Husband With Benefits
Chapter 681: Gloating

Chapter 681: Gloating

"Did you like the lasagna?" Ian asked over the video call, taking a bite from his own plate as Erasmi sprawled on the couch, basking in the afterglow of food and sex.

"It was incredible. Thanks for sharing the recipe," Erasmi replied, his voice a little drowsy.

Ian chuckled through the screen. "Oh, Ava’s sworn to secrecy on that one. If you think you can get it out of her, good luck."

Erasmi smirked, rolling his eyes as he shifted on the couch. "Why bother? I can just make you cook for me."

"You do realize you live hours away, right? And I’m definitely not starting a food delivery service," Ian shot back with a grin, shaking his head at the idea.

Erasmi shrugged," We’ll be moving back once Cai’s semester is finished."

Ian coughed and spluttered as he heard the news before staring at the screen," Erasmi Frost! I can’t believe you are sharing the news like this! This is amazing! Is Ava really okay with moving here in that old house?"

Erasmi sighed," It was her idea to move back. She said so this morning."

"Ha! This has to be my lasagne’s magic! But why are you guys waiting till the end of semseter. Cai is smart, he can manage here also."

"Ava wants to wait." Erasmi sighed, before moving to sit up and spoke," There is still some unfinished business."

There was a moment of silence before Ian asked," So, I believe my suggestion to make her jealous worked..."

Erasmi sighed, thinking back to this morning- the early morning and then the late morning and nodded," It did work too well. But I am still nowhere close to the truth. Anyway, did Lucy find out anything about that woman- Hannah Spencer?"

"Hmm. You’re sure there is a connection between Ava and Hannah?"

"I am ninety nine percent sure." Erasmi sighed.

"But how?"

Erasmi sighed," Its because of Ava’s habit of doodling."

Ian frowned, "Huh?"

Erasmi nodded, his gaze distant as he recalled the past. "Ava has this habit. She starts doodling with her fingers whenever she’s worried or deep in thought. It’s something I picked up on last year during all those hospital visits. Whenever we were waiting for test results or news, she’d do it—tracing invisible shapes on her thigh or the armrest. Over time, I realized that whatever she was drawing, it usually reflected what was on her mind, what she was anxious about. So, I made it a point to sit close to her, keep an eye on her hands, trying to understand what she was really feeling."

Ian was sure his mouth had fallen open. He could not imagine this kind of observation. Not even Demetir, the most observant of all.

A she was admiting his brother’d deviousness, Erasmi continued,"Anyway, I forgot all about it during these past months because things had been going well. And when you suggested that I make Ava jealous, I was thinking whom to use."

"So, you used Hannah Spencer, Cai’s new class teacher, right? That is what you said in your message anyway. But how does that connect her to Ava.

"Three reasons. First because Ava was tracing the name Hannah the night before last while eating.I wasn’t sure at first but yesterday confirmed it... She had not yet met Cai’s class teacher until then so why would she doodle her name. Secondly, that woman has been trying to get close to me. The first two times I was sure it was a coincidence but after yesterday. That woman literally threw herself onto my lap. I was tempted..."

Ian widened his eyes." You were tempted by her?"

"Not by her!" Erasmi gave a disdainful glance. "I was tempted to ask her directly what she was trying to do! Anyway, since she was already presenting herself on a platter, I used her to make Ava’s jealous... Lets just say, the moment she saw that Hannah woman, Ava is a changed woman..."

Ian grinned at the smugness in Erasmi’s voice at that point." Uh huh. I can see the change all over your neck."

Erasmi rolled his eyes," Don’t be a bloc* head! Pretend to be blind, okay. Its not like I’ve never seen them on you."

"Okau okay. I’ll keep my mouth shut." Ian’s grin faded as he leaned closer to the screen, his tone becoming more serious. "You were right to be suspicious about Hannah Spencer. She’s a con artist. Moves from city to city, targeting men who are either lonely, stuck in loveless marriages, or single fathers. She seduces them, makes them believe she’s their salvation, and then drains them dry—financially and emotionally. Once they’re tapped out, she vanishes, off to the next mark."

Erasmi’s expression darkened as he absorbed the information. "I knew something was off about her, but I didn’t expect this. She seemed too smooth... "

Ian sighed and nodded," I would have sent her information to the police already but I was waiting for your go ahead. What I don’t understand is, how could Ava had contact with a con artist."

Erasmi sighed and nodded," I don’t know how, but I am very sure about this. Somehow, somewhere these women have had a contact and Ava is worried enough... to have taken some drastic steps... Just ask Lucy to dig deeper, Ian. Until we find the connection."

Ian nodded before pushing away his empty plate," We’ll dig deeper, but I think it would be faster if you had Ava talk about it to you directly. Earlier you were playing in the blind. But now, you’ve connected some dots so that should not be a problem..."

Erasmi nodded and as they disconnected the call, his mind was not on the problem about how to approach Ava again but something else that she had doodled... On his arm last night.. What did she mean by that? Was she laying a claim on him... like he’d been thinking or was it something else?

As he closed his eyes, hugging the pillow to his chest, Erasmi vowed," This time, he’d been completely seduced by his wife.. But it would be her turn next..."

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