Page 49 of The Hollywood Billionaire's Fangirl Wife

“That’s great to hear.”

“You’ll likely find this hard to believe, but Krista is now part of their study group.”

Guy, who had already resumed mopping after switching the call to Bluetooth, nearly tripped over his own mop at the words.

“I don’t...” Guy found himself actually grappling for words.

“Exactly my reaction, too,” Valerian admitted rather wryly. “But they all seem to be getting along, and if it’s any consolation, Krista has since realized that she never found you attractive, and that all she wanted was for you to be her ticket to an easy life.”

“I’m...going to take that as a win.”

“I’d do so, too, in your shoes.”

Guy’s jaw clenched as he worked the mop around a particularly stubborn stain that looked suspiciously like chocolate pudding mixed with despair. He could feel his friend biding his time, which was unusual for someone as decisive as Valerian. “There’s a but, isn’t it?”

Valerian ended up wincing for the second time even though he knew Guy couldn’t see this.

“Poppy says Jilly’s forgiven you, and she also understands how circumstances, and her not telling you about Jack, have caused you to misjudge her.”

“There’s another but coming, isn’t there?”

“I really hate to say this—”

“But you’re sorry again.”

“Jilly admitted this herself. She doesn’t know what she’s waiting for. She just knows there’s something missing still...”

“THIS IS AN INCREDIBLEplace, Jilly.”

It was Jack’s first time to visit her in Evergreen, and such words were high praise, coming from someone as meticulous as Jack.

Jilly watched with fond amusement as Apple the cockatiel immediately flew to Jack’s shoulder and started preening his hair while Mounty brought him his favorite tennis ball, tail wagging with pure joy. Middle the gecko had somehow made his way onto Jack’s hand to show off his latest shed, and even Mack had graciously allowed Jack to scratch behind his ears before settling into his favorite supervisory position on the patio railing.

They had dinner at one of the small tables in the patio facing the garden, where warm lantern light cast dancing shadows across the stone tiles.

Jilly saw Jack’s gaze narrow as they were served the first course. "What?"

“It's your favorite potato leek soup,” Jack observed, adjusting his wire-rimmed glasses as he studied the bowl.

Guilt stung her conscience at Jack’s words. She hadn't even noticed that, and she realized too late how heartache hadn't just made her lose her appetite. It had also blinded her to all the things the people around her did just to make her feel better.

I'm so sorry, God. I promise I'll ask for their forgiveness and find a way to make it up to them, a.s.a.p.

“Did you tell them you love this soup?” Jack questioned.

“I didn’t.” She would have to ask Josiah about how they knew all about her favorites. Like, seriously. How in the world had she managed to overlook something so obvious for seven whole weeks?

The rest of the evening went by pleasantly, but Jack had one last bombshell to drop when the staff had finished clearing the table.

“You hit the jackpot with Guy."

Jilly choked on her coffee at Jack's unexpected comment. "Where did that come from, and since when are you on first name basis with him?"

"It's not like you to answer such silly questions." Jack frowned at her disapprovingly. “He’s your husband. That makes him my brother.”

Oh, Jack.

“I understand why you’d think that—”

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