Jackson spoke with easy confidence. "I just overheard your conversation with Mr. Zhang. The Southgate project in Seaview City — you gave that to me."
I gave a faint nod.
"I did."
"Why would you help me?"
A flicker of confusion crossed his eyes.
"There were plenty of people competing for that project, and I wasn't exactly the frontrunner."
I smiled lightly, resting my chin on my hand.
"Because you remind me of someone I used to know, Mr. Gilbert."
Jackson froze. A flash of shock passed through his eyes.
He had to admit — ever since Millicent had let slip that remark about Sophia Simmons bearing some resemblance to Lucille Harding, his mind hadn't been able to settle.
Lucille...
Could it really be you?
If it's not you, why would you help me out of nowhere?
And then, watching me prop my chin on my hand and gaze at him like that —
A storm tore through him.
The face was wrong. It wasn't Lucille Harding's face.
But those little gestures, that look in my eyes — for one disorienting moment, he could have sworn she was standing right in front of him again.
I smiled and spoke first, steering the conversation somewhere entirely different.
"You and Mrs. Gilbert don't have children yet?"
"No."