Page 96 of The Cottage on Plum Island
“So your father did kill Angela?” Jennifer’s head shot toward Wallis, who nodded. She looked at Angela. “Do both of your parents know who Duncan is?”
“Yes.” Angela nodded. “When my mother discovered the truth about Duncan, she demanded that my father look after him.”
“I was given a position at the Wesley’s company while I worked through college,” Annie told her. “Between Margaret and Harrold Wesley, they saw that my family was cared for. Randal was rather off to me after the trial but I needed the work so it was water off a duck’s back.”
“I thought Andrew took care of that,” Jennifer said.
“Andrew ensured that my family was never harmed,” Annie told Jennifer, “and my mother was given a hefty settlement to ensure we could take care of Duncan.”
“Andrew has information that could destroy the Wesleys, Hanovers, and a whole lot of other powerful people in and around Boston,” Sam explained to Jennifer.
“What a hero!” Jennifer stated sarcastically. A pain shot through her chest, and she flinched.
“Are you okay?” Sam’s eyes widened with concern.
“Just pangs,” Jennifer told him. “I’ve had too much excitement over the past few days.”
“Is it your heart?” Angela’s eyes widened worriedly. “Davina told me about your heart.”
“That was gossipy of her,” Jennifer stated. “No. It’s just a stitch or something. I always get them when I get upset, over excited, or in any tense situation.”
“I didn’t think it would be your heart,” Sam said. “Davina made sure she fixed it permanently for you.”
Sam’s words made Jennifer freeze as she looked at Sam. “What did you say?”
Sam’s expression showed he hadn’t meant to give that information away. “You didn’t speak to Davina while you were in Boston? Or Andrew?”
“I spoke to them both,” Jennifer’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as she spoke to Sam. “But I kept it as polite as I could, not because of them but because I promised Molly I wouldn’t upset her father or grandmother any more than they were with her in the hospital.”
“Ah!” Sam nodded. “So, you never asked Andrew or Davina why Andrew left forty years ago?”
“No!” Jennifer shook her head. “I wasn’t going to ask because I hoped to salvage a bit of my trip to Boston.”
“Of course!” Sam said. “I know it’s not ideal, but happy birthday,Jennifer.”
“Oh!” Annie’s eyes widened, and she turned to Jennifer. “Happy birthday.”
Wallis wished her well and apologized again for kidnapping her on her birthday. Jennifer looked at him and saw who he was for the first time since meeting him—a boy looking for love and acceptance.
Someone to believe in him. Her eyes traveled to Angela, and instead of seeing animosity between them, she noticed a bond of friendship. Angela was the one person who accepted Wallis and believed in him, or she wouldn’t have put him temporarily in charge of Wesley Industries. A thought struck Jennifer.
“Who’s the current CEO of Wesley Industries?” Jennifer saw their startled looks at her sudden conversation change from her birthday.
“I am,” Wallis told her.
“You’re CEO of both Hanover and Wesley industries?” Jennifer asked him to clarify.
“Yes.” Wallis nodded.
“And Harley is okay with that?” Jennifer remembered that Harley didn’t have a very high opinion of Wallis.
“He’s never tried to get me to step down,” Wallis told her.
“I wouldn’t let him,” Angela said.
“Didn’t you try to kill Wallis and Clair when they came to tell you they were engaged?” Jennifer remembered Angela telling her a bit of the story.
“Angela didn’t attack Clair over our engagement,” Wallis told Jennifer.
