Unmasking Mrs. Newton's Secret Identities novel Chapter 1859

Tiana had always been strong-willed, but the emotional pain she had endured over the years had made her even more bitter and distant.

Raised under her mother's care, Germaine must have borne the brunt of her harshness.

Seth knew all too well that much of Germaine's pain and bitterness stemmed from him—her father.

"Don't say that. Mom has always taken great care of me. We look out for each other, and it hasn't been that hard," Germaine reassured him, genuinely not harboring any resentment toward Tiana.

Having a similar temperament, Germaine understood Tiana better than anyone else.

"That's good…" Seth said, feeling a weight lift off his chest. But suddenly, a thought occurred to him. "Wait, why hasn't Jenson come?"

"His company is opening a branch here, so he's been swamped with work. He just couldn't make it," Germaine answered quickly, defending Jenson.

In reality, Jenson wasn't entirely unreachable—while he responded to messages, he hadn't shown up in person.

The last time they were at Helen's house, Germaine had felt something was wrong, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Rather than act impulsively, she decided to wait and observe quietly.

"It's good that he's busy. A man should take advantage of his youth and work hard," Seth said, nodding thoughtfully. "You need to be more understanding and trust him. Don't let things end up like they did between your mother and me, with nothing but regret."

"I will," Germaine replied, though her curiosity got the best of her. "But I've always wondered—how did things end between you and Mom?"

"It's a long story. I'll explain it to you another time."

"Okay, I'll go check on Mom."

"Go ahead."

With no more gossip to overhear, Germaine didn't feel the need to stay. As she stepped outside, she saw that Tiana had already taken a cab and left. It was clear she wanted some time alone.

Not wanting to intrude, Germaine decided to head straight to the new company instead.

Together, they worked seamlessly, impressing the partners and securing the investment they were after.

After the dinner, Bryan drove Germaine home. Not wanting to engage in conversation, Germaine kept her eyes on her phone, using it as a barrier against his attempts to talk.

To her surprise, Bryan abruptly turned the car, driving them onto an overpass. Before she could react, he had already opened the door and stepped out. Reluctantly, she followed him.

He walked over to the railing, staring out at the sea, while Germaine stood a few paces behind, intentionally keeping her distance.

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked.

Bryan glanced at her briefly before pointing toward the vibrant commercial district by the sea. "See that? That's the project I secured after we broke up."

Germaine followed his gaze, her eyes settling on the impressive skyline, its lights shimmering like a testament to Bryan's success and ambition.

"It's certainly impressive," she said, assuming he was showing off. She gave a composed nod, recognizing his accomplishment. "You made the right choice. It's getting late. Can we go now?"