Megan woke up at high noon.303Please respect copyright.PENANAgulRImmhJW
She sat up on the comfortable bed, stretching and yawning like a lazy cat. She303Please respect copyright.PENANAnWCeKE0tbF
felt energized after her beauty sleep, thus putting her in a good mood. Her303Please respect copyright.PENANAzBMjWVPzda
stomach grumbled resentfully as if complaining about the lack of substance it303Please respect copyright.PENANAvrhjS6am09
hasn’t been given for more than six hours. Megan tried to remember the last303Please respect copyright.PENANAekpCSzFaUv
time she had eaten; that must be the three muffins’ cupcakes she had to force303Please respect copyright.PENANA7gYEIfXMaT
herself to choke down on the plane, as her upset tummy wouldn’t give her303Please respect copyright.PENANAIClEedPHmp
appetite for anything more. No wonder she feels a headache and was mildly dizzy303Please respect copyright.PENANAzYqep01hiQ
when she stood – those were her recognized signs of hunger. Never one to forget303Please respect copyright.PENANAafgZuRHp2I
hygiene no matter how hungry she is, Megan moved to the door she presumed to be303Please respect copyright.PENANA4fbvv2tRcD
the bathroom to refreshen up. When done, she headed out.
Long hallways stretched out303Please respect copyright.PENANAz0Ie4o18dR
at either side of her, causing her to pause with a small frown. Debating303Please respect copyright.PENANA7KhXdAqBQw
mentally for some secs, she decided on the left hallway. As much as she tried303Please respect copyright.PENANAV6pPR1OIUP
not to notice, she still found herself admiring the unusual, yet sophisticated303Please respect copyright.PENANAMkKSdo6DwD
interior design of the house. Priceless paintings displaying Scottish history303Please respect copyright.PENANA3E7u31FDO6
with artifacts were mounted on the golden walls. Various-sized vintage vases303Please respect copyright.PENANA787jYxmd4S
noticeably worth more than she thinks, including the plain-looking ones, stood303Please respect copyright.PENANA4ATM9t8pfc
at every corner of the hallways. She’d have spent more time appreciating if her303Please respect copyright.PENANAaVrI1XkczP
belly didn’t protest again, this time louder.
She walked faster,303Please respect copyright.PENANAXtMXb6qixQ
coming out to a staircase. There was another flight of stairs in front of her303Please respect copyright.PENANA6rYeC2cGL1
but she ignored it, choosing to locate the kitchen. Thankfully, she didn’t303Please respect copyright.PENANACsL0PGhq31
spend much time at all. The spacious, spotless kitchen equipped with modern303Please respect copyright.PENANAEUrK0mgflG
utensils almost made her giddy and Megan couldn’t wait to start preparing tasty303Please respect copyright.PENANARTNIzw5CcA
food on the big counter. She opened the double-doored fridge and grinned303Please respect copyright.PENANANlozPuOlrB
broadly at how well-stuffed it is. As someone who enjoys cooking a lot, she303Please respect copyright.PENANAOpmTR4kjy1
always appreciates it a lot when the fridge is filled up with all sorts of303Please respect copyright.PENANA0bjckFzNe4
varieties of foods.
“Oh.”
Megan glanced behind her303Please respect copyright.PENANAfhXLeTbRbk
shoulders to see a young girl, she doesn’t look more than nineteen years,303Please respect copyright.PENANACqTAfsxXsC
standing – frozen more like it – at the entrance of the kitchen. Her pale green303Please respect copyright.PENANA0xCXcTkfYk
orbs were filled with anxiety, reluctance, and tiny curiosity as she held a303Please respect copyright.PENANAhhb2GW204n
tray holding an empty bowl and cup. Everything regarding her, from her posture303Please respect copyright.PENANA41C2hZ05ow
to her expression, screams she wants to be anywhere but here. Megan felt303Please respect copyright.PENANADWkVKLlnDX
strangely fascinated. Shutting the fridge, she faced the girl. She noted how303Please respect copyright.PENANAaUgAO9Ez9j
she tensed up immediately and Megan raised an inquisitive brow at her. The girl303Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2PJxhvwiU
crimsoned. She tried to stammer out something, but under Megan’s bold stare,303Please respect copyright.PENANAEghMagbPVe
she couldn’t form anything that made sense.
Having a strong impression,303Please respect copyright.PENANAH07eDsSlUi
she was terrifying the poor girl, Megan eased up her expression, putting on the303Please respect copyright.PENANAzZp4a0vD7x
winning, a failsafe smile she used whenever she wants to soothe her303Please respect copyright.PENANAxSkmD72XGE
not-so-polite, demanding customers of her culinary abilities. “I’m sorry if I303Please respect copyright.PENANAp5iF4C7Sh5
frightened you or anything. Believe me, it’s not my intention.”
The girl gave a brief smile,303Please respect copyright.PENANA1zdt0MY59e
her stance relaxing. “I-I’m the one who’d apologize to you,” she went to the303Please respect copyright.PENANA7u6ytt9qyl
sink to drop the tray. “I shouldn’t have behaved like that. It was incredibly303Please respect copyright.PENANAx6kneTzd1d
rude of me. I’m sorry, ma’am.”
She’s still303Please respect copyright.PENANAFBpPP5YM24
uncomfortable with me, Megan thought. “You weren’t rude. So, there’s no need to303Please respect copyright.PENANAEpLdVtnnIq
apologize….”
The girl stared at her303Please respect copyright.PENANAMaSqRhaoxV
blankly. Realizing she was asking for her name, she quickly replied, “Arabel303Please respect copyright.PENANATaa3tgVx5G
Shaw, ma’am.”
“Oh. A lovable beauty303Please respect copyright.PENANAKUWkrPvUXd
worth of her name.”
The girl went red, almost303Please respect copyright.PENANAPHHtsmHMHE
like the gingery curls on her head.
A low growl sounded out of303Please respect copyright.PENANAt5ILCS9kGs
Megan’s stomach, prompting Arabel to turn pale and become frantic. “Oh, my God!303Please respect copyright.PENANA0Z7P3bXZ5r
I’m so, so sorry. I can’t believe I’m such an idiot. How can I not know that303Please respect copyright.PENANAJFgQwAfpaA
you’d be hungry when you awake?” She pulled out a pot and pan. Going to the303Please respect copyright.PENANAWezaUP71VN
fridge, she was just about to pull out a crate of eggs but was stopped.
“You don’t need to do303Please respect copyright.PENANAbIUUcBr3a9
that. I can make something for myself.”
“But—"
“Even if you cook for303Please respect copyright.PENANATFhzPrVN2B
me, there’s a high probability I won’t like it. So, to save ingredients and303Please respect copyright.PENANAJRxBtgDLei
time, let me do it.”
“But—”
Arabel has led away303Please respect copyright.PENANAmoP6meQspb
from the refrigerator and lightly pushed one of the stools in the kitchen.303Please respect copyright.PENANAPRovoh6QVO
“Sit.” She complied. Like a three-year-old child who always wants to keep his303Please respect copyright.PENANAWMsb9srYqk
mother within his sight, she trailed her every move with large curious eyes.303Please respect copyright.PENANATsX5590HSl
Whenever she sees her not knowing where some things she needs are, she bolts up303Please respect copyright.PENANAZrbjo7ZcEM
like an antelope. Providing said items within a blink. The smile on Megan’s303Please respect copyright.PENANAaOCfB1RlEQ
lips keeps increasing.
“So, what are you303Please respect copyright.PENANAtoK7vzOWeC
doing to cook?” The young girl, unable to hold it in anymore, asked. She was303Please respect copyright.PENANAIP2jDrmNWy
standing alongside Megan, taking in the things she was preparing on the303Please respect copyright.PENANAqpxRDRftSf
counter.
“Brisket hash with303Please respect copyright.PENANANv3dPpahyd
eggs."
“Oh.”
Done making ready303Please respect copyright.PENANASNYlWs8LoQ
the ingredients, Megan placed a large skillet over medium heat and poured in303Please respect copyright.PENANAJjmJwivL20
two tablespoons of olive oil. When it was heated, she added diced onion and303Please respect copyright.PENANAFfZGp64q08
fried it until it was translucent. She put in minced garlic cloves with one medium303Please respect copyright.PENANA6BvEu1KiIp
red pepper, which she’d seeded and chopped. She mixed them, leaving it for a303Please respect copyright.PENANA1Oy8mMgVsz
moment. Adding the potatoes she’d cut into cubes to the vegetables, she had303Please respect copyright.PENANAM8zJHqhwT3
everything cooked for fifteen minutes. An eager-to-help Arabel, who had been303Please respect copyright.PENANAbH5h2QyWi3
salivating nonstop the instant the mouthwatering aroma spread out, was in303Please respect copyright.PENANAbX7MzAnLcu
charge of monitoring and flipping the mixture every few minutes with a flat303Please respect copyright.PENANAFYpjAEF4tO
spatula so the lot browned evenly while she whisked down the eggs.
When it was time, Megan303Please respect copyright.PENANAI8RMVCRrU3
tossed in the cubed brisket. She combined it well, afterward seasoning it with303Please respect copyright.PENANA1ploSkvGGt
salt and black pepper. She gave a quick turn after that leave it to cook for303Please respect copyright.PENANAlHClz4CkvE
some minutes. Until the beef became brown and the potatoes succulently tender,303Please respect copyright.PENANA5a9hqzSUrG
before removing it from the heat. In a separate pan, she made scrambled eggs303Please respect copyright.PENANApCopBwazNN
and then plated them, not forgetting to add barbeque sauce.
Arabel was genuinely stunned303Please respect copyright.PENANAkOy9SldPst
when Megan gave her a sizeable portion of the food. It took a whole minute to303Please respect copyright.PENANAhTrhI2R4VS
get her to stop thanking her. The second Arabel took a bite, her head never303Please respect copyright.PENANAUShMD7ntpm
came up again 'til she’d wiped her plate clean. Literally. Within a few blinks.303Please respect copyright.PENANAZLAtnL816S
That spoke of how delicious the food is.
Megan had paused from taking303Please respect copyright.PENANAP1JQWxEwcD
lifting her spoon. She googled, half shocked, half amazed. But secretly303Please respect copyright.PENANA1xNEO8lSQL
pleased. Arabel felt embarrassed, even wished the earth should open and swallow303Please respect copyright.PENANAA0ruN3TASb
her up, when a light belch sipped out from her lips, despite her hard best to303Please respect copyright.PENANACwd3RJvwA4
keep it in.
“Here.” Megan handed303Please respect copyright.PENANActomg87fwj
her the glass of orange juice meant for her, which after small hesitation, she303Please respect copyright.PENANAWzR7IUVU7m
gulped down. “I’ve never had anyone react that much to my cooking, and quite303Please respect copyright.PENANAdunTYSlkRx
frankly. Arabel, I love it.”
The girl pepped up, looking303Please respect copyright.PENANA2gfUayp2Jx
partly convinced. “Really?”
“Cooking is a great303Please respect copyright.PENANAYYJYeuP1qL
passion of mine and as a chef, there’s nothing more that delights my soul than303Please respect copyright.PENANA1sc8NJkf7r
seeing my food consumed with such great…. relish.”
Arabel ducked her head.303Please respect copyright.PENANAkZ4T7zUnV2
“Okay, whatever you say.”
“I—”
“Arabel!”
A voice called from somewhere303Please respect copyright.PENANAYOmjCWWnpF
outside the kitchen. The way Arabel jumped from her seat would’ve been comical303Please respect copyright.PENANAKNVhTapwry
if she didn’t nearly trip over her feet and fallen flat on the floor. “Arabel!303Please respect copyright.PENANALKaLImMhhK
Where are ye, silly lass?”
Said person had gone303Please respect copyright.PENANAS8bWKMNfSD
pale, as though she’d seen a ghost. In a flash, she was at the sink. Dropping303Please respect copyright.PENANA4RC7hciXUj
the plate, the one she’d eaten with, she packed the bowls and pans used for303Please respect copyright.PENANAItR7nOqyk3
cooking and began to demonstrate the quickest washing and rinsing known in303Please respect copyright.PENANAr99XoAZhlp
history. Megan watched like a captivated audience while eating. Drawn to the303Please respect copyright.PENANAgrFUZKcErs
clanging of the utensils, footsteps drew closer to where they are. Just as303Please respect copyright.PENANAYZsigl8U1o
Arabel finished, the woman Megan saw yesterday stepped into the kitchen. An303Please respect copyright.PENANArMzSexuP2I
exasperated frown covered her expression but there was no misreading the303Please respect copyright.PENANADvwfHz3P4A
fleeting surprise and repulsion Megan spied in her gaze. This time, she was303Please respect copyright.PENANA9BSthcxARQ
certain this sweetishly-looking woman has something against her.
Whatever.
“Ye silly lass! Why303Please respect copyright.PENANAWssNSm8IsN
didn’t ye answer me when I was yellin’ for you at the top of my lungs? I was303Please respect copyright.PENANAvBI8XRlEEW
expectin’ ye back ages ago!”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Rhona.303Please respect copyright.PENANAfAW2tOEUWC
I-I was busy preparing something for Mrs. Henderson when I saw there’s nothing303Please respect copyright.PENANAQwruLOULNW
left of breakfast for her.”
Both women flinched.
Rhona shot a nasty glare at303Please respect copyright.PENANAfcO1HUd8bW
the young girl, her displeasure apropos to the way Megan was addressed,303Please respect copyright.PENANA55ekpAQu2b
however, Arabel misunderstood it. “I didn’t know ye know you’re conversant with303Please respect copyright.PENANAa1Vp75hF8E
Amerikie’s food.”
“When I knew Mrs.303Please respect copyright.PENANAtEX3geuZJP
Henderson was an American, I did tons of research on the country so I can serve303Please respect copyright.PENANAyjb6u5BpNc
her needs better.”
Megan felt incredibly303Please respect copyright.PENANAvWWbObg7v5
uncomfortable being called that title again. She glanced at303Please respect copyright.PENANAyMW9QbPF2V
Arabel from the corners of her eyes; seeing her sweaty, bright face and303Please respect copyright.PENANAdrUlflueCA
quivering lips, she pitied her and decided not to expose her for her clear lie.
Rhonda observed Arabel303Please respect copyright.PENANAoGoW8hHC2Q
suspiciously. She’s not convinced of whatsoever nonsense she spewed out. A few303Please respect copyright.PENANAtWhorORAL1
seconds later, she waved her to leave the kitchen and the girl readily fled.303Please respect copyright.PENANAr55PARYTmg
Giving her head a shake, she turned back to Megan who had gone over to the303Please respect copyright.PENANAucB7TbWbJ8
sink. This time, she didn’t bother hiding her feelings.
“Ms. Michelle, I’d like303Please respect copyright.PENANA3n1UgeGtWR
it if ye don’t make Arabel cook for ye. She isn’t among the maids303Please respect copyright.PENANAvIjkyMBaG4
in charge of cooking, so don’t force the poor girl to do303Please respect copyright.PENANAtJzuCi1yFA
what she doesn’t want.”
Wow. Way to rip off the303Please respect copyright.PENANAhgoStAFEbi
bandage, Megan sardonically noted. Wiping her hands with a napkin, she met the303Please respect copyright.PENANAO9HBLf7rMb
angry older woman with the angering smile she uses on the people she doesn’t303Please respect copyright.PENANAQKS6gX0bic
like. “Hmm, but I wonder why any food wasn’t left for me?”
“I told the maids not303Please respect copyright.PENANA5k8vG2G865
to leave any because I don’t know whether you’d like what we cooked or not. Ye303Please respect copyright.PENANAB2F81OzhIt
were needlessly finicky of what you ate the last time you came here so I took303Please respect copyright.PENANAf8AdkOmZ9b
it upon myself to be the one to cook for ye,” Rhona paused, casting a303Please respect copyright.PENANAA4kRxPPPZg
depreciative look over at her figure. “Though if ye don’t mind me saying this,303Please respect copyright.PENANA6u0K8Gk97e
Ms. Michelle, I think starving a bit would do ye a solid good.” She jibed,303Please respect copyright.PENANAaqlUa5TqNY
smirking when that smile was erased.
Megan dropped being303Please respect copyright.PENANAcG9iIKqlBw
polite. “Remind me again, what is your job exactly here?”
“What? Don’t tell me303Please respect copyright.PENANA1UaKjBi8Qa
you’ve forgotten?”
“Oh, I haven’t. But I303Please respect copyright.PENANAV2KilTfRTJ
just want to know if you’ve gotten promoted to a new high rank that gives you303Please respect copyright.PENANAWkQYH5RIIe
the unrestricted authority to disrespect me, the lady of this house? Or have303Please respect copyright.PENANAuB1KHpskTp
you forgotten that I’m married to your boss and that also makes me your boss?”
“Ye---”
“Oh, how scatterbrained303Please respect copyright.PENANAnfG5SDyzuX
of me. You’re what? Sixty? Sixty-five? Your brain probably isn’t as sharp as it303Please respect copyright.PENANARpm3lqfMXZ
is if you were my age, so I’ll take it that those stupidly inappropriate303Please respect copyright.PENANAmErLeP4MR2
comments were caused by the parasite living in your head because I want to303Please respect copyright.PENANAO11FlmAi6H
believe you valve your job and you wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize it.303Please respect copyright.PENANARlYQ0EpLcM
Perhaps I’ll talk to my husband to let you retire. After all, you’re getting303Please respect copyright.PENANAHCQkJ4mxVP
old. It’s obvious you’re no longer fit for this job and it’d be very cruel of303Please respect copyright.PENANAouS74Twhci
us to continue to make me do what you don’t want to do. Don’t you think so?”
Rhona glared with reddened303Please respect copyright.PENANA3VtCeJX2Gm
eyes; her smirk long gone. She wanted nothing more than to close the distance303Please respect copyright.PENANATbOaHZ2dCb
between them and serve the insolent lass a well-earned slap. How dare she talk303Please respect copyright.PENANAHEdHEjOmeU
to her that way.
Standing there, her303Please respect copyright.PENANASK9SM5lWSP
chest heaving and looking as though she had been abandoned and betrayed by the303Please respect copyright.PENANAiYJ3UZAoWV
world, Megan felt zero ounces of pity for her. And why should she? Out of303Please respect copyright.PENANARyfT8jsg6t
nowhere, this judgmental woman – she had mistaken as someone good at first –303Please respect copyright.PENANA2SxG0TU37q
start spurting crap concerning her, disparaging her. Megan knew she’d be pissed303Please respect copyright.PENANAC1AZ9SEM2I
at herself later if she didn’t return the favor. She might look gentle, doesn’t303Please respect copyright.PENANA2psPSpVMwF
mean she’s not a pushover for anyone.
“Y-Ye j-jest! Ye think303Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5RxOjiU7x
after what you did, Elie would want to listen to anything ye say, much less303Please respect copyright.PENANAprMzYM3TDT
believe ye? Ah, you’re delusional.”
“You wanna bet? He’s a303Please respect copyright.PENANAlSCFlqWtdL
man, isn’t he? Please, a little seduction and he’ll become pudding in my hands303Please respect copyright.PENANAhQnwDzjkK7
in a flash.” Megan tilted her head a bit to the side; the slow smile that303Please respect copyright.PENANAlUYcKYdL0z
stretched on her face made her look very much like a vixen. “Would you like me303Please respect copyright.PENANAz7PI89lYUu
to show you how it’s done?”
Rhona rushed out.
Megan dropped the act,303Please respect copyright.PENANAQXgdVF4kqK
disgusted beyond expression. What a pretentious, elderly woman. Brushing the303Please respect copyright.PENANACQD0Wkk5VR
conversation aside, she strode back to her room, put on some workout outfits,303Please respect copyright.PENANAuUIHaOwLyl
and did yoga for an hour or so.
|!|!|!|!| |!|!|!|!|
“So, how is the303Please respect copyright.PENANAfDXSERwDYc
bakery doing?” Megan went straight to the point after exchanging pleasantries303Please respect copyright.PENANA1H1dwUlZnF
with the vibrantly dressed woman on a video call with her. Clad in her lazy-day303Please respect copyright.PENANAkkqgRJxgA2
outfit; an old, baggy shirt having faded baseball logo – she snatched it from Shane303Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1zzjUWpNS
months back when they began dating – and her favorite woolen cutoff – panties,303Please respect copyright.PENANAEeWzHWUutS
her aunt claimed they were – underneath. She was standing on the veranda303Please respect copyright.PENANAiHwrLIddKQ
outside her room; enjoying the pleasurable breeze which slip in and out of her303Please respect copyright.PENANATCxIxFo8xk
cloth and the beautiful, green scenery that lays around the manor.
“Oh, we’re doing303Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2j1pQayLy
alright. The guy your aunt brought, Kilian, is a gem. Granted, the cakes and303Please respect copyright.PENANAOxvxDAZ9qA
pastries he bakes aren’t precisely as great as yours, but the customers love303Please respect copyright.PENANAZihBpZ2hHn
them! Look, just the first day and we’re already sold out.” The camera shifted,303Please respect copyright.PENANA37EDpXwLRy
showing her the inside of her shop, which was crowded with people – just as303Please respect copyright.PENANAtGoIJVTKFS
when she was there – and the show glass was empty. Megan's brows lifted; she303Please respect copyright.PENANAP1JQ4xnRfN
was impressed. It’s good to know she chose the right person among the four303Please respect copyright.PENANAbDlIePLKzl
chefs she’d talked to.
Jemma’s excited chocolate303Please respect copyright.PENANAsXKDeOIR9J
face came back into view. “Do you know he’s quite a shy guy? When one of your303Please respect copyright.PENANAj7V3R9WbUP
regulars Mrs. Copson, wanted to meet the new chef and Grey called him out, he303Please respect copyright.PENANAAEEAPTzrbP
was such a cute nerve wrack. The way he stuttered in that lovely Greek accent,303Please respect copyright.PENANAbMbptIcpX7
fiddled with his back hair, and blushed nonstop? Ah, I think I’m in love. I303Please respect copyright.PENANAtepnL2OieD
don’t think I’m the only one; all your female clients are also in love with303Please respect copyright.PENANAfFrdfE8rpn
him. 90% of our buyers are females and I don’t think it’s entirely our goods303Please respect copyright.PENANAhaHksc757v
they’re eager for if you get my drift. Not that I blame them one bit; I mean303Please respect copyright.PENANA3ntBN8LrP9
have you ever seen a man who’s so sinfully gorgeous you just want to lick him303Please respect copyright.PENANAZrEgLpHUrr
up---”
“Godmother, please!” Megan had303Please respect copyright.PENANAykE2znkONu
to interrupt, or her ears would be filled with descriptions she’d rather not303Please respect copyright.PENANAIEdVLER6WO
have regarding her employee. She wondered if she made the right decision,303Please respect copyright.PENANAemLB6KCjQt
allowing her godmother to persuade her to be her temporary manager. “You’re303Please respect copyright.PENANAjzpf785EbJ
fifty-four years and happily married with three children. For goodness’ sake,303Please respect copyright.PENANAWRLjmpi1J6
act your age for once!”
“Killjoy. I was just303Please respect copyright.PENANAUUklUB2AAv
looking, okay? There’s no one yet that can make leave that delicious,303Please respect copyright.PENANAy6A9B7Av2W
one-of-its-kind specimen I have for a husband. Besides, my observation isn’t303Please respect copyright.PENANAHQAYdcWX0c
for me, it’s all for you, prude.” Jemma had that gleam in her eye, warning303Please respect copyright.PENANA2NDRsSkjCN
Megan she was going to launch into her usual advice/speech – cough, nagging,303Please respect copyright.PENANAIc623qhPkD
cough – before she’d rush her off the phone, she went off. Leaving her with no303Please respect copyright.PENANAVYkikS8ZSP
choice but listen.
“I’m not saying waiting303Please respect copyright.PENANAVmSZGu4TYT
for Shane is a bad thing but you have waited enough time on the man. You’ve303Please respect copyright.PENANAvBWD1QXQlG
been obsessed with him since you were what, nineteen?”
“Twenty. But I’m---”
“Twenty! For six years303Please respect copyright.PENANAl97VYPu50s
he never looked your way once. Why then are you still pining with that kind of303Please respect copyright.PENANADTuxHBt9Im
man, huh?”
Megan gritted her teeth,303Please respect copyright.PENANADRPYnTq8Y6
“He confessed to me five months ago – I told you and mom all of it – and we303Please respect copyright.PENANASKgP0EOPsz
both decided to take it slow. I don’t see what’s so wrong that everyone is303Please respect copyright.PENANAzFV5NJ0CAs
complaining.” She couldn’t help the sass at the last words.
Jemma narrowed her jade-green303Please respect copyright.PENANAL8D30O7Nf9
eyes, threateningly. “Don’t think that because you’re far away, you can run303Please respect copyright.PENANAtsZP4cmddj
your mouth on me on the phone anyhow, I won’t tolerate that.” Thank God she303Please respect copyright.PENANAjyC0biOuau
wasn’t close by or her godmother would’ve slapped her silly.
“Sorry.” She felt like303Please respect copyright.PENANAkUFkjW3iUw
a schoolgirl as she apologized. “But I love him, Jemma.”
“You’re almost303Please respect copyright.PENANA5RPtQh1fpx
thirty---” Jemma started.
“Twenty-six.”
“---and he hasn’t put a303Please respect copyright.PENANANfsMCPkxFq
ring on your finger yet---”
“Again, we just started303Please respect copyright.PENANAVJXp3zVGXh
dating,”
“---What is he waiting303Please respect copyright.PENANAC39KyCM49v
for? The apocalypse? He isn’t sincere with you. Well, it’s a good thing you got303Please respect copyright.PENANAKrh1h1j4pS
married to that Scottish guy, Aneislis, right? He’s the right one for you.”
Megan looked303Please respect copyright.PENANA5paY7MEZ5T
incredulous, “In case you’ve forgotten, he’s Michelle’s husband. I have no303Please respect copyright.PENANAaHqgYLYj2b
interest in him.”
“He’s yours for life,303Please respect copyright.PENANAxeIR88XPoS
whether you accept it or not. Even though Michelle is found, she won’t be with303Please respect copyright.PENANAFVLNp4EyCu
him. You should know this. Also, it’s best if---”
Megan was distracted.303Please respect copyright.PENANAR8kfFkKGU3
Her sight was drawn to the glittering, luxurious car – a Maserati – gliding303Please respect copyright.PENANAMdwcsKELVX
towards the manor. It stopped, the backseat door opened, and out came the man303Please respect copyright.PENANAxtpNF5xqVS
her godmother approved of. Her nose was wrinkled in distaste. She stared,303Please respect copyright.PENANA4dXpWUqxOB
sour-faced, as he helped someone down – an adorable, little girl. He shut the303Please respect copyright.PENANA6nPIiOs8s1
car door and walked hand-to-hand a few steps before the girl made a demand.
“Daddy, carry me.”
Her cheerful, childish voice303Please respect copyright.PENANAHlTdeQmKbf
rang out. Aneislis obeyed, continuing his journey inside the house.
Megan unintentionally303Please respect copyright.PENANAK6hvX95LGZ
pressed the end button to the video call as her mind pondered about the303Please respect copyright.PENANAbWAQKZHH5O
information she had learned.
So, he had a daughter. Wonder303Please respect copyright.PENANAjvg0H3cfqA
why that tiny detail wasn’t told to her, she rolled her orbs.