Megan woke up at high noon.275Please respect copyright.PENANAOKwCiZaWaE
She sat up on the comfortable bed, stretching and yawning like a lazy cat. She275Please respect copyright.PENANAvl5SMtK2Vf
felt energized after her beauty sleep, thus putting her in a good mood. Her275Please respect copyright.PENANAKhjWkBWGMk
stomach grumbled resentfully as if complaining about the lack of substance it275Please respect copyright.PENANAYi0pm5YEy8
hasn’t been given for more than six hours. Megan tried to remember the last275Please respect copyright.PENANAC6fZuhkhT4
time she had eaten; that must be the three muffins’ cupcakes she had to force275Please respect copyright.PENANAvyyqda0h5d
herself to choke down on the plane, as her upset tummy wouldn’t give her275Please respect copyright.PENANAWtN0ZGKN7T
appetite for anything more. No wonder she feels a headache and was mildly dizzy275Please respect copyright.PENANAqLDXTwwKl3
when she stood – those were her recognized signs of hunger. Never one to forget275Please respect copyright.PENANAd8A72MPO8u
hygiene no matter how hungry she is, Megan moved to the door she presumed to be275Please respect copyright.PENANAkaUjKzfnXh
the bathroom to refreshen up. When done, she headed out.
Long hallways stretched out275Please respect copyright.PENANA42mFXMozZg
at either side of her, causing her to pause with a small frown. Debating275Please respect copyright.PENANAjf8ovysgBR
mentally for some secs, she decided on the left hallway. As much as she tried275Please respect copyright.PENANA87eJa1ZqyY
not to notice, she still found herself admiring the unusual, yet sophisticated275Please respect copyright.PENANAzutU7HDhpx
interior design of the house. Priceless paintings displaying Scottish history275Please respect copyright.PENANAn1IqKlnWa6
with artifacts were mounted on the golden walls. Various-sized vintage vases275Please respect copyright.PENANAp6AgnzyGGf
noticeably worth more than she thinks, including the plain-looking ones, stood275Please respect copyright.PENANAISgVI5cXRR
at every corner of the hallways. She’d have spent more time appreciating if her275Please respect copyright.PENANA9JulqVAHQB
belly didn’t protest again, this time louder.
She walked faster,275Please respect copyright.PENANACk5G1GKc4d
coming out to a staircase. There was another flight of stairs in front of her275Please respect copyright.PENANASDAf9fHjjL
but she ignored it, choosing to locate the kitchen. Thankfully, she didn’t275Please respect copyright.PENANA4eFLgdl4qf
spend much time at all. The spacious, spotless kitchen equipped with modern275Please respect copyright.PENANA0VegaSX0gA
utensils almost made her giddy and Megan couldn’t wait to start preparing tasty275Please respect copyright.PENANAOBq1NZTu41
food on the big counter. She opened the double-doored fridge and grinned275Please respect copyright.PENANA0aNQUfKYAT
broadly at how well-stuffed it is. As someone who enjoys cooking a lot, she275Please respect copyright.PENANAlm4q89SXwk
always appreciates it a lot when the fridge is filled up with all sorts of275Please respect copyright.PENANAw2OMyv4kuU
varieties of foods.
“Oh.”
Megan glanced behind her275Please respect copyright.PENANAEj0DdKkGHY
shoulders to see a young girl, she doesn’t look more than nineteen years,275Please respect copyright.PENANATfAKCTuPL7
standing – frozen more like it – at the entrance of the kitchen. Her pale green275Please respect copyright.PENANATttyO1xoTw
orbs were filled with anxiety, reluctance, and tiny curiosity as she held a275Please respect copyright.PENANAUbo7Wa7WdB
tray holding an empty bowl and cup. Everything regarding her, from her posture275Please respect copyright.PENANA58I2Bv3dXm
to her expression, screams she wants to be anywhere but here. Megan felt275Please respect copyright.PENANAlDIy0x6u5E
strangely fascinated. Shutting the fridge, she faced the girl. She noted how275Please respect copyright.PENANAvtnKwUNMwM
she tensed up immediately and Megan raised an inquisitive brow at her. The girl275Please respect copyright.PENANAw56VbAMIK1
crimsoned. She tried to stammer out something, but under Megan’s bold stare,275Please respect copyright.PENANABhtSDUdYkm
she couldn’t form anything that made sense.
Having a strong impression,275Please respect copyright.PENANAB62KdbtEHI
she was terrifying the poor girl, Megan eased up her expression, putting on the275Please respect copyright.PENANACEl794cxDA
winning, a failsafe smile she used whenever she wants to soothe her275Please respect copyright.PENANAcYqv88Nc7P
not-so-polite, demanding customers of her culinary abilities. “I’m sorry if I275Please respect copyright.PENANAcnqUA4n4q3
frightened you or anything. Believe me, it’s not my intention.”
The girl gave a brief smile,275Please respect copyright.PENANADxgkEw3ohz
her stance relaxing. “I-I’m the one who’d apologize to you,” she went to the275Please respect copyright.PENANA4VkHoLWV3Q
sink to drop the tray. “I shouldn’t have behaved like that. It was incredibly275Please respect copyright.PENANAljTaCCyJmr
rude of me. I’m sorry, ma’am.”
She’s still275Please respect copyright.PENANA3VPwFSmEQR
uncomfortable with me, Megan thought. “You weren’t rude. So, there’s no need to275Please respect copyright.PENANAPxCUk2U5QX
apologize….”
The girl stared at her275Please respect copyright.PENANAlv00WDcPcw
blankly. Realizing she was asking for her name, she quickly replied, “Arabel275Please respect copyright.PENANAIR8hdKY57J
Shaw, ma’am.”
“Oh. A lovable beauty275Please respect copyright.PENANAdHwfVmMxYh
worth of her name.”
The girl went red, almost275Please respect copyright.PENANA2IFo12rsrV
like the gingery curls on her head.
A low growl sounded out of275Please respect copyright.PENANAoaTA9RpfNF
Megan’s stomach, prompting Arabel to turn pale and become frantic. “Oh, my God!275Please respect copyright.PENANAiNieVnvsmY
I’m so, so sorry. I can’t believe I’m such an idiot. How can I not know that275Please respect copyright.PENANAq0XTTXEXIN
you’d be hungry when you awake?” She pulled out a pot and pan. Going to the275Please respect copyright.PENANARLp3VWeM56
fridge, she was just about to pull out a crate of eggs but was stopped.
“You don’t need to do275Please respect copyright.PENANAVQFrQi0BJb
that. I can make something for myself.”
“But—"
“Even if you cook for275Please respect copyright.PENANAwcs72WeGFo
me, there’s a high probability I won’t like it. So, to save ingredients and275Please respect copyright.PENANAYh6zVIdNP5
time, let me do it.”
“But—”
Arabel has led away275Please respect copyright.PENANA2xAtYzRaDy
from the refrigerator and lightly pushed one of the stools in the kitchen.275Please respect copyright.PENANAqhtA7NDVyR
“Sit.” She complied. Like a three-year-old child who always wants to keep his275Please respect copyright.PENANAePVPzCHlea
mother within his sight, she trailed her every move with large curious eyes.275Please respect copyright.PENANAhCefpFFmsY
Whenever she sees her not knowing where some things she needs are, she bolts up275Please respect copyright.PENANA6ypuB8xE7k
like an antelope. Providing said items within a blink. The smile on Megan’s275Please respect copyright.PENANAVBbK0rza7x
lips keeps increasing.
“So, what are you275Please respect copyright.PENANA5sTf17HMXe
doing to cook?” The young girl, unable to hold it in anymore, asked. She was275Please respect copyright.PENANATbG9tPZnDE
standing alongside Megan, taking in the things she was preparing on the275Please respect copyright.PENANAwuGMTrVlDp
counter.
“Brisket hash with275Please respect copyright.PENANAgAkwTBAqf6
eggs."
“Oh.”
Done making ready275Please respect copyright.PENANAVJJcAqy6RR
the ingredients, Megan placed a large skillet over medium heat and poured in275Please respect copyright.PENANAhWKQ77A73L
two tablespoons of olive oil. When it was heated, she added diced onion and275Please respect copyright.PENANAB5d2AL5xCO
fried it until it was translucent. She put in minced garlic cloves with one medium275Please respect copyright.PENANAeOXWO9deLD
red pepper, which she’d seeded and chopped. She mixed them, leaving it for a275Please respect copyright.PENANAsM7ASOq23F
moment. Adding the potatoes she’d cut into cubes to the vegetables, she had275Please respect copyright.PENANAaHsorZl7WY
everything cooked for fifteen minutes. An eager-to-help Arabel, who had been275Please respect copyright.PENANAMI0WLhVCEo
salivating nonstop the instant the mouthwatering aroma spread out, was in275Please respect copyright.PENANAVnE0IbaZxB
charge of monitoring and flipping the mixture every few minutes with a flat275Please respect copyright.PENANA2KTakzChBs
spatula so the lot browned evenly while she whisked down the eggs.
When it was time, Megan275Please respect copyright.PENANAc3RhuUuHRG
tossed in the cubed brisket. She combined it well, afterward seasoning it with275Please respect copyright.PENANAjKA44kGkX4
salt and black pepper. She gave a quick turn after that leave it to cook for275Please respect copyright.PENANAxuqMEJbjtk
some minutes. Until the beef became brown and the potatoes succulently tender,275Please respect copyright.PENANAc1hEzWDLjc
before removing it from the heat. In a separate pan, she made scrambled eggs275Please respect copyright.PENANAabuJCgggwo
and then plated them, not forgetting to add barbeque sauce.
Arabel was genuinely stunned275Please respect copyright.PENANANTmIAv60If
when Megan gave her a sizeable portion of the food. It took a whole minute to275Please respect copyright.PENANAzfalVJBMwu
get her to stop thanking her. The second Arabel took a bite, her head never275Please respect copyright.PENANADpFaCdKxxQ
came up again 'til she’d wiped her plate clean. Literally. Within a few blinks.275Please respect copyright.PENANA6XAcwa8mJt
That spoke of how delicious the food is.
Megan had paused from taking275Please respect copyright.PENANAQrjr0LTMuh
lifting her spoon. She googled, half shocked, half amazed. But secretly275Please respect copyright.PENANARjaCOuxz5E
pleased. Arabel felt embarrassed, even wished the earth should open and swallow275Please respect copyright.PENANAlWHokYlZiv
her up, when a light belch sipped out from her lips, despite her hard best to275Please respect copyright.PENANAEgUsIkkua0
keep it in.
“Here.” Megan handed275Please respect copyright.PENANAvDy1pYuVnS
her the glass of orange juice meant for her, which after small hesitation, she275Please respect copyright.PENANAk9R0OW4SHS
gulped down. “I’ve never had anyone react that much to my cooking, and quite275Please respect copyright.PENANAboXROvz27i
frankly. Arabel, I love it.”
The girl pepped up, looking275Please respect copyright.PENANASXLf6q65V6
partly convinced. “Really?”
“Cooking is a great275Please respect copyright.PENANAwlvS6DQB4W
passion of mine and as a chef, there’s nothing more that delights my soul than275Please respect copyright.PENANADoDjWY4NDl
seeing my food consumed with such great…. relish.”
Arabel ducked her head.275Please respect copyright.PENANAedUYcBs0af
“Okay, whatever you say.”
“I—”
“Arabel!”
A voice called from somewhere275Please respect copyright.PENANAyxj6RfqSLM
outside the kitchen. The way Arabel jumped from her seat would’ve been comical275Please respect copyright.PENANAeum9rHbpB8
if she didn’t nearly trip over her feet and fallen flat on the floor. “Arabel!275Please respect copyright.PENANACRc2TudfOr
Where are ye, silly lass?”
Said person had gone275Please respect copyright.PENANAHVoJMJZflx
pale, as though she’d seen a ghost. In a flash, she was at the sink. Dropping275Please respect copyright.PENANAFln3x828sx
the plate, the one she’d eaten with, she packed the bowls and pans used for275Please respect copyright.PENANAyqTBDPnOCJ
cooking and began to demonstrate the quickest washing and rinsing known in275Please respect copyright.PENANAI557rsNBby
history. Megan watched like a captivated audience while eating. Drawn to the275Please respect copyright.PENANAzrs4Tkx77E
clanging of the utensils, footsteps drew closer to where they are. Just as275Please respect copyright.PENANAQdQ2zQ99TP
Arabel finished, the woman Megan saw yesterday stepped into the kitchen. An275Please respect copyright.PENANAib7lruIB3Y
exasperated frown covered her expression but there was no misreading the275Please respect copyright.PENANAQFADP8RMru
fleeting surprise and repulsion Megan spied in her gaze. This time, she was275Please respect copyright.PENANAOpxfOSCU8x
certain this sweetishly-looking woman has something against her.
Whatever.
“Ye silly lass! Why275Please respect copyright.PENANAp90WHlGwpS
didn’t ye answer me when I was yellin’ for you at the top of my lungs? I was275Please respect copyright.PENANA6MixfxrHRX
expectin’ ye back ages ago!”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Rhona.275Please respect copyright.PENANAnpCVdiT46y
I-I was busy preparing something for Mrs. Henderson when I saw there’s nothing275Please respect copyright.PENANAmWTjH61etm
left of breakfast for her.”
Both women flinched.
Rhona shot a nasty glare at275Please respect copyright.PENANAZrks08ndFD
the young girl, her displeasure apropos to the way Megan was addressed,275Please respect copyright.PENANAYDiFxUCFy1
however, Arabel misunderstood it. “I didn’t know ye know you’re conversant with275Please respect copyright.PENANA1o9hq7MWv4
Amerikie’s food.”
“When I knew Mrs.275Please respect copyright.PENANALKlSRyhqAU
Henderson was an American, I did tons of research on the country so I can serve275Please respect copyright.PENANAPi7cdNdmlN
her needs better.”
Megan felt incredibly275Please respect copyright.PENANA4KYQZFqBNI
uncomfortable being called that title again. She glanced at275Please respect copyright.PENANANaCx3Z93oN
Arabel from the corners of her eyes; seeing her sweaty, bright face and275Please respect copyright.PENANAVDHmt386ji
quivering lips, she pitied her and decided not to expose her for her clear lie.
Rhonda observed Arabel275Please respect copyright.PENANAGoZwfT8lfo
suspiciously. She’s not convinced of whatsoever nonsense she spewed out. A few275Please respect copyright.PENANAjUcJoWUNqY
seconds later, she waved her to leave the kitchen and the girl readily fled.275Please respect copyright.PENANAnKVHm3DkDK
Giving her head a shake, she turned back to Megan who had gone over to the275Please respect copyright.PENANAVjXwQtkpvO
sink. This time, she didn’t bother hiding her feelings.
“Ms. Michelle, I’d like275Please respect copyright.PENANA9hgxOFmHf8
it if ye don’t make Arabel cook for ye. She isn’t among the maids275Please respect copyright.PENANAHTih2scNcB
in charge of cooking, so don’t force the poor girl to do275Please respect copyright.PENANAspuLUK6POc
what she doesn’t want.”
Wow. Way to rip off the275Please respect copyright.PENANAdsaxnrj1li
bandage, Megan sardonically noted. Wiping her hands with a napkin, she met the275Please respect copyright.PENANApgJaMvFtR0
angry older woman with the angering smile she uses on the people she doesn’t275Please respect copyright.PENANA6u6QZS4ses
like. “Hmm, but I wonder why any food wasn’t left for me?”
“I told the maids not275Please respect copyright.PENANA2uFWFbe1pa
to leave any because I don’t know whether you’d like what we cooked or not. Ye275Please respect copyright.PENANAj9KbodCWzS
were needlessly finicky of what you ate the last time you came here so I took275Please respect copyright.PENANAUqywQDmgFv
it upon myself to be the one to cook for ye,” Rhona paused, casting a275Please respect copyright.PENANALhY91i6EH1
depreciative look over at her figure. “Though if ye don’t mind me saying this,275Please respect copyright.PENANApWv3dwOxub
Ms. Michelle, I think starving a bit would do ye a solid good.” She jibed,275Please respect copyright.PENANA4b3f9XHlhJ
smirking when that smile was erased.
Megan dropped being275Please respect copyright.PENANA7NoUyzwEFt
polite. “Remind me again, what is your job exactly here?”
“What? Don’t tell me275Please respect copyright.PENANAVqEcfB35Ws
you’ve forgotten?”
“Oh, I haven’t. But I275Please respect copyright.PENANAx8bFn0EwOW
just want to know if you’ve gotten promoted to a new high rank that gives you275Please respect copyright.PENANAcxguPjGEZm
the unrestricted authority to disrespect me, the lady of this house? Or have275Please respect copyright.PENANAEikd9RAQPj
you forgotten that I’m married to your boss and that also makes me your boss?”
“Ye---”
“Oh, how scatterbrained275Please respect copyright.PENANAmAUPh9PtGB
of me. You’re what? Sixty? Sixty-five? Your brain probably isn’t as sharp as it275Please respect copyright.PENANAAD3Y2kIHut
is if you were my age, so I’ll take it that those stupidly inappropriate275Please respect copyright.PENANADeWUt1hoip
comments were caused by the parasite living in your head because I want to275Please respect copyright.PENANA3VmaPs5wS3
believe you valve your job and you wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize it.275Please respect copyright.PENANA042w6eyKk8
Perhaps I’ll talk to my husband to let you retire. After all, you’re getting275Please respect copyright.PENANAOMe0pOaIdv
old. It’s obvious you’re no longer fit for this job and it’d be very cruel of275Please respect copyright.PENANAwqcWmw6HAL
us to continue to make me do what you don’t want to do. Don’t you think so?”
Rhona glared with reddened275Please respect copyright.PENANA81bXK709bd
eyes; her smirk long gone. She wanted nothing more than to close the distance275Please respect copyright.PENANATx455dcWtp
between them and serve the insolent lass a well-earned slap. How dare she talk275Please respect copyright.PENANAYKTUG9PN06
to her that way.
Standing there, her275Please respect copyright.PENANAtxAX9SeWjS
chest heaving and looking as though she had been abandoned and betrayed by the275Please respect copyright.PENANA6vpDTOlDfL
world, Megan felt zero ounces of pity for her. And why should she? Out of275Please respect copyright.PENANA82KSiKFscT
nowhere, this judgmental woman – she had mistaken as someone good at first –275Please respect copyright.PENANAHSoqz3ija9
start spurting crap concerning her, disparaging her. Megan knew she’d be pissed275Please respect copyright.PENANATMIolzUR5j
at herself later if she didn’t return the favor. She might look gentle, doesn’t275Please respect copyright.PENANACXJnx4WgD2
mean she’s not a pushover for anyone.
“Y-Ye j-jest! Ye think275Please respect copyright.PENANACGNOfgL4Kv
after what you did, Elie would want to listen to anything ye say, much less275Please respect copyright.PENANAN2YGy2173Y
believe ye? Ah, you’re delusional.”
“You wanna bet? He’s a275Please respect copyright.PENANAzNxdAGXRXP
man, isn’t he? Please, a little seduction and he’ll become pudding in my hands275Please respect copyright.PENANA3ueNqyZoIy
in a flash.” Megan tilted her head a bit to the side; the slow smile that275Please respect copyright.PENANAoOiGmbZU5c
stretched on her face made her look very much like a vixen. “Would you like me275Please respect copyright.PENANAGO93BPE6zD
to show you how it’s done?”
Rhona rushed out.
Megan dropped the act,275Please respect copyright.PENANAdlCJrJ2cMa
disgusted beyond expression. What a pretentious, elderly woman. Brushing the275Please respect copyright.PENANAd6RrZAfWgF
conversation aside, she strode back to her room, put on some workout outfits,275Please respect copyright.PENANAIpjehuVL6U
and did yoga for an hour or so.
|!|!|!|!| |!|!|!|!|
“So, how is the275Please respect copyright.PENANAuIfC5afQGC
bakery doing?” Megan went straight to the point after exchanging pleasantries275Please respect copyright.PENANAdI5EJoLZET
with the vibrantly dressed woman on a video call with her. Clad in her lazy-day275Please respect copyright.PENANAOhs4XaX9TF
outfit; an old, baggy shirt having faded baseball logo – she snatched it from Shane275Please respect copyright.PENANAokuKCLjcQY
months back when they began dating – and her favorite woolen cutoff – panties,275Please respect copyright.PENANAuIs3EpNbr1
her aunt claimed they were – underneath. She was standing on the veranda275Please respect copyright.PENANAY0XWxGSOHw
outside her room; enjoying the pleasurable breeze which slip in and out of her275Please respect copyright.PENANAmFz4L6I1RB
cloth and the beautiful, green scenery that lays around the manor.
“Oh, we’re doing275Please respect copyright.PENANAKI0EOQEW14
alright. The guy your aunt brought, Kilian, is a gem. Granted, the cakes and275Please respect copyright.PENANAZBFGUSbpVm
pastries he bakes aren’t precisely as great as yours, but the customers love275Please respect copyright.PENANAnzpdxX1OVS
them! Look, just the first day and we’re already sold out.” The camera shifted,275Please respect copyright.PENANAU2nL9vXl2S
showing her the inside of her shop, which was crowded with people – just as275Please respect copyright.PENANAIixWSTkG6X
when she was there – and the show glass was empty. Megan's brows lifted; she275Please respect copyright.PENANA5cgUx0j1dG
was impressed. It’s good to know she chose the right person among the four275Please respect copyright.PENANALJ8aolEXcN
chefs she’d talked to.
Jemma’s excited chocolate275Please respect copyright.PENANApS3AOa0YcQ
face came back into view. “Do you know he’s quite a shy guy? When one of your275Please respect copyright.PENANA5Pd9ajvVkr
regulars Mrs. Copson, wanted to meet the new chef and Grey called him out, he275Please respect copyright.PENANASoJHgqGE5i
was such a cute nerve wrack. The way he stuttered in that lovely Greek accent,275Please respect copyright.PENANAGSXMA8KVUW
fiddled with his back hair, and blushed nonstop? Ah, I think I’m in love. I275Please respect copyright.PENANAECKIkFre7j
don’t think I’m the only one; all your female clients are also in love with275Please respect copyright.PENANAaBBYZWuS2X
him. 90% of our buyers are females and I don’t think it’s entirely our goods275Please respect copyright.PENANAc6jdLW5c57
they’re eager for if you get my drift. Not that I blame them one bit; I mean275Please respect copyright.PENANAYNeZnzfhJS
have you ever seen a man who’s so sinfully gorgeous you just want to lick him275Please respect copyright.PENANADIURbBWz9z
up---”
“Godmother, please!” Megan had275Please respect copyright.PENANAPElovK0vX2
to interrupt, or her ears would be filled with descriptions she’d rather not275Please respect copyright.PENANAd3EpKFci4A
have regarding her employee. She wondered if she made the right decision,275Please respect copyright.PENANA118GBsMTEA
allowing her godmother to persuade her to be her temporary manager. “You’re275Please respect copyright.PENANAFLS8I1DVUk
fifty-four years and happily married with three children. For goodness’ sake,275Please respect copyright.PENANA4m6YxPcYSl
act your age for once!”
“Killjoy. I was just275Please respect copyright.PENANA9emAPmKm1a
looking, okay? There’s no one yet that can make leave that delicious,275Please respect copyright.PENANAMHQRE6IQP2
one-of-its-kind specimen I have for a husband. Besides, my observation isn’t275Please respect copyright.PENANAKP59bib943
for me, it’s all for you, prude.” Jemma had that gleam in her eye, warning275Please respect copyright.PENANAHJlAeMMRZF
Megan she was going to launch into her usual advice/speech – cough, nagging,275Please respect copyright.PENANAPn0lGwNCL7
cough – before she’d rush her off the phone, she went off. Leaving her with no275Please respect copyright.PENANAX9shAGlCYY
choice but listen.
“I’m not saying waiting275Please respect copyright.PENANAlcoxcEkvsu
for Shane is a bad thing but you have waited enough time on the man. You’ve275Please respect copyright.PENANA1ehjttDb2c
been obsessed with him since you were what, nineteen?”
“Twenty. But I’m---”
“Twenty! For six years275Please respect copyright.PENANACeOYDI8oYV
he never looked your way once. Why then are you still pining with that kind of275Please respect copyright.PENANAzZr319PP3N
man, huh?”
Megan gritted her teeth,275Please respect copyright.PENANAxmr4G0caDQ
“He confessed to me five months ago – I told you and mom all of it – and we275Please respect copyright.PENANA7H3Kmg6CIU
both decided to take it slow. I don’t see what’s so wrong that everyone is275Please respect copyright.PENANALMyrqf1xKC
complaining.” She couldn’t help the sass at the last words.
Jemma narrowed her jade-green275Please respect copyright.PENANAe7eH4Y0YHM
eyes, threateningly. “Don’t think that because you’re far away, you can run275Please respect copyright.PENANA9BtR7Wj9gk
your mouth on me on the phone anyhow, I won’t tolerate that.” Thank God she275Please respect copyright.PENANAs4SYNENv7I
wasn’t close by or her godmother would’ve slapped her silly.
“Sorry.” She felt like275Please respect copyright.PENANAZ43Ib2p9FO
a schoolgirl as she apologized. “But I love him, Jemma.”
“You’re almost275Please respect copyright.PENANAh2z0IxpmDK
thirty---” Jemma started.
“Twenty-six.”
“---and he hasn’t put a275Please respect copyright.PENANA09fLCxsWB3
ring on your finger yet---”
“Again, we just started275Please respect copyright.PENANAzNDT1TzZIf
dating,”
“---What is he waiting275Please respect copyright.PENANASDntl4o2uu
for? The apocalypse? He isn’t sincere with you. Well, it’s a good thing you got275Please respect copyright.PENANA8lVhsAuUnN
married to that Scottish guy, Aneislis, right? He’s the right one for you.”
Megan looked275Please respect copyright.PENANAEL6HfpXLb3
incredulous, “In case you’ve forgotten, he’s Michelle’s husband. I have no275Please respect copyright.PENANAdwnmEx9ihR
interest in him.”
“He’s yours for life,275Please respect copyright.PENANA8MVvTI5mTR
whether you accept it or not. Even though Michelle is found, she won’t be with275Please respect copyright.PENANAKJWYkFfVzg
him. You should know this. Also, it’s best if---”
Megan was distracted.275Please respect copyright.PENANAY6M7q7nyrw
Her sight was drawn to the glittering, luxurious car – a Maserati – gliding275Please respect copyright.PENANAHr2avViyDO
towards the manor. It stopped, the backseat door opened, and out came the man275Please respect copyright.PENANA1VMMv0sSz1
her godmother approved of. Her nose was wrinkled in distaste. She stared,275Please respect copyright.PENANAFvvCqpZ4qW
sour-faced, as he helped someone down – an adorable, little girl. He shut the275Please respect copyright.PENANAsuenkXDoVh
car door and walked hand-to-hand a few steps before the girl made a demand.
“Daddy, carry me.”
Her cheerful, childish voice275Please respect copyright.PENANAY7rPFZKIa9
rang out. Aneislis obeyed, continuing his journey inside the house.
Megan unintentionally275Please respect copyright.PENANAVzcasJAz87
pressed the end button to the video call as her mind pondered about the275Please respect copyright.PENANA3HoWwwjSID
information she had learned.
So, he had a daughter. Wonder275Please respect copyright.PENANAryDvMsrYKB
why that tiny detail wasn’t told to her, she rolled her orbs.