Megan woke up at high noon.141Please respect copyright.PENANAdOcuxvEwqw
She sat up on the comfortable bed, stretching and yawning like a lazy cat. She141Please respect copyright.PENANATCDMdSZ4IK
felt energized after her beauty sleep, thus putting her in a good mood. Her141Please respect copyright.PENANAD1Y2tuAW1G
stomach grumbled resentfully as if complaining about the lack of substance it141Please respect copyright.PENANALbhPPwHjP9
hasn’t been given for more than six hours. Megan tried to remember the last141Please respect copyright.PENANAsVQnHiaby8
time she had eaten; that must be the three muffins’ cupcakes she had to force141Please respect copyright.PENANAEFUUWlHdCs
herself to choke down on the plane, as her upset tummy wouldn’t give her141Please respect copyright.PENANAxhGnbxMO9v
appetite for anything more. No wonder she feels a headache and was mildly dizzy141Please respect copyright.PENANAHwe3H4sqsm
when she stood – those were her recognized signs of hunger. Never one to forget141Please respect copyright.PENANA9JdGfS8KNt
hygiene no matter how hungry she is, Megan moved to the door she presumed to be141Please respect copyright.PENANA13XeEYWSJn
the bathroom to refreshen up. When done, she headed out.
Long hallways stretched out141Please respect copyright.PENANA7WCEcs9Jf7
at either side of her, causing her to pause with a small frown. Debating141Please respect copyright.PENANA47jZMNIOJ2
mentally for some secs, she decided on the left hallway. As much as she tried141Please respect copyright.PENANAlWb8paxxOh
not to notice, she still found herself admiring the unusual, yet sophisticated141Please respect copyright.PENANAcdFgUJM8A9
interior design of the house. Priceless paintings displaying Scottish history141Please respect copyright.PENANAE5rzvRtlSe
with artifacts were mounted on the golden walls. Various-sized vintage vases141Please respect copyright.PENANAiTk542UVuf
noticeably worth more than she thinks, including the plain-looking ones, stood141Please respect copyright.PENANAeWpyx9wg2I
at every corner of the hallways. She’d have spent more time appreciating if her141Please respect copyright.PENANAYl8aY8UMNQ
belly didn’t protest again, this time louder.
She walked faster,141Please respect copyright.PENANA33jJ4uzQzW
coming out to a staircase. There was another flight of stairs in front of her141Please respect copyright.PENANAoBkD4CY27x
but she ignored it, choosing to locate the kitchen. Thankfully, she didn’t141Please respect copyright.PENANAK2q2ThkhJj
spend much time at all. The spacious, spotless kitchen equipped with modern141Please respect copyright.PENANARZM7DKV1Kj
utensils almost made her giddy and Megan couldn’t wait to start preparing tasty141Please respect copyright.PENANA1uFeFPEl4v
food on the big counter. She opened the double-doored fridge and grinned141Please respect copyright.PENANAdrhUTDt4LT
broadly at how well-stuffed it is. As someone who enjoys cooking a lot, she141Please respect copyright.PENANAbEqaryR3v0
always appreciates it a lot when the fridge is filled up with all sorts of141Please respect copyright.PENANAbZidQtsW4j
varieties of foods.
“Oh.”
Megan glanced behind her141Please respect copyright.PENANA8OMH0Hu5pf
shoulders to see a young girl, she doesn’t look more than nineteen years,141Please respect copyright.PENANAysru98MKC1
standing – frozen more like it – at the entrance of the kitchen. Her pale green141Please respect copyright.PENANAnf9rn1hlhz
orbs were filled with anxiety, reluctance, and tiny curiosity as she held a141Please respect copyright.PENANA1x7G5PiDpU
tray holding an empty bowl and cup. Everything regarding her, from her posture141Please respect copyright.PENANAutjzFWc154
to her expression, screams she wants to be anywhere but here. Megan felt141Please respect copyright.PENANAAZccdnm749
strangely fascinated. Shutting the fridge, she faced the girl. She noted how141Please respect copyright.PENANAQXa7W0Cj63
she tensed up immediately and Megan raised an inquisitive brow at her. The girl141Please respect copyright.PENANAe84HbyNg2r
crimsoned. She tried to stammer out something, but under Megan’s bold stare,141Please respect copyright.PENANApGqr4jvbc8
she couldn’t form anything that made sense.
Having a strong impression,141Please respect copyright.PENANAQrE56KK3bZ
she was terrifying the poor girl, Megan eased up her expression, putting on the141Please respect copyright.PENANAUtNJtNhFDd
winning, a failsafe smile she used whenever she wants to soothe her141Please respect copyright.PENANAdZfqKiUS8A
not-so-polite, demanding customers of her culinary abilities. “I’m sorry if I141Please respect copyright.PENANA0bDaikaC20
frightened you or anything. Believe me, it’s not my intention.”
The girl gave a brief smile,141Please respect copyright.PENANAG4lD4ckf42
her stance relaxing. “I-I’m the one who’d apologize to you,” she went to the141Please respect copyright.PENANAPRsUPTZN9L
sink to drop the tray. “I shouldn’t have behaved like that. It was incredibly141Please respect copyright.PENANA741QRKFqQK
rude of me. I’m sorry, ma’am.”
She’s still141Please respect copyright.PENANAjyhakAynDf
uncomfortable with me, Megan thought. “You weren’t rude. So, there’s no need to141Please respect copyright.PENANAFJPhvrOS5J
apologize….”
The girl stared at her141Please respect copyright.PENANA3HajEkZVkH
blankly. Realizing she was asking for her name, she quickly replied, “Arabel141Please respect copyright.PENANAKPoF2JwvUG
Shaw, ma’am.”
“Oh. A lovable beauty141Please respect copyright.PENANAqCDjampMN9
worth of her name.”
The girl went red, almost141Please respect copyright.PENANA26E22KvOkB
like the gingery curls on her head.
A low growl sounded out of141Please respect copyright.PENANAevhmbKXY8c
Megan’s stomach, prompting Arabel to turn pale and become frantic. “Oh, my God!141Please respect copyright.PENANA7fBF7BE4ti
I’m so, so sorry. I can’t believe I’m such an idiot. How can I not know that141Please respect copyright.PENANA7kQzfYwXy5
you’d be hungry when you awake?” She pulled out a pot and pan. Going to the141Please respect copyright.PENANAx0Yqq9HIe5
fridge, she was just about to pull out a crate of eggs but was stopped.
“You don’t need to do141Please respect copyright.PENANAZxwFidPLmq
that. I can make something for myself.”
“But—"
“Even if you cook for141Please respect copyright.PENANA0KHrbb6aGx
me, there’s a high probability I won’t like it. So, to save ingredients and141Please respect copyright.PENANAGTvGbz80a6
time, let me do it.”
“But—”
Arabel has led away141Please respect copyright.PENANApISlDGqY1e
from the refrigerator and lightly pushed one of the stools in the kitchen.141Please respect copyright.PENANARNEX8ncSOK
“Sit.” She complied. Like a three-year-old child who always wants to keep his141Please respect copyright.PENANACO07YqHP06
mother within his sight, she trailed her every move with large curious eyes.141Please respect copyright.PENANAAf2dJQvQWb
Whenever she sees her not knowing where some things she needs are, she bolts up141Please respect copyright.PENANAt3a4H120m1
like an antelope. Providing said items within a blink. The smile on Megan’s141Please respect copyright.PENANAeEl1aO5Pkp
lips keeps increasing.
“So, what are you141Please respect copyright.PENANAMkvzkWFLLP
doing to cook?” The young girl, unable to hold it in anymore, asked. She was141Please respect copyright.PENANAb0sXKTi8bN
standing alongside Megan, taking in the things she was preparing on the141Please respect copyright.PENANAOt4al3IUls
counter.
“Brisket hash with141Please respect copyright.PENANAvdSmdyVL8v
eggs."
“Oh.”
Done making ready141Please respect copyright.PENANAXoBTiQqGKQ
the ingredients, Megan placed a large skillet over medium heat and poured in141Please respect copyright.PENANAPErNQdy6py
two tablespoons of olive oil. When it was heated, she added diced onion and141Please respect copyright.PENANAFIyuWe3I1l
fried it until it was translucent. She put in minced garlic cloves with one medium141Please respect copyright.PENANAM6LcsET52Y
red pepper, which she’d seeded and chopped. She mixed them, leaving it for a141Please respect copyright.PENANAchw8u1u5MZ
moment. Adding the potatoes she’d cut into cubes to the vegetables, she had141Please respect copyright.PENANAaFW1qgJIDq
everything cooked for fifteen minutes. An eager-to-help Arabel, who had been141Please respect copyright.PENANAhebRIewqcd
salivating nonstop the instant the mouthwatering aroma spread out, was in141Please respect copyright.PENANA378cZPl0oY
charge of monitoring and flipping the mixture every few minutes with a flat141Please respect copyright.PENANARsXiCs5KbY
spatula so the lot browned evenly while she whisked down the eggs.
When it was time, Megan141Please respect copyright.PENANAYrPP8nNBRm
tossed in the cubed brisket. She combined it well, afterward seasoning it with141Please respect copyright.PENANAhqTvSGL55G
salt and black pepper. She gave a quick turn after that leave it to cook for141Please respect copyright.PENANAeRIZJYfL0a
some minutes. Until the beef became brown and the potatoes succulently tender,141Please respect copyright.PENANAyWtIeHczEV
before removing it from the heat. In a separate pan, she made scrambled eggs141Please respect copyright.PENANAw2PV5nXYyx
and then plated them, not forgetting to add barbeque sauce.
Arabel was genuinely stunned141Please respect copyright.PENANAoqd04Rtcm6
when Megan gave her a sizeable portion of the food. It took a whole minute to141Please respect copyright.PENANA3dFXjaezD8
get her to stop thanking her. The second Arabel took a bite, her head never141Please respect copyright.PENANANQs7m8iWNQ
came up again 'til she’d wiped her plate clean. Literally. Within a few blinks.141Please respect copyright.PENANA6tNPkyBGul
That spoke of how delicious the food is.
Megan had paused from taking141Please respect copyright.PENANApl17AornZs
lifting her spoon. She googled, half shocked, half amazed. But secretly141Please respect copyright.PENANA3P1fc0JIxy
pleased. Arabel felt embarrassed, even wished the earth should open and swallow141Please respect copyright.PENANAVK3jrtG89J
her up, when a light belch sipped out from her lips, despite her hard best to141Please respect copyright.PENANATsITt7mbp5
keep it in.
“Here.” Megan handed141Please respect copyright.PENANAnYQzzQMj6J
her the glass of orange juice meant for her, which after small hesitation, she141Please respect copyright.PENANAw2bO3UXn6x
gulped down. “I’ve never had anyone react that much to my cooking, and quite141Please respect copyright.PENANA9qqnLxygho
frankly. Arabel, I love it.”
The girl pepped up, looking141Please respect copyright.PENANAIIHg0YQqaZ
partly convinced. “Really?”
“Cooking is a great141Please respect copyright.PENANAQUPmh7tOhL
passion of mine and as a chef, there’s nothing more that delights my soul than141Please respect copyright.PENANAVFRNOSDB7L
seeing my food consumed with such great…. relish.”
Arabel ducked her head.141Please respect copyright.PENANAcvljzel5hp
“Okay, whatever you say.”
“I—”
“Arabel!”
A voice called from somewhere141Please respect copyright.PENANA7MsPCLf07X
outside the kitchen. The way Arabel jumped from her seat would’ve been comical141Please respect copyright.PENANAXtEfpGSz36
if she didn’t nearly trip over her feet and fallen flat on the floor. “Arabel!141Please respect copyright.PENANAUsDvWxoSht
Where are ye, silly lass?”
Said person had gone141Please respect copyright.PENANA6T8Uvogveg
pale, as though she’d seen a ghost. In a flash, she was at the sink. Dropping141Please respect copyright.PENANAjYTr9vfO4t
the plate, the one she’d eaten with, she packed the bowls and pans used for141Please respect copyright.PENANAClM6xeJKrO
cooking and began to demonstrate the quickest washing and rinsing known in141Please respect copyright.PENANAhecVD2FGJo
history. Megan watched like a captivated audience while eating. Drawn to the141Please respect copyright.PENANAkG46cYrEai
clanging of the utensils, footsteps drew closer to where they are. Just as141Please respect copyright.PENANAkcksghe3gA
Arabel finished, the woman Megan saw yesterday stepped into the kitchen. An141Please respect copyright.PENANAXrspHeeck0
exasperated frown covered her expression but there was no misreading the141Please respect copyright.PENANABfyvsDCDfn
fleeting surprise and repulsion Megan spied in her gaze. This time, she was141Please respect copyright.PENANA2vpXXDcor4
certain this sweetishly-looking woman has something against her.
Whatever.
“Ye silly lass! Why141Please respect copyright.PENANA0URtZ3B2SR
didn’t ye answer me when I was yellin’ for you at the top of my lungs? I was141Please respect copyright.PENANAXjzk42onA7
expectin’ ye back ages ago!”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Rhona.141Please respect copyright.PENANAvNJnl7ACS9
I-I was busy preparing something for Mrs. Henderson when I saw there’s nothing141Please respect copyright.PENANAQKt8mApA5C
left of breakfast for her.”
Both women flinched.
Rhona shot a nasty glare at141Please respect copyright.PENANACYqSOiFYzk
the young girl, her displeasure apropos to the way Megan was addressed,141Please respect copyright.PENANAPQXjrhmDLD
however, Arabel misunderstood it. “I didn’t know ye know you’re conversant with141Please respect copyright.PENANABOmKHZG6Ks
Amerikie’s food.”
“When I knew Mrs.141Please respect copyright.PENANAcsTgfLGtPb
Henderson was an American, I did tons of research on the country so I can serve141Please respect copyright.PENANALJ9Ii4xwm9
her needs better.”
Megan felt incredibly141Please respect copyright.PENANACRkTqpNuR8
uncomfortable being called that title again. She glanced at141Please respect copyright.PENANAddmGnKLTC8
Arabel from the corners of her eyes; seeing her sweaty, bright face and141Please respect copyright.PENANA6uoHdhI1Uh
quivering lips, she pitied her and decided not to expose her for her clear lie.
Rhonda observed Arabel141Please respect copyright.PENANALOX2INkgpJ
suspiciously. She’s not convinced of whatsoever nonsense she spewed out. A few141Please respect copyright.PENANAwnp1Z8iRZP
seconds later, she waved her to leave the kitchen and the girl readily fled.141Please respect copyright.PENANADe85MzKn1U
Giving her head a shake, she turned back to Megan who had gone over to the141Please respect copyright.PENANAYb3zX6h39g
sink. This time, she didn’t bother hiding her feelings.
“Ms. Michelle, I’d like141Please respect copyright.PENANA4sJqgLCsOQ
it if ye don’t make Arabel cook for ye. She isn’t among the maids141Please respect copyright.PENANADL0oy0ySSE
in charge of cooking, so don’t force the poor girl to do141Please respect copyright.PENANAzO9Waa8OGO
what she doesn’t want.”
Wow. Way to rip off the141Please respect copyright.PENANAcEmhzFm3wi
bandage, Megan sardonically noted. Wiping her hands with a napkin, she met the141Please respect copyright.PENANAU7hwIVHUIn
angry older woman with the angering smile she uses on the people she doesn’t141Please respect copyright.PENANA92Iyv2nles
like. “Hmm, but I wonder why any food wasn’t left for me?”
“I told the maids not141Please respect copyright.PENANAdW31yIIons
to leave any because I don’t know whether you’d like what we cooked or not. Ye141Please respect copyright.PENANAFg2ZgcyJ25
were needlessly finicky of what you ate the last time you came here so I took141Please respect copyright.PENANAXalQ65og6H
it upon myself to be the one to cook for ye,” Rhona paused, casting a141Please respect copyright.PENANASXvFh2iO7u
depreciative look over at her figure. “Though if ye don’t mind me saying this,141Please respect copyright.PENANAvJ2rJe1NVP
Ms. Michelle, I think starving a bit would do ye a solid good.” She jibed,141Please respect copyright.PENANAkjMGCFpuV6
smirking when that smile was erased.
Megan dropped being141Please respect copyright.PENANAKNf0UT2tob
polite. “Remind me again, what is your job exactly here?”
“What? Don’t tell me141Please respect copyright.PENANA46nG26XRHK
you’ve forgotten?”
“Oh, I haven’t. But I141Please respect copyright.PENANAv1EF23sLUt
just want to know if you’ve gotten promoted to a new high rank that gives you141Please respect copyright.PENANAzG8prvgA7w
the unrestricted authority to disrespect me, the lady of this house? Or have141Please respect copyright.PENANA5CfI5kkVqp
you forgotten that I’m married to your boss and that also makes me your boss?”
“Ye---”
“Oh, how scatterbrained141Please respect copyright.PENANAOweRSHUqoS
of me. You’re what? Sixty? Sixty-five? Your brain probably isn’t as sharp as it141Please respect copyright.PENANA9WqPK7417t
is if you were my age, so I’ll take it that those stupidly inappropriate141Please respect copyright.PENANAkp60CdpZtX
comments were caused by the parasite living in your head because I want to141Please respect copyright.PENANAlDPRXJne6z
believe you valve your job and you wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize it.141Please respect copyright.PENANAt5mt7tAVyp
Perhaps I’ll talk to my husband to let you retire. After all, you’re getting141Please respect copyright.PENANAjmu9939CH9
old. It’s obvious you’re no longer fit for this job and it’d be very cruel of141Please respect copyright.PENANArJ9pDmrElS
us to continue to make me do what you don’t want to do. Don’t you think so?”
Rhona glared with reddened141Please respect copyright.PENANAyLhdQF9uXp
eyes; her smirk long gone. She wanted nothing more than to close the distance141Please respect copyright.PENANAbCWK4mV8Yl
between them and serve the insolent lass a well-earned slap. How dare she talk141Please respect copyright.PENANAT3TIZMZewr
to her that way.
Standing there, her141Please respect copyright.PENANAFoev51rAPo
chest heaving and looking as though she had been abandoned and betrayed by the141Please respect copyright.PENANAqBoQCP8EGT
world, Megan felt zero ounces of pity for her. And why should she? Out of141Please respect copyright.PENANAEbS0viQbQ7
nowhere, this judgmental woman – she had mistaken as someone good at first –141Please respect copyright.PENANASHDd7cgnoq
start spurting crap concerning her, disparaging her. Megan knew she’d be pissed141Please respect copyright.PENANAAnzCrjazQN
at herself later if she didn’t return the favor. She might look gentle, doesn’t141Please respect copyright.PENANACab0MTsh8y
mean she’s not a pushover for anyone.
“Y-Ye j-jest! Ye think141Please respect copyright.PENANAvApnQbaqXv
after what you did, Elie would want to listen to anything ye say, much less141Please respect copyright.PENANASozUElavMd
believe ye? Ah, you’re delusional.”
“You wanna bet? He’s a141Please respect copyright.PENANALysr3kxH77
man, isn’t he? Please, a little seduction and he’ll become pudding in my hands141Please respect copyright.PENANA1ca0yiCktM
in a flash.” Megan tilted her head a bit to the side; the slow smile that141Please respect copyright.PENANA6cTszgbndt
stretched on her face made her look very much like a vixen. “Would you like me141Please respect copyright.PENANAqpw36a3IUc
to show you how it’s done?”
Rhona rushed out.
Megan dropped the act,141Please respect copyright.PENANA1i2dLeQ5mS
disgusted beyond expression. What a pretentious, elderly woman. Brushing the141Please respect copyright.PENANAqIeiJXw3bN
conversation aside, she strode back to her room, put on some workout outfits,141Please respect copyright.PENANAedevEBziEv
and did yoga for an hour or so.
|!|!|!|!| |!|!|!|!|
“So, how is the141Please respect copyright.PENANASbmJefdOIt
bakery doing?” Megan went straight to the point after exchanging pleasantries141Please respect copyright.PENANAbZUIkVhKHT
with the vibrantly dressed woman on a video call with her. Clad in her lazy-day141Please respect copyright.PENANAm6J6AL8kwx
outfit; an old, baggy shirt having faded baseball logo – she snatched it from Shane141Please respect copyright.PENANAW7lU8IV90Y
months back when they began dating – and her favorite woolen cutoff – panties,141Please respect copyright.PENANAJyOYX9RIpo
her aunt claimed they were – underneath. She was standing on the veranda141Please respect copyright.PENANAj4DkkXYISz
outside her room; enjoying the pleasurable breeze which slip in and out of her141Please respect copyright.PENANAlAtpYbHvP2
cloth and the beautiful, green scenery that lays around the manor.
“Oh, we’re doing141Please respect copyright.PENANAEmfjsrKBfC
alright. The guy your aunt brought, Kilian, is a gem. Granted, the cakes and141Please respect copyright.PENANAafxCjbe1de
pastries he bakes aren’t precisely as great as yours, but the customers love141Please respect copyright.PENANAf1G0HscNZw
them! Look, just the first day and we’re already sold out.” The camera shifted,141Please respect copyright.PENANAsDWHbV2lDa
showing her the inside of her shop, which was crowded with people – just as141Please respect copyright.PENANAoyeMvUoefV
when she was there – and the show glass was empty. Megan's brows lifted; she141Please respect copyright.PENANAmak6gunWso
was impressed. It’s good to know she chose the right person among the four141Please respect copyright.PENANAlAwQ8jKqI6
chefs she’d talked to.
Jemma’s excited chocolate141Please respect copyright.PENANAo9YyKmoOnv
face came back into view. “Do you know he’s quite a shy guy? When one of your141Please respect copyright.PENANAyrMHS8Lldv
regulars Mrs. Copson, wanted to meet the new chef and Grey called him out, he141Please respect copyright.PENANAh2nUIsnpha
was such a cute nerve wrack. The way he stuttered in that lovely Greek accent,141Please respect copyright.PENANAKacaXbhNFq
fiddled with his back hair, and blushed nonstop? Ah, I think I’m in love. I141Please respect copyright.PENANAqc8T665Lix
don’t think I’m the only one; all your female clients are also in love with141Please respect copyright.PENANAt1poW6SU81
him. 90% of our buyers are females and I don’t think it’s entirely our goods141Please respect copyright.PENANABF2Fdk7ElV
they’re eager for if you get my drift. Not that I blame them one bit; I mean141Please respect copyright.PENANAX6gSlXF3Ld
have you ever seen a man who’s so sinfully gorgeous you just want to lick him141Please respect copyright.PENANA9nIU70FVVU
up---”
“Godmother, please!” Megan had141Please respect copyright.PENANA06xpR8ve9T
to interrupt, or her ears would be filled with descriptions she’d rather not141Please respect copyright.PENANAL04ZfFZxpJ
have regarding her employee. She wondered if she made the right decision,141Please respect copyright.PENANAyCzyjkHs8y
allowing her godmother to persuade her to be her temporary manager. “You’re141Please respect copyright.PENANA14Kv8J6N6W
fifty-four years and happily married with three children. For goodness’ sake,141Please respect copyright.PENANAhbCgSO6lXj
act your age for once!”
“Killjoy. I was just141Please respect copyright.PENANAcbe5XDCb1P
looking, okay? There’s no one yet that can make leave that delicious,141Please respect copyright.PENANAb318esfBda
one-of-its-kind specimen I have for a husband. Besides, my observation isn’t141Please respect copyright.PENANAUBuWvZBcYG
for me, it’s all for you, prude.” Jemma had that gleam in her eye, warning141Please respect copyright.PENANAJfrUoOFl13
Megan she was going to launch into her usual advice/speech – cough, nagging,141Please respect copyright.PENANA82341Y24m1
cough – before she’d rush her off the phone, she went off. Leaving her with no141Please respect copyright.PENANAeRO2Hj6CrF
choice but listen.
“I’m not saying waiting141Please respect copyright.PENANAAc0zUT68OL
for Shane is a bad thing but you have waited enough time on the man. You’ve141Please respect copyright.PENANAPG2QYLxy2p
been obsessed with him since you were what, nineteen?”
“Twenty. But I’m---”
“Twenty! For six years141Please respect copyright.PENANAqVYgvleujG
he never looked your way once. Why then are you still pining with that kind of141Please respect copyright.PENANAyd378J1GeS
man, huh?”
Megan gritted her teeth,141Please respect copyright.PENANADc3iD47ZoK
“He confessed to me five months ago – I told you and mom all of it – and we141Please respect copyright.PENANAmruKgYi2RG
both decided to take it slow. I don’t see what’s so wrong that everyone is141Please respect copyright.PENANAkbb4lh00yp
complaining.” She couldn’t help the sass at the last words.
Jemma narrowed her jade-green141Please respect copyright.PENANAQiZqYqimme
eyes, threateningly. “Don’t think that because you’re far away, you can run141Please respect copyright.PENANAfIIMGOglHQ
your mouth on me on the phone anyhow, I won’t tolerate that.” Thank God she141Please respect copyright.PENANAzUKuXJeuwg
wasn’t close by or her godmother would’ve slapped her silly.
“Sorry.” She felt like141Please respect copyright.PENANAJoommG5MwY
a schoolgirl as she apologized. “But I love him, Jemma.”
“You’re almost141Please respect copyright.PENANAoCQdg6UUXV
thirty---” Jemma started.
“Twenty-six.”
“---and he hasn’t put a141Please respect copyright.PENANABZwcn4sTt1
ring on your finger yet---”
“Again, we just started141Please respect copyright.PENANAyhTVfRZGaS
dating,”
“---What is he waiting141Please respect copyright.PENANAPdYEUUu51d
for? The apocalypse? He isn’t sincere with you. Well, it’s a good thing you got141Please respect copyright.PENANAD3zh6HtVON
married to that Scottish guy, Aneislis, right? He’s the right one for you.”
Megan looked141Please respect copyright.PENANAhIlBNbBErt
incredulous, “In case you’ve forgotten, he’s Michelle’s husband. I have no141Please respect copyright.PENANA619uvNBT7e
interest in him.”
“He’s yours for life,141Please respect copyright.PENANAjokGVqsNdf
whether you accept it or not. Even though Michelle is found, she won’t be with141Please respect copyright.PENANAKHs6Q9MjIf
him. You should know this. Also, it’s best if---”
Megan was distracted.141Please respect copyright.PENANApXK2xjBhmi
Her sight was drawn to the glittering, luxurious car – a Maserati – gliding141Please respect copyright.PENANATKgDaXRO8a
towards the manor. It stopped, the backseat door opened, and out came the man141Please respect copyright.PENANAuWErwrLGY8
her godmother approved of. Her nose was wrinkled in distaste. She stared,141Please respect copyright.PENANAXSFpoJJO9s
sour-faced, as he helped someone down – an adorable, little girl. He shut the141Please respect copyright.PENANAV7CHlxY3Tk
car door and walked hand-to-hand a few steps before the girl made a demand.
“Daddy, carry me.”
Her cheerful, childish voice141Please respect copyright.PENANAIowGgp7TJa
rang out. Aneislis obeyed, continuing his journey inside the house.
Megan unintentionally141Please respect copyright.PENANAioqYt2BUtu
pressed the end button to the video call as her mind pondered about the141Please respect copyright.PENANANlfoxuRE6a
information she had learned.
So, he had a daughter. Wonder141Please respect copyright.PENANAMaQQYlWBJu
why that tiny detail wasn’t told to her, she rolled her orbs.