You were robbed? Are you okay?" Philip's concern was genuine.

Megan nodded tearfully, seeking solace in my ex-husband's embrace. "I'm scared, Philip" she confessed, tears streaming down her face.

Philip comforted her, stroking her hair, and I couldn't shake the pang of discomfort at the sight. I felt like the antagonist in their romantic narrative.

"I'll have the people who robbed your hotel room searched for. Don't worry. I'll ask Josh to accompany you so you won't be scared," Philip assured Megan.

"What? No! Are you going to leave me alone at the hotel?" Megan's fear was palpable.

Philip rubbed his temples, distancing himself from her momentarily. "How did you get robbed anyway? Have you reported it to the hotel?" he inquired. "I'll call the hotel to add extra security for you."

"No. Um, i-it happened outside the hotel" Megan hesitated in her response.

My brow furrowed as I noticed her expensive white handbag resting on the couch. Jewelry adorned her body as well. A faint smirk played at the corner of my lips, and I found her story amusing. It became evident that this woman was merely fabricating tales.

Philip interjected, seeking more details about the supposed intruders. "What did the intruders look like for Josh to report them to the authorities?" he inquired.

"T-there were three of them... one was dark-skinned, another had long hair, and one was thin and appeared unkempt," Megan replied tearfully.

I couldn't resist commenting, "I'm beginning to think that all the thieves in Henderson resemble each other. And the frequency of thefts seems to be rising." With a sigh, I added, "Would you believe that three individuals matching the intruders' description in my room stole your belongings?"

"W-what do you mean?" Megan swallowed, her voice tinged with anxiety.

"Are you the Madam Cornell they're referring to?" I asked, maintaining my composure.

"What? Philip, w-what is Sarah saying?" Megan looked visibly uneasy, sensing the weight of my emotionless interrogation.

Philip seemed perplexed by my line of questioning.

"Nothing," I replied simply. "Anyway, it's best if you accompany Megan to the hotel. I'll handle things here in the apartment. You can leave Josh with me."

"What?" Philip's persistence in arguing lingered, but I turned away and went down the hallway toward the bedrooms.

"Good night!" I said, closing the hard wooden door behind me before leaning against it for a while.

Josh had mentioned that three men who had trespassed into my motel room gave the name 'Madam Cornell' as the instigator.

However, it struck me as impossible for those three to have been involved in robbing Megan, considering they were currently in police custody. Megan's ability to accurately describe the intruders suggested she had seen them firsthand-meaning she must be Madam Cornell!

That infuriating woman!

The thought of one of the robbers having foul breath sent a shiver down my spine.

'Gross!'

I was uncertain about Megan and Philip's whereabouts-whether Philip had accompanied Megan to the hotel or not. I packed my things with the goal of getting to Highland Hills before Philip.

Amir's call interrupted my packing.

"Brother?"

"Hey! Jessica sent you the details for her bridal party. Are you alright? I was in New York for a few days and returned to Henderson to handle some wedding matters."

"I haven't received any updates yet. I contacted Jessica on Messenger, but she hasn't responded," I informed Amir.

"She mentioned to me that you seem disinterested; she felt like you have no plans to attend our engagement or the wedding," Amir expressed. Feeling Amir's tension, I opted not to fuel the fire with negative remarks. Adding to his stress wasn't my intention.

"I'm being honest about your relationship, brother. Perhaps it's best to rest for now," I suggested, silently hoping he would reconsider marrying Jessica. Nevertheless, I'm here in Henderson, fully committed to attending his wedding.

"Why didn't you stay at my villa?" Amir inquired.

"It's alright. I'll swing by Highland Hills first. Maybe we'll catch up at the engagement," I replied.

Amir fell silent. "I'm feeling overwhelmed. I'll ask Jess to send you the details to keep you in the loop."

I simply shrugged. "Looking forward to seeing you soon!"

In the morning, I emerged from apartment number 5, my steps carrying me toward the airport. I consciously chose to leave most of my belongings behind, only to bring my laptop and a handful of personal items.

"Good morning, Madam Sarah!" Josh's sudden greeting nearly caught me off guard.

"Why are you here?" I inquired, slightly taken aback.

"Boss Philip gave me strict instructions to accompany you. I'm your 24/7 guard now," he explained.

My expression soured at the news. If that was the case, I had no choice but to bring Josh along. Philip had sent him back to work, assigning him the task of watching over me.

"I'll take you with me. But you must promise not to disclose anything to Philip," I insisted, my tone firm.

"It depends on the nature of the secret," Josh replied, his expression unreadable.

"It concerns the medication. Last night, I had another panic attack. I intend to look into the matter. We agreed that Philip shouldn't be informed," I explained briefly, shooting a disapproving glance at the bodyguard.

"Understood," Josh acknowledged.

Throughout our journey to Highland Hills, I couldn't help but notice Josh's constant activity on his phone, undoubtedly reporting my situation to Philip.

"Don't worry. I have prepared suitable responses for the boss. I informed him that you're doing well," Josh reassured me, attempting to alleviate my concerns.

Philip's schedule was packed with a gala event and several interviews today, so I wondered if he had any clue about my activities. After leaving the airport, Jakob's message popped up:

Jakob: 8 PM, clinic A, General Hospital. Those are the details for Serena and Dr. Morgan's meet-up.

I still had ample time. Then another message arrived, this time from Jessica Woods:

Jessica: Bridal party update - bridesmaids are in white gowns, and I'll be in black.

After receiving the message, I double-checked the details with Amir. My trust in his girlfriend was shaky at best. It seemed my penchant for black attire had become fodder for her jests. Nevertheless, if wearing white was Jessica's preference, I would accommodate her wishes.

As the taxi navigates the road, memories of Highland Hills flood my mind. I instinctively close my eyes, determined not to revisit the three years I spent as Philip's wife.

'Pull yourself together, Sarah,' I murmured to myself.

With Josh following me, we proceeded to the laboratory to have the medicine provided by Dr. Morgan tested. Following this, I settled into the hospital's coffee shop to work while awaiting the appointed hour.

Little did I anticipate that Ethan Vanderbilt, a surgeon at the very hospital and a close confidant of Philip's, would catch sight of me. Oblivious to his presence, I was engrossed in furious typing on my laptop, completely unaware of his gaze.

Time was precious, and I couldn't afford any delay.

As the moment arrived to receive the test results, my fist tightened, and anger welled within me at the revelation...