The Wrong Woman

Mila sighed. "It's probably best to move on sooner if Candice doesn't have feelings for you. But you shouldn't settle for marrying someone you don't love. Josie isn't the right match for you."

"Her aunt is shady," Elio responded with a relaxed drawl.

Surprised, Mila asked, "You knew about that?"

Elio hummed in acknowledgment.

Mila got to her feet and said, "Alright, I should head back. You should get some sleep. Meet me at Sudvilla at noon tomorrow."

Sudvilla, a villa granted to Nathan by the government, was located directly opposite Hudson Manor, where Josie lived.

"Why should I go there?" Elio looked at her, puzzled.

With a gentle smile, Mila said, "Come early and lend me a hand."

Then, she left Elio's room, quietly closing the door behind her. Elio's gaze lingered on the door, looking desolate.

...

complemented by a lace-trimmed sun hat. She carried a wicker basket

toward the garden with

afar, she noticed someone crouched over the soil in the middle of the garden, dressed in a white shirt.

Candice drew closer, she stopped abruptly. Her words caught in her throat, and her eyes widened in surprise at the

questioning if he had misheard. As he turned

locked,

Feeling the weight of Elio's stare, Candice looked away hastily,

Aunt Chubs. I-I came

to fetch

couldn't fathom why Mila had insisted he come help in the garden instead

taking a few steps toward Candice, he extended his hand. "Let me help you

basket and edged closer, carefully pointing out the different seedlings. "These are magnolia seedlings. These are peony

rather than the seedlings in the basket. Their eyes met, and he quickly diverted his gaze to the