Chapter 3
After the welcome party, Zelda checked into a hotel.
That night, Easton got a call and couldn't wait to bring Zelda home.
Easton was a big shot in the business world, and everyone respected him. But at home, he couldn't bring himself to be harsh on Tracie.
When the Sloan family's business went under, Tracie used her own money to help Easton get back on his feet. He was grateful and had treated her well over the years.
While other CEOs had affairs, Easton stayed faithful.
"So I agreed. I'd clear out the attic and let her stay in her old room. But Easton disagreed, saying the attic was way too small and insisting that I give up the master bedroom for Zelda," Tracie said.
I narrowed my eyes, figuring that it was all Zelda's idea.
To my surprise, Tracie began to cry. "I was supposed to be out playing cards with my friends tonight, but my stomach started acting up, so I headed home early. The house was strangely quiet, so I rushed upstairs. The door to the master bedroom was wide open, and there was Zelda, sprawled out on the bed with..."
Tracie just stopped, unable to go on.
Without another word from her, I could tell that the person next to Zelda had to be Easton by looking at Tracie's expression.
"Tracie, don't cry. You can stay here tonight," I said softly.
After making sure Tracie was settled, I went back to my room. Avery was already sleeping soundly with his face turned to the side. Watching his calm profile, I started plotting in my head.
*****
Amy didn't know a thing about what Zelda had been doing overseas, so I had no choice but to search online.
As expected, after digging through a few media reports, I managed to spot some hints.
Back in the day, when Lloyd caught wind of Zelda and Easton's little romance, he couldn't accept it because he was old-school to the core. The moment he realized what was going on, he packed Zelda off abroad before the two of them could really mess things up.
Easton wouldn't give up, though. He chased her overseas. But when he finally found her, Zelda was living it up at college.
Meanwhile, Easton, the pampered young master, felt like a total fish out of water. Everyone made fun of him for being so stuck in his ways.
It didn't take long before Zelda had a bunch of rich heirs from overseas chasing after her.
Her standards were high, and she didn't even finish her graduate degree before she locked down a marriage to a big-shot hotel heir.
Easton came back home feeling defeated, only to discover the Sloan family's business was hanging by a thread. After that, everything happened just like Amy had said.
Soon enough, Zelda's foreign husband dropped the act. He turned out to be abusive at home and a regular headline in the tabloids.
Eventually, Zelda hit her breaking point and signed divorce papers with him.
From then on, her life became a cycle of weddings and divorces until she came back and ended up in Easton's bed.
But Easton wasn't a fool.
No way would he get involved with Zelda, his step-sister, who had three divorces.
*****
The next morning, I made breakfast for Tracie. Avery came downstairs, and seeing his mom still there, he immediately exploded.
"Mom, are you trying to get me to leave Selena? Let me tell you. She's the only woman for me," he snapped.
Tracie glanced at her hopeless son, heaved a sigh, and muttered, "Like father, like son."
My ears perked up, and I quickly hustled Avery away, flashing Tracie a grin. "Mom, don't take it to heart. He's just got a few screws loose sometimes."
Tracie hummed, nodded, and started having breakfast.