Page 41 of The Rancher's Vengeful Heart

Samantha knew what a woman in love looked like, and the truth was, Tassy hadneverlooked like this in all the years she had been dating her college-sweetheart-turned-colleague.

Tassy straightened in her seat the moment she heard her department VP clear her throat.

"I'm afraid I've heard troubling news, Tassy..."

Tassy could only think of one thing as soon as she heard the older woman's words.Fontana.She had actually forgotten all about Xylan's new girlfriend, but she was also starting to realize that the things that used to hurt and confuse her...simply didn't matter any longer.

"Is it true—-"

Tassy took a deep breath.

"That you married a tall, dark, and handsome billionaire without inviting me?" Samantha couldn't help laughing as the younger woman's jaw dropped in shock.

"H-How d-did—-"

"Oh, my dear." Samantha looked at Tassy fondly. "You don't know about the NDAs, do you?"

Tassy could only listen in shock and confusion as the older woman told her about all the confidentiality agreements that her billionaire had everyone sign.

"Your husband's main concession to Damian Fox was that your wedding will be part of Foxtown's Valentine campaign. In exchange, he's bought you a week of privacy. Your husband's very protective of you. I'm assuming he wants you to have the chance to gradually adjust to living a life where you're in the spotlight the entire time."

"I had no clue," Tassy whispered.

"As incredible as it is to think...this is a love match between you, isn't it?"

Tassy nodded shyly, and Samantha couldn't remember seeing anything so adorably innocent. Most other women would havea far more mercenary reaction, or even a gloating one at that, when asked if they had married a gorgeous billionaire like Lucius Young.

"You can't imagine how happy this makes me, Tassy. What happened last week was just..."

"It's water under the bridge now," Tassy said with a smile.

"And of course you meant that, too," Samantha said with a sigh.

"Stella also told me about Xylan and Fontana. I'm happy for them as well. I'm just glad it all worked out nicely."

The other woman only nodded, and Tassy wondered why it seemed like there was something else Samantha wanted to say but couldn't.

Tassy was hoping things would be back to normal for the rest of the day, but the opposite proved true. Everyone was still looking at her in pity, but Tassy was stunned to realize it didn't bother her at all.

Love was a worker of miracles indeed, and she suddenly found herself missing her husband quite badly. Hedidtell her she could be clingy, but what if he didn't really mean it? Tassy gnawed on her lip as she stared at her husband's number on her phone, which Lucius himself had insisted she saved in her contacts under 'Mine'.

To call or not to call?

That is—-eep!

Tassy accidentally dropped her phone when it suddenly buzzed in her hold, and the loud thud had everyone turning her way.

Oops.

She was about to apologize to everyone when the message on her phone caught her eye.

Oh no.

Blaise was from their local police department, and he had attended the same high school as Tassy and Stella. Blaise would only contact her for one reason, and his message confirmed her worst fears.

Can you get Stella to see a doctor?

Her face paled, and Tassy grabbed her things in a hurry, her mind so focused on what she should text Stella that she didn't even notice her ex-boyfriend arriving at the office, having just returned from his client meeting with the owner of one of San Antonio's hottest new restaurants.

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