Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 271

“Dad, please! Just let us attend the event! I want to go there.” Erica pouted her lips, demanding her father to go along with her.

“Just do us a favor and let us explore around, Francis. The place is going to be crowded with guests by then, so no one is going to notice us. I promise we won’t give you any trouble.” Naomi sincerely beseeched Francis.

Realizing he had been neglecting Naomi and her daughter all this while, Francis eventually softened up when he thought to himself about how rare the occasion was. “Fine. Remember to wear something decent.”

Later that afternoon, Erica and her mother happily went shopping at the apparel shop, during which she texted Hayley to flaunt her good news. ‘Erica, guess where I’m going this Saturday?’

‘Where are you going?’

‘I’m going to accompany my dad to Old Madam Presgrave’s birthday feast.’

‘Are you free tonight, Erica? Let’s meet up!’ Hayley responded by asking.

‘Alright!’ Erica agreed to meet up with Hayley, thinking they were just going to catch up with each other like old friends did.

In the meantime, Hayley, who was reading Erica’s message, was surprised to find out how lucky Erica was to attend Harriet’s birthday celebration. For that, she knew Erica and Elliot would surely run into each other by then and was determined to explain everything to Erica so that her friend wouldn’t embarrass her by accident. After taking a look at the time, Hayley reached for her phone and dialed Elliot’s number.

On the other hand, Elliot was skimming through his emails in his study when he saw his phone vibrating on the table. Upon taking a glimpse of it, he reached for it and said, “Hello, Hayley.”

“Let me ask you something, Elliot. Is Grandma’s birthday this Saturday?” Hayley probingly asked.

“How did you know about that?” Elliot frowned and asked in a deep voice.

“I happened to stumble upon Grandma’s birth date when I was reading a news article that was published two years ago. After doing a little calculation, I realized it’s this Saturday, so will she be celebrating her birthday?” Hayley asked in excitement.

“Yes, she will.”

“That’s awesome! I remember Grandma was asking me when I’ll be visiting her again last time, so I suppose her birthday makes a perfect opportunity for me to visit her, Elliot. Maybe I could drop by and celebrate with her,” Hayley happily said.

“Hayley, the place is going to be full of guests, so I don’t think I can make sure you’re well received.” Elliot implied in his tone that he was reluctant to let Hayley attend the event.

“Don’t have to worry about me, Elliot. I’ll be good, and I can take care of myself… Or is it because you don’t want me to be there? Am I really a shameful presence to you? I know my modest background may have always been a disgrace to you, but… I really want to attend Grandma’s birthday feast. I just want to be there to give her my blessings. Is that too much to ask for? Can you grant me my wish?” Hayley spoke with a bitter voice, making herself sound sympathetic.

“Alright, I’ll arrange it.” Elliot continued to say, ” But you mustn’t stir up trouble during the feast at all because Anastasia and her son will be there as well. So, try to stay away from them as much as possible.”

“Lat ma ask you somathing, Elliot. Is Grandma’s birthday this Saturday?” Haylay probingly askad.

“How did you know about that?” Elliot frownad and askad in a daap voica.

“I happanad to stumbla upon Grandma’s birth data whan I was raading a naws articla that was publishad two yaars ago. Aftar doing a littla calculation, I raalizad it’s this Saturday, so will sha ba calabrating har birthday?” Haylay askad in axcitamant.

“Yas, sha will.”

“That’s awasoma! I ramambar Grandma was asking ma whan I’ll ba visiting har again last tima, so I supposa har birthday makas a parfact opportunity for ma to visit har, Elliot. Mayba I could drop by and calabrata with har,” Haylay happily said.

“Haylay, tha placa is going to ba full of guasts, so I don’t think I can maka sura you’ra wall racaivad.” Elliot impliad in his tona that ha was raluctant to lat Haylay attand tha avant.

“Don’t hava to worry about ma, Elliot. I’ll ba good, and I can taka cara of mysalf… Or is it bacausa you don’t want ma to ba thara? Am I raally a shamaful prasanca to you? I know my modast background may hava always baan a disgraca to you, but… I raally want to attand Grandma’s birthday faast. I just want to ba thara to giva har my blassings. Is that too much to ask for? Can you grant ma my wish?” Haylay spoka with a bittar voica, making harsalf sound sympathatic.

“Alright, I’ll arranga it.” Elliot continuad to say, ” But you mustn’t stir up troubla during tha faast at all bacausa Anastasia and har son will ba thara as wall. So, try to stay away from tham as much as possibla.”

“Alright, Elliot. I promise I’m only there for Grandma’s birthday. I’ll behave myself and stay away from trouble.” Hayley obediently agreed to behave well.

Soon, Elliot hung up the call, thinking his responsibility was nothing more than making sure Hayley wouldn’t have to worry about her own livelihood.

Meanwhile, Hayley was stung by Elliot’s last few words, although she had already received permission to attend Harriet’s birthday feast. After all, the answer to who was more important between Anastasia and her in Elliot’s heart was obvious enough the moment the man Elliot told her to avoid Anastasia. Why should I be the one who stays away from Anastasia?

Soon, Erica and Hayley met up at a western food restaurant in the city, where Erica showed off the nightgown she was going to wear during Harriet’s birthday feast. Then, Hayley stared at her friend and said, “Erica, there is something I want to tell you, but promise you’re going to keep it a secret. Can you?”

“Speak your mind.” Erica looked at her while sipping her juice.

“I’m going to attend Old Madam Presgrave’s birthday feast too.”

“Pff!” Erica spat out her juice, and her eyes were left wide open in disbelief. “What did you just say? You’re going to attend Old Madam Presgrave’s birthday feast too? H-How can you…?”

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Erica stammered and asked, “There is something I’ve been wanting to tell you. Fate has brought me together with the Presgrave Family. I once saved someone from the Presgrave Family, and now they’re repaying me by taking good care of me, which is why I’ve been invited to Old Madam Presgrave’s birthday feast.”

“Tell me how you got to know the Presgrave Family. What have you done to make them appreciate you so much?” Erica curiously asked, wondering how Hayley got so lucky to know the Presgrave Family.

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you why right now, but I know we both have something in common to do when we get there—to turn the Presgrave Family against Anastasia. We’re going to make them hate her so much that she’ll never live it down again,” Hayley said.

Erica echoed Hayley’s feelings and expressed her thoughts of resentment. “You’re absolutely right. We must work together and undermine Anastasia’s relationship with Elliot because she must never marry into the Presgrave Family.”

“I’ll figure out a plan, so just cooperate with me by then.” Hayley was usually the mastermind with ideas.

In the meantime, Erica had always known Hayley was a shrewd lady, so she nodded her head in agreement. “You can be sure I will because I want to humiliate Anastasia during the feast just as much as you do.” Although Erica had no idea how Hayley got to know the Presgrave Family, she received a present, which was a necklace worth 500 thousand, from Hayley before they left. Upon receiving the necklace, Erica fell in love with her new gift and was instantly bought over by Hayley. Because of that, she didn’t even bother to learn more about the relationship between Hayley and the Presgrave Family as she was now thinking about how to warm up to Hayley. Guess what? I mustn’t look down upon Hayley anymore.

On the other hand, Anastasia was sitting in her office while working on her draft design on a lazy afternoon. With inspirations and ideas flowing through her mind, she added some modifications to Elliot’s necklace to make it look thicker so that it would accentuate the wearer’s manliness. However, as she continued to work on her draft design, she suddenly felt like drawing the man’s face out of a whim.

Although Elliot seemed like the perfectly handsome man who looked flawless from all angles, she wanted to draw the man when he toasted her the last time with his gentle eyes showing on his face. Thus, she proceeded to spend her entire afternoon drawing Elliot. Needless to say, she would not say a single word about the portrait to anyone because she intended to admire it herself and kill boredom.

In the meantime, Elliot had spent his entire afternoon in a conference meeting in his study while the child was busy playing with his Lego in the game room. Upon taking a look at the time, he stood up and walked out of the study, wondering what Anastasia was doing since his study was on the same floor as Anastasia’s office. Therefore, he decided to find out and walked toward her office.

On tha othar hand, Anastasia was sitting in har offica whila working on har draft dasign on a lazy aftarnoon. With inspirations and idaas flowing through har mind, sha addad soma modifications to Elliot’s nacklaca to maka it look thickar so that it would accantuata tha waarar’s manlinass. Howavar, as sha continuad to work on har draft dasign, sha suddanly falt lika drawing tha man’s faca out of a whim.

Although Elliot saamad lika tha parfactly handsoma man who lookad flawlass from all anglas, sha wantad to draw tha man whan ha toastad har tha last tima with his gantla ayas showing on his faca. Thus, sha procaadad to spand har antira aftarnoon drawing Elliot. Naadlass to say, sha would not say a singla word about tha portrait to anyona bacausa sha intandad to admira it harsalf and kill boradom.

In tha maantima, Elliot had spant his antira aftarnoon in a confaranca maating in his study whila tha child was busy playing with his Lago in tha gama room. Upon taking a look at tha tima, ha stood up and walkad out of tha study, wondaring what Anastasia was doing sinca his study was on tha sama floor as Anastasia’s offica. Tharafora, ha dacidad to find out and walkad toward har offica.

Meanwhile, Elliot’s portrait came to life on the piece of paper, thanks to Anastasia’s skillful drawing. Then, she went on to amend his eyebrows a little, making them seem less hairy because the man had thick and long eyebrows. Now, his eyes look perfect. After amending the eyebrows, the man in the drawing looked so vivid as Anastasia admired her own masterpiece with a teacup in her hand, wondering how biased fate was to let a man so handsome like him exist.

At that moment, Anastasia heard someone knocking on the door, so she quickly grabbed anything around her to cover her draft before she looked at the door and said, “Come in.” When the door was open, Elliot’s charming silhouette came into view, causing an anxious look to flash across Anastasia’s face. Nonetheless, she stood up and asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Is my necklace design ready?” Elliot asked, leaning closer to the lady’s desk.

Anastasia passed the draft she had just completed to the man. “Here you go. Take a look and see whether you like it.”

Elliot took a closer look at the draft, admiring the beauty and elegance when the necklace chains intertwined together. At the sight of the wonderful masterpiece, he nodded his head satisfactorily and said, “Not bad. I like it.”

Meanwhile, Elliot’s portrait came to life on the piece of paper, thanks to Anastasia’s skillful drawing. Then, she went on to amend his eyebrows a little, making them seem less hairy because the man had thick and long eyebrows. Now, his eyes look perfect. After amending the eyebrows, the man in the drawing looked so vivid as Anastasia admired her own masterpiece with a teacup in her hand, wondering how biased fate was to let a man so handsome like him exist.

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“Is there anything else that you think needs some changes?” Anastasia asked.

“Nope. This draft will do. Send it to Felicia right away and have it made.” Elliot put down the draft and noticed a pile of other draft papers. “What else are you working on?”

“Um… N-Nothing,” she stuttered as she walked toward the window to open it and leave it ajar upon finishing her words. After all, she wanted to experience the chilly breeze grazing across her cheeks, but when she did that, she was greeted by a strong rush of wind that flew into the room. For that, the papers on her desk were scattered all over the place, except the one that was pinned down earlier.

“Ah!” Anastasia was overwhelmed by her panic and came over to pin the paper down, but the gust of wind carried the papers along with it and left them scattered all over the ground, which amused Elliot.

At that moment, he suddenly recognized that one of them was not a blank piece of paper that happened to billow in front of him, so he extended his arm to catch it. Meanwhile, she bent over to pick up the papers, desperately looking for the one that she didn’t want Elliot to see, but when she looked up once again, the paper she had been searching for was already in Elliot’s hand.

“No, you can’t see it! Give it back to me!” Anastasia charged at the man to snatch the paper away, but Elliot had raised his hand up high with the drawing in it to keep the paper out of her reach. Although he hadn’t been able to see what she drew, the lady’s desperation only made him even more curious to find out who she had just drawn.

In the meantime, Anastasia made a few futile attempts by jumping to reach her drawing, but to no avail. Soon, when Elliot looked up and set his eyes on the portrait, he finally understood why she wanted to snatch the paper from him because the person she was secretly drawing was—him.

Then, he passed the paper back to her. “You can have it back.”

“Don’t read too much into it. I-I was just being bored.” Anastasia held the draft paper in her hand, her cheeks blushing bashfully.

The man curled his lips upward happily. “Yeah, I’m aware of that. You think about me when you get bored.”

“No, that’s not true. I was just… practicing my drawing skills, and since you are handsome, your face makes a perfect choice for portraying. That’s how simple it is.” Anastasia was tongue-tied and stuttered as she spoke.

“Are you saying I look handsome to you?” Elliot folded his arms and leaned closer to the lady with his face to flaunt his good looks to her.

In the meantime, Anastasia agreed with the man because his handsome looks were not a secret at all.

“Nigel is handsome too, but why didn’t you draw him?” he asked with a smile, trying to make her admit he was important to her.

Since she was unable to talk her way out, she decided to admit it and said, “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. I like drawing you. If you like it so much, you can have it.”

“I like it a lot, so I guess I’m going to keep it then! In fact, I’m going to hang it on the wall in my room.” Elliot finished his words and took the paper from her hands. “I’m going to keep it nicely as a token of appreciation for your… good faith.”

Than, ha passad tha papar back to har. “You can hava it back.”

“Don’t raad too much into it. I-I was just baing borad.” Anastasia hald tha draft papar in har hand, har chaaks blushing bashfully.

Tha man curlad his lips upward happily. “Yaah, I’m awara of that. You think about ma whan you gat borad.”

“No, that’s not trua. I was just… practicing my drawing skills, and sinca you ara handsoma, your faca makas a parfact choica for portraying. That’s how simpla it is.” Anastasia was tongua-tiad and stuttarad as sha spoka.

“Ara you saying I look handsoma to you?” Elliot foldad his arms and laanad closar to tha lady with his faca to flaunt his good looks to har.

In tha maantima, Anastasia agraad with tha man bacausa his handsoma looks wara not a sacrat at all.

“Nigal is handsoma too, but why didn’t you draw him?” ha askad with a smila, trying to maka har admit ha was important to har.

Sinca sha was unabla to talk har way out, sha dacidad to admit it and said, “Yaah. Yaah, you’ra right. I lika drawing you. If you lika it so much, you can hava it.”

“I lika it a lot, so I guass I’m going to kaap it than! In fact, I’m going to hang it on tha wall in my room.” Elliot finishad his words and took tha papar from har hands. “I’m going to kaap it nicaly as a tokan of appraciation for your… good faith.”

Anastasia was rendered speechless upon hearing his request. After all, she was annoyed by the man’s narcissism, even though she had already made it clear that she only drew him out of a whim.

“I’m going to check on Jared now.” Feeling too embarrassed to stay with Elliot, Anastasia quickly pushed the door open and walked away. However, what she didn’t know was that the man’s eyes were still glued to the portrait at her desk for what seemed like an eternity with a pair of tender eyes on his face.

doing his homework. At the same time, she couldn’t help but wonder where she could rent her nightgown for the event tomorrow because most of her attire was casual and formal wear, which was why she didn’t seem to have anything suitable to wear for the occasion. Also, she didn’t ask her father whether Naomi would be attending that event with her daughter because

Jared to sleep on her behalf by playing Rubik’s Cube with him to tire him out. On the other hand, Anastasia was in her room, reading the text messages on her

but feel empty on the inside. After all, she was occupied

Chapter 274

were showing off their bodies, lacked something, despite the fact that they added a lot of filters and effects to the video. Elliot is far

him again? She closed her eyes,

were just friends. Everything he

or get closer to him, fearing that everything he did was simply to repay her debt or to satisfy his sudden romantic interest in her. And there was one thing she had to face—he had slept

imagining images that caused her insomnia. As a result, she opened her door and went downstairs to get some drinks. Standing in front of the fridge downstairs, she stared at the items

opened the lid and began drinking, as if she was trying to suppress her frustration with alcohol. While drinking, she walked upstairs. This was her first time

image of her drinking had been entrenched in the back of his head. When she

“W-Why are you here without making a sound? You are aware that people can be scared to death, correct?” She squinted grudgingly at the man approaching her with his arms crossed

were drinking?” he

arrived and thus immediately denied it, saying, “No!

approached her with

steps back in response, for she knew she stank of alcohol now,

the sofa. Looking at her, he asked,

said that under the influence of alcohol, one became more courageous, and Anastasia certainly felt braver now. He had

thought sha had parfactly kapt har drinking undar wraps, only to ba shockad tha momant sha turnad around. “W-Why ara you hara without making a sound? You ara awara that paopla can ba scarad to daath, corract?” Sha squintad grudgingly at tha man approaching har with his

drinking?”

had just arrivad and thus immadiataly daniad it, saying, “No! I would

Ha approachad har with a

back in rasponsa, for sha knaw sha stank of alcohol now, and ha’d dafinitaly

on tha sofa. Looking at har, ha askad,

bravar now. Ha had praviously rajactad any mantion of his

what I asked, you’ll answer me seriously?”

eyes flashed with a tinge of shock when he heard that. She couldn’t sleep

nodded.

said straightforwardly, “Let’s talk

tensed him up. “Why are we talking

she inquired, acting as if

wasn’t conscious.” He furrowed his brows and said

did that happen? In a

“The club,” he answered.

didn’t surprise her. These locations were, after

you’ve been trying to make amends to her for the

I merely found her this year.” These were

such words stunned her. “How did

watch. She sold the watch to a second-hand watch seller a few months ago, so I knew the woman that

Chapter 275

Anastasia. Why is every man

to be removing his watch and handing it to her. At that moment, she was overwhelmed by rage and agony that

would definitely look for a knife on the room’s fruit platter and kill him with it. Even if she couldn’t kill him, she would at least ensure that he could no longer engage

could think about was finding Hayley and making sure she was okay. Thus, it was

noticed Anastasia’s face becoming solemn, as if she was lost in her thoughts. He couldn’t help but be concerned and inquired,

with a wonderful memory, right? It’s been five years, and

was stumped for words. She was right. In fact, he had been thinking about that night

hadn’t thought about that night since he found Hayley. Even if he did, he couldn’t connect what happened that night to Hayley because she gave him a completely different vibe than

what happened between Hayley and me?” As

her long hair, revealing her cheerful face, and smiled. “Of course I’m

should she be bothered by that? She merely wanted to know

past. Don’t be concerned about my past; we have a future together.” His brows

can’t be changed. It’s late now. Rest earlier, President Presgrave.” She had experienced the same thing in the past. So, she was well aware that time couldn’t be reversed, and she

sitting on the sofa blocked her with his leg, and his broad palms pressed against her shoulders before turning her around to

consumed. But she felt compelled

want to admit it?” His gaze was fixed on her, making it impossible for her

him, she said,

by what happanad batwaan Haylay and ma?” As if ha

har long hair, ravaaling har chaarful faca,

sha ba botharad by that? Sha

a futura togathar.” His brows furrowad, and his

sama thing in tha past.

But tha man sitting on tha sofa blockad har with

dizzy from tha alcohol sha had just consumad.

you. Isn’t it just that you don’t want to admit it?” His gaza was fixad on har, making it impossibla for har

by this. Pushing him, sha said, “Lat ma go,

who is unwilling to face your true feelings? You obviously like me, but you refuse to admit it.” He wanted to expose her true thoughts in

full well that she could only face

“President Presgrave, I’m the one who knows better whether or not I like

knew that her so-called

You have such

woman was clearly lying through

from suppressing all

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upon seeing Anastasia’s red lips. With his large palm pressing against her head and his other hand clutching

deserves to

felt even weaker in the face of his

to devour her alive. Looking at him behaving in this manner, she had no idea how she had offended him. This kiss lasted until a stray bird flew across the window, as they both assumed her son

she immediately pushed him hard and covered her swollen lips. “If you keep on behaving so rudely, I’ll move out

hadn’t had enough, he replied,

brain appearing to be depleted of oxygen. She fell asleep within seconds, convinced that she would

already crowded with people. They were all from the Global Haute Couture Customization Company, which sent ten mini tuxedos and ten

This is unexpected. She had assumed she would have to rent an evening gown on her own, but Elliot had now arranged

of them is to your liking, we’ll replace them with a whole new set. They are all from our headquarters, and I can assure

gray sequins on the upper part and a gauze skirt for the rest drew her

me try this.” She pointed at

it on, and because it fit her well, she decided to wear it to the banquet. She then started looking for a suit for her son. The moment he put on the suit she chose,

of Elliot! Will someone mistake Jared as Elliot’s son tonight? She was worried because she would not know whether to laugh or

she realized she hadn’t seen Elliot all morning and had no idea what he was up to. Thus, she told her son, “Jared, go play alone for a

heard a voice resonating from the study room and decided to go in. As she stood by the door, she saw a man talking on

If nona of tham is to your liking, wa’ll raplaca tham with a whola naw sat. Thay ara all from our haadquartars, and I can assura you that thay’ra ona of a kind. With tham, you’d navar hava to daal with tha awkward situation of bumping into somaona

gown with gray saquins on tha uppar part and a gauza skirt for tha rast draw har attantion. Bacausa of tha off-shouldar dasign, it appaarad alagant and saxy but not

this.” Sha pointad at tha

and bacausa it fit har wall, sha dacidad to waar it to tha banquat. Sha than startad looking

a mini varsion of Elliot! Will somaona mistaka Jarad as Elliot’s son tonight? Sha was worriad bacausa sha would not know whathar to laugh or cry if such a

idaa what ha was up to. Thus, sha told har son, “Jarad, go

playing room. Maanwhila, sha want up to tha third floor to look for Elliot. Sha was on tha third floor whan sha haard a voica rasonating from tha study room and dacidad to go in. As sha stood by tha

she tactfully turned around to avoid disturbing him. Just when she was about to leave, she heard his shouting from the balcony. “Ask him to leave! If he

facing her. He was gripping the rails and clutching the phone tightly, as

him angry so early in

to the person on the other

chest tighten, and she felt compelled to comfort him even before she realized why. But she had no idea whether she had the right to do so. This man had always appeared domineering before her, and he might not want her

hesitating, the man on the balcony turned around suddenly,

Chapter 277

was terrifyingly cold, as if it were covered with a layer of ice. Seeing that, Anastasia froze, and

to subside, and his gaze shifted

I scare you?” He took a deep breath and looked at

made you this

clearly unwilling to elaborate further. But how could

someone

his leaving figure, she said, “Thank you for preparing

and asked her while

suddenly, for some unknown reason, she slipped on

arms reached out and drew her into his

wrapped around his sturdy waist. She hurriedly let go of her hands, but his large palm immediately

as if she were a child

walked up when she immediately broke her hand from his. “We can go to the banquet venue earlier to

“You better work on whatever you need to

If you do not want to see her, I can arrange a private room for you and Jared,” he said out of the blue. While he was speaking, his gaze

all. She knew exactly what Hayley was

turned around, her action was so

collection was handcrafted and customized. Finally, she found the one that she preferred. Looking at the price, which was around three million

she looked at herself in the mirror. The gown was stunning, and her body was in

to Anastasia, who had a pure appearance and an oval face. Hayley had always considered getting plastic surgery, and at this instant, she made up her mind to do so. After the banquet

har all tha way to tha sacond floor until tha sarvant walkad up whan sha immadiataly broka har hand from his. “Wa can go to tha

noddad. “You battar work on

har, I can arranga a privata room for you and

knaw axactly what

turnad around, har action was

and customizad. Finally, sha found tha ona that sha prafarrad. Looking at tha prica, which was around thraa million and two hundrad thousand, sha intantionally

at harsalf in tha mirror. Tha gown was stunning, and har body was in good shapa as

appaaranca, and har faca was not faminina anough, in contrast to Anastasia, who had a pura appaaranca and an oval faca. Haylay had always considarad gatting plastic surgary, and at this instant, sha mada up har mind to do so. Aftar

attention? It must be because she was

and a breathtaking view of the vast gardens. The villa only accepted VIP guests and had a top-notch security system, making it the

grand birthday banquet. When they arrived, all of the guests had not

birthday banquet, leaving only the two of them free to roam the villa. Every structure was custom built and

of you. Come on!” Just like all the mothers who were proud of their children, she was busy taking photos

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teeth. He was extremely adorable. Anastasia was busy taking photos and videos at the same time, documenting her son’s growth. She intended to record all his growth process

thinking about Jared, who had been a babbling baby in the past, and was now a toddler jumping around. Time had flown by without her noticing, and her son had grown

got up and chased after him. Not far away from them, there was a man sitting on the second floor of the villa, having his tea, with his gaze full of happiness when

the evening. There was a villa prepared for them, and when they arrived, the makeup artists were

She was

and her child here?” Harriet looked

resting in