Megan woke up at high noon.139Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ek08fRjkE
She sat up on the comfortable bed, stretching and yawning like a lazy cat. She139Please respect copyright.PENANAPrUcP9yh4R
felt energized after her beauty sleep, thus putting her in a good mood. Her139Please respect copyright.PENANADLlawbLMj5
stomach grumbled resentfully as if complaining about the lack of substance it139Please respect copyright.PENANA7R6ScErccX
hasn’t been given for more than six hours. Megan tried to remember the last139Please respect copyright.PENANASIbUCzP8Ev
time she had eaten; that must be the three muffins’ cupcakes she had to force139Please respect copyright.PENANA0cGYSGdm7a
herself to choke down on the plane, as her upset tummy wouldn’t give her139Please respect copyright.PENANACcRs4cAaNo
appetite for anything more. No wonder she feels a headache and was mildly dizzy139Please respect copyright.PENANAAfgsDQRdZh
when she stood – those were her recognized signs of hunger. Never one to forget139Please respect copyright.PENANAfYNuvAvuhp
hygiene no matter how hungry she is, Megan moved to the door she presumed to be139Please respect copyright.PENANAI45gIKRWMu
the bathroom to refreshen up. When done, she headed out.
Long hallways stretched out139Please respect copyright.PENANAVTgoxUukXi
at either side of her, causing her to pause with a small frown. Debating139Please respect copyright.PENANAkf1ZYCOPbb
mentally for some secs, she decided on the left hallway. As much as she tried139Please respect copyright.PENANAVjBizJUopM
not to notice, she still found herself admiring the unusual, yet sophisticated139Please respect copyright.PENANAQzriu2vQY3
interior design of the house. Priceless paintings displaying Scottish history139Please respect copyright.PENANAVCMIeduSL0
with artifacts were mounted on the golden walls. Various-sized vintage vases139Please respect copyright.PENANAfFhf54JgHR
noticeably worth more than she thinks, including the plain-looking ones, stood139Please respect copyright.PENANAxTOnlClXRm
at every corner of the hallways. She’d have spent more time appreciating if her139Please respect copyright.PENANAiDT0pwZv1Q
belly didn’t protest again, this time louder.
She walked faster,139Please respect copyright.PENANA0Cf8WoDlL2
coming out to a staircase. There was another flight of stairs in front of her139Please respect copyright.PENANAPpgxL2Gqll
but she ignored it, choosing to locate the kitchen. Thankfully, she didn’t139Please respect copyright.PENANAyNrXm0ThRV
spend much time at all. The spacious, spotless kitchen equipped with modern139Please respect copyright.PENANAUFWHu7bzKU
utensils almost made her giddy and Megan couldn’t wait to start preparing tasty139Please respect copyright.PENANAzfWPiD43uK
food on the big counter. She opened the double-doored fridge and grinned139Please respect copyright.PENANAv4ZNZIfi0O
broadly at how well-stuffed it is. As someone who enjoys cooking a lot, she139Please respect copyright.PENANAobj26K2FbQ
always appreciates it a lot when the fridge is filled up with all sorts of139Please respect copyright.PENANAnAhZRoGSHE
varieties of foods.
“Oh.”
Megan glanced behind her139Please respect copyright.PENANAPxf7LjDQwr
shoulders to see a young girl, she doesn’t look more than nineteen years,139Please respect copyright.PENANAlYJ8L4Qolw
standing – frozen more like it – at the entrance of the kitchen. Her pale green139Please respect copyright.PENANAwbUmfzc5HP
orbs were filled with anxiety, reluctance, and tiny curiosity as she held a139Please respect copyright.PENANA6RZqv9fV5M
tray holding an empty bowl and cup. Everything regarding her, from her posture139Please respect copyright.PENANAe9IDh3D8eC
to her expression, screams she wants to be anywhere but here. Megan felt139Please respect copyright.PENANASryo1kubvr
strangely fascinated. Shutting the fridge, she faced the girl. She noted how139Please respect copyright.PENANABWs5hBX10b
she tensed up immediately and Megan raised an inquisitive brow at her. The girl139Please respect copyright.PENANAnkysRCf3Ag
crimsoned. She tried to stammer out something, but under Megan’s bold stare,139Please respect copyright.PENANAf0AW7uq7DT
she couldn’t form anything that made sense.
Having a strong impression,139Please respect copyright.PENANApzUBq2mnks
she was terrifying the poor girl, Megan eased up her expression, putting on the139Please respect copyright.PENANAAkn25fkh3V
winning, a failsafe smile she used whenever she wants to soothe her139Please respect copyright.PENANANdltAtcXHy
not-so-polite, demanding customers of her culinary abilities. “I’m sorry if I139Please respect copyright.PENANAo5eVEHe1mz
frightened you or anything. Believe me, it’s not my intention.”
The girl gave a brief smile,139Please respect copyright.PENANAtsVcVszZQF
her stance relaxing. “I-I’m the one who’d apologize to you,” she went to the139Please respect copyright.PENANA1TsDEwDOt9
sink to drop the tray. “I shouldn’t have behaved like that. It was incredibly139Please respect copyright.PENANABudBTTpu1F
rude of me. I’m sorry, ma’am.”
She’s still139Please respect copyright.PENANAXPAjt2DsS6
uncomfortable with me, Megan thought. “You weren’t rude. So, there’s no need to139Please respect copyright.PENANAUx35Dt5qGi
apologize….”
The girl stared at her139Please respect copyright.PENANAWgIMwIkiTh
blankly. Realizing she was asking for her name, she quickly replied, “Arabel139Please respect copyright.PENANAIrAzRSyOyr
Shaw, ma’am.”
“Oh. A lovable beauty139Please respect copyright.PENANAUjyiJPfcPt
worth of her name.”
The girl went red, almost139Please respect copyright.PENANAY12Fdi4oyQ
like the gingery curls on her head.
A low growl sounded out of139Please respect copyright.PENANADUUW2ERgXC
Megan’s stomach, prompting Arabel to turn pale and become frantic. “Oh, my God!139Please respect copyright.PENANA0ILZBkRf3G
I’m so, so sorry. I can’t believe I’m such an idiot. How can I not know that139Please respect copyright.PENANAdMcWO4FGzf
you’d be hungry when you awake?” She pulled out a pot and pan. Going to the139Please respect copyright.PENANAqzVrGGxLYP
fridge, she was just about to pull out a crate of eggs but was stopped.
“You don’t need to do139Please respect copyright.PENANAE4GB1CeVUt
that. I can make something for myself.”
“But—"
“Even if you cook for139Please respect copyright.PENANAN4gfudWPWV
me, there’s a high probability I won’t like it. So, to save ingredients and139Please respect copyright.PENANAaBO71akTKW
time, let me do it.”
“But—”
Arabel has led away139Please respect copyright.PENANAmXeLN4MCoW
from the refrigerator and lightly pushed one of the stools in the kitchen.139Please respect copyright.PENANACdZDhgH4g2
“Sit.” She complied. Like a three-year-old child who always wants to keep his139Please respect copyright.PENANAkTcLBu2aD5
mother within his sight, she trailed her every move with large curious eyes.139Please respect copyright.PENANAJUlkguPu7S
Whenever she sees her not knowing where some things she needs are, she bolts up139Please respect copyright.PENANAWF0WmSgX1U
like an antelope. Providing said items within a blink. The smile on Megan’s139Please respect copyright.PENANAejDimEYa3A
lips keeps increasing.
“So, what are you139Please respect copyright.PENANAKbw9uVTDYX
doing to cook?” The young girl, unable to hold it in anymore, asked. She was139Please respect copyright.PENANAIsFgN7Tqpg
standing alongside Megan, taking in the things she was preparing on the139Please respect copyright.PENANAOTR5YEIWcc
counter.
“Brisket hash with139Please respect copyright.PENANAb1d42RoLYq
eggs."
“Oh.”
Done making ready139Please respect copyright.PENANA9tUT4TiM9T
the ingredients, Megan placed a large skillet over medium heat and poured in139Please respect copyright.PENANAaPcGIhzYup
two tablespoons of olive oil. When it was heated, she added diced onion and139Please respect copyright.PENANAIVhXiEGIP9
fried it until it was translucent. She put in minced garlic cloves with one medium139Please respect copyright.PENANAzjSAVpEjqe
red pepper, which she’d seeded and chopped. She mixed them, leaving it for a139Please respect copyright.PENANAPXGrbRcmwf
moment. Adding the potatoes she’d cut into cubes to the vegetables, she had139Please respect copyright.PENANADNF6MRDrk3
everything cooked for fifteen minutes. An eager-to-help Arabel, who had been139Please respect copyright.PENANA2iJ2OovLaA
salivating nonstop the instant the mouthwatering aroma spread out, was in139Please respect copyright.PENANAr4Q14SA2Db
charge of monitoring and flipping the mixture every few minutes with a flat139Please respect copyright.PENANAHbN7U40Tsi
spatula so the lot browned evenly while she whisked down the eggs.
When it was time, Megan139Please respect copyright.PENANAdfroWTwyvp
tossed in the cubed brisket. She combined it well, afterward seasoning it with139Please respect copyright.PENANAKmxBV6a73l
salt and black pepper. She gave a quick turn after that leave it to cook for139Please respect copyright.PENANAgW2YwquTUX
some minutes. Until the beef became brown and the potatoes succulently tender,139Please respect copyright.PENANAhWsdTBGbY9
before removing it from the heat. In a separate pan, she made scrambled eggs139Please respect copyright.PENANAw1XsaByXuz
and then plated them, not forgetting to add barbeque sauce.
Arabel was genuinely stunned139Please respect copyright.PENANAyZfGdnZmIQ
when Megan gave her a sizeable portion of the food. It took a whole minute to139Please respect copyright.PENANA74ib4gukr1
get her to stop thanking her. The second Arabel took a bite, her head never139Please respect copyright.PENANAXoeqHrp29u
came up again 'til she’d wiped her plate clean. Literally. Within a few blinks.139Please respect copyright.PENANAtlc5eOZ8Cv
That spoke of how delicious the food is.
Megan had paused from taking139Please respect copyright.PENANARAyDj6pMJK
lifting her spoon. She googled, half shocked, half amazed. But secretly139Please respect copyright.PENANArimOUKbuUD
pleased. Arabel felt embarrassed, even wished the earth should open and swallow139Please respect copyright.PENANAju93mtjhDr
her up, when a light belch sipped out from her lips, despite her hard best to139Please respect copyright.PENANAkUd34yqGxp
keep it in.
“Here.” Megan handed139Please respect copyright.PENANAud2PU3sxZ5
her the glass of orange juice meant for her, which after small hesitation, she139Please respect copyright.PENANA6KfXFKeWZ4
gulped down. “I’ve never had anyone react that much to my cooking, and quite139Please respect copyright.PENANAXuyrxxjne2
frankly. Arabel, I love it.”
The girl pepped up, looking139Please respect copyright.PENANAf2v43jKR0K
partly convinced. “Really?”
“Cooking is a great139Please respect copyright.PENANArcNX9cr6su
passion of mine and as a chef, there’s nothing more that delights my soul than139Please respect copyright.PENANAyPIs2wz7OG
seeing my food consumed with such great…. relish.”
Arabel ducked her head.139Please respect copyright.PENANAJclEMqoL5f
“Okay, whatever you say.”
“I—”
“Arabel!”
A voice called from somewhere139Please respect copyright.PENANAmxBU9CBvwm
outside the kitchen. The way Arabel jumped from her seat would’ve been comical139Please respect copyright.PENANAU4lV3821EU
if she didn’t nearly trip over her feet and fallen flat on the floor. “Arabel!139Please respect copyright.PENANAdNHclk7Wmx
Where are ye, silly lass?”
Said person had gone139Please respect copyright.PENANANhRgkf0pBr
pale, as though she’d seen a ghost. In a flash, she was at the sink. Dropping139Please respect copyright.PENANASkF8JilGLJ
the plate, the one she’d eaten with, she packed the bowls and pans used for139Please respect copyright.PENANATmBBtx5wUg
cooking and began to demonstrate the quickest washing and rinsing known in139Please respect copyright.PENANAscCvs7qD86
history. Megan watched like a captivated audience while eating. Drawn to the139Please respect copyright.PENANAlOQ3gso5t5
clanging of the utensils, footsteps drew closer to where they are. Just as139Please respect copyright.PENANAKBJBYz1QFL
Arabel finished, the woman Megan saw yesterday stepped into the kitchen. An139Please respect copyright.PENANAo4sxwBgFDI
exasperated frown covered her expression but there was no misreading the139Please respect copyright.PENANAJ316Wg7n9M
fleeting surprise and repulsion Megan spied in her gaze. This time, she was139Please respect copyright.PENANAykc18qOKes
certain this sweetishly-looking woman has something against her.
Whatever.
“Ye silly lass! Why139Please respect copyright.PENANAByI7qh5S76
didn’t ye answer me when I was yellin’ for you at the top of my lungs? I was139Please respect copyright.PENANAVVSBDNA0Ux
expectin’ ye back ages ago!”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Rhona.139Please respect copyright.PENANANsqnPAWW9h
I-I was busy preparing something for Mrs. Henderson when I saw there’s nothing139Please respect copyright.PENANASWtRRWNiIW
left of breakfast for her.”
Both women flinched.
Rhona shot a nasty glare at139Please respect copyright.PENANAVMrOCNtO4m
the young girl, her displeasure apropos to the way Megan was addressed,139Please respect copyright.PENANA6pvI875hHm
however, Arabel misunderstood it. “I didn’t know ye know you’re conversant with139Please respect copyright.PENANAqLi4ZBst6U
Amerikie’s food.”
“When I knew Mrs.139Please respect copyright.PENANAQqHXpihSRX
Henderson was an American, I did tons of research on the country so I can serve139Please respect copyright.PENANA5iLZhZRRig
her needs better.”
Megan felt incredibly139Please respect copyright.PENANAZTAsaPRmPE
uncomfortable being called that title again. She glanced at139Please respect copyright.PENANAwTlhIborAy
Arabel from the corners of her eyes; seeing her sweaty, bright face and139Please respect copyright.PENANABZoJ2W7Lz3
quivering lips, she pitied her and decided not to expose her for her clear lie.
Rhonda observed Arabel139Please respect copyright.PENANAtLiPSa0Py3
suspiciously. She’s not convinced of whatsoever nonsense she spewed out. A few139Please respect copyright.PENANAypajsxmpDT
seconds later, she waved her to leave the kitchen and the girl readily fled.139Please respect copyright.PENANAIphsceYEWE
Giving her head a shake, she turned back to Megan who had gone over to the139Please respect copyright.PENANArrfA6m3MmP
sink. This time, she didn’t bother hiding her feelings.
“Ms. Michelle, I’d like139Please respect copyright.PENANAU8rJbo04WN
it if ye don’t make Arabel cook for ye. She isn’t among the maids139Please respect copyright.PENANAalYsIt6zyO
in charge of cooking, so don’t force the poor girl to do139Please respect copyright.PENANAuUXz5mklwU
what she doesn’t want.”
Wow. Way to rip off the139Please respect copyright.PENANAHyt9G2MliH
bandage, Megan sardonically noted. Wiping her hands with a napkin, she met the139Please respect copyright.PENANAi1l6Ipt5Hm
angry older woman with the angering smile she uses on the people she doesn’t139Please respect copyright.PENANA2jpebHsjVc
like. “Hmm, but I wonder why any food wasn’t left for me?”
“I told the maids not139Please respect copyright.PENANA1MJ5PNIzlI
to leave any because I don’t know whether you’d like what we cooked or not. Ye139Please respect copyright.PENANA1iJSrQ96Zp
were needlessly finicky of what you ate the last time you came here so I took139Please respect copyright.PENANAWBIKZUvNQQ
it upon myself to be the one to cook for ye,” Rhona paused, casting a139Please respect copyright.PENANACfUCxF58sQ
depreciative look over at her figure. “Though if ye don’t mind me saying this,139Please respect copyright.PENANAfoC7mRpMO4
Ms. Michelle, I think starving a bit would do ye a solid good.” She jibed,139Please respect copyright.PENANAqVefvsN52n
smirking when that smile was erased.
Megan dropped being139Please respect copyright.PENANAtd4Y2O5dVC
polite. “Remind me again, what is your job exactly here?”
“What? Don’t tell me139Please respect copyright.PENANAEsJvdkOzFE
you’ve forgotten?”
“Oh, I haven’t. But I139Please respect copyright.PENANAyuldfdgC5Q
just want to know if you’ve gotten promoted to a new high rank that gives you139Please respect copyright.PENANASWSb6nkuGX
the unrestricted authority to disrespect me, the lady of this house? Or have139Please respect copyright.PENANAQwFBAYvSuc
you forgotten that I’m married to your boss and that also makes me your boss?”
“Ye---”
“Oh, how scatterbrained139Please respect copyright.PENANAX4dIty4ip5
of me. You’re what? Sixty? Sixty-five? Your brain probably isn’t as sharp as it139Please respect copyright.PENANAtP2UHYxWMF
is if you were my age, so I’ll take it that those stupidly inappropriate139Please respect copyright.PENANAA7IGmIOpKt
comments were caused by the parasite living in your head because I want to139Please respect copyright.PENANAgpQiyhGZFE
believe you valve your job and you wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize it.139Please respect copyright.PENANAwxe0hHleTQ
Perhaps I’ll talk to my husband to let you retire. After all, you’re getting139Please respect copyright.PENANA07AaNrZGSC
old. It’s obvious you’re no longer fit for this job and it’d be very cruel of139Please respect copyright.PENANAorxCQKvPIf
us to continue to make me do what you don’t want to do. Don’t you think so?”
Rhona glared with reddened139Please respect copyright.PENANA6HxxFbb199
eyes; her smirk long gone. She wanted nothing more than to close the distance139Please respect copyright.PENANAn9LzEzDQfy
between them and serve the insolent lass a well-earned slap. How dare she talk139Please respect copyright.PENANAaBphpGFLwK
to her that way.
Standing there, her139Please respect copyright.PENANAMrEupWLqof
chest heaving and looking as though she had been abandoned and betrayed by the139Please respect copyright.PENANAStpnqTEFBF
world, Megan felt zero ounces of pity for her. And why should she? Out of139Please respect copyright.PENANAzDhZhAEJgw
nowhere, this judgmental woman – she had mistaken as someone good at first –139Please respect copyright.PENANAap9bZgb3LB
start spurting crap concerning her, disparaging her. Megan knew she’d be pissed139Please respect copyright.PENANARpXlRhNvGu
at herself later if she didn’t return the favor. She might look gentle, doesn’t139Please respect copyright.PENANArehgVwxTpQ
mean she’s not a pushover for anyone.
“Y-Ye j-jest! Ye think139Please respect copyright.PENANA6EIsJz0Ny8
after what you did, Elie would want to listen to anything ye say, much less139Please respect copyright.PENANA4lbNmoK7Ty
believe ye? Ah, you’re delusional.”
“You wanna bet? He’s a139Please respect copyright.PENANA2Et11hEtgm
man, isn’t he? Please, a little seduction and he’ll become pudding in my hands139Please respect copyright.PENANAFV7J5No2GF
in a flash.” Megan tilted her head a bit to the side; the slow smile that139Please respect copyright.PENANA2u1mtnlLtZ
stretched on her face made her look very much like a vixen. “Would you like me139Please respect copyright.PENANAe579xZqCNA
to show you how it’s done?”
Rhona rushed out.
Megan dropped the act,139Please respect copyright.PENANA8wvDLjOEXr
disgusted beyond expression. What a pretentious, elderly woman. Brushing the139Please respect copyright.PENANARj8vUwRFXb
conversation aside, she strode back to her room, put on some workout outfits,139Please respect copyright.PENANA2h6CFhMzSk
and did yoga for an hour or so.
|!|!|!|!| |!|!|!|!|
“So, how is the139Please respect copyright.PENANATh8KYwhzcR
bakery doing?” Megan went straight to the point after exchanging pleasantries139Please respect copyright.PENANAlLGO0YseMw
with the vibrantly dressed woman on a video call with her. Clad in her lazy-day139Please respect copyright.PENANA03nm4q3kmc
outfit; an old, baggy shirt having faded baseball logo – she snatched it from Shane139Please respect copyright.PENANAjQ1YVUZGq5
months back when they began dating – and her favorite woolen cutoff – panties,139Please respect copyright.PENANAur5ukVf8bB
her aunt claimed they were – underneath. She was standing on the veranda139Please respect copyright.PENANAYTQ0hDS3he
outside her room; enjoying the pleasurable breeze which slip in and out of her139Please respect copyright.PENANAzSfV8HWJQc
cloth and the beautiful, green scenery that lays around the manor.
“Oh, we’re doing139Please respect copyright.PENANAjdEOXDMQAl
alright. The guy your aunt brought, Kilian, is a gem. Granted, the cakes and139Please respect copyright.PENANAdwveqtjwFV
pastries he bakes aren’t precisely as great as yours, but the customers love139Please respect copyright.PENANAwG3OV69xI9
them! Look, just the first day and we’re already sold out.” The camera shifted,139Please respect copyright.PENANAM8ztI5UQHl
showing her the inside of her shop, which was crowded with people – just as139Please respect copyright.PENANAPciO35eEii
when she was there – and the show glass was empty. Megan's brows lifted; she139Please respect copyright.PENANASpbDg26EQ4
was impressed. It’s good to know she chose the right person among the four139Please respect copyright.PENANAuJDGPmZsC6
chefs she’d talked to.
Jemma’s excited chocolate139Please respect copyright.PENANAWWPbjbzRxH
face came back into view. “Do you know he’s quite a shy guy? When one of your139Please respect copyright.PENANAlD36jVSZLY
regulars Mrs. Copson, wanted to meet the new chef and Grey called him out, he139Please respect copyright.PENANAShM4dA1NF9
was such a cute nerve wrack. The way he stuttered in that lovely Greek accent,139Please respect copyright.PENANAIYQyK7z4R1
fiddled with his back hair, and blushed nonstop? Ah, I think I’m in love. I139Please respect copyright.PENANAbXJ25ipSKQ
don’t think I’m the only one; all your female clients are also in love with139Please respect copyright.PENANAmos0su0Id8
him. 90% of our buyers are females and I don’t think it’s entirely our goods139Please respect copyright.PENANANeyc4pO7sD
they’re eager for if you get my drift. Not that I blame them one bit; I mean139Please respect copyright.PENANABBHzdzQH1c
have you ever seen a man who’s so sinfully gorgeous you just want to lick him139Please respect copyright.PENANA2ULgXBZxGi
up---”
“Godmother, please!” Megan had139Please respect copyright.PENANABwh7JIOcHT
to interrupt, or her ears would be filled with descriptions she’d rather not139Please respect copyright.PENANAs3wRhqUMjR
have regarding her employee. She wondered if she made the right decision,139Please respect copyright.PENANAGBU7jyGFLJ
allowing her godmother to persuade her to be her temporary manager. “You’re139Please respect copyright.PENANAySt3TDdWj7
fifty-four years and happily married with three children. For goodness’ sake,139Please respect copyright.PENANAb9GNZ0yKuq
act your age for once!”
“Killjoy. I was just139Please respect copyright.PENANAjkak63jomc
looking, okay? There’s no one yet that can make leave that delicious,139Please respect copyright.PENANAOiDWoliuAm
one-of-its-kind specimen I have for a husband. Besides, my observation isn’t139Please respect copyright.PENANA64njqoHZqS
for me, it’s all for you, prude.” Jemma had that gleam in her eye, warning139Please respect copyright.PENANAGgZHOyiKFI
Megan she was going to launch into her usual advice/speech – cough, nagging,139Please respect copyright.PENANA4Wp2jAap9D
cough – before she’d rush her off the phone, she went off. Leaving her with no139Please respect copyright.PENANAxG9ZYr4hyI
choice but listen.
“I’m not saying waiting139Please respect copyright.PENANALnoJBwa9Wu
for Shane is a bad thing but you have waited enough time on the man. You’ve139Please respect copyright.PENANAEQqfdQ5fWr
been obsessed with him since you were what, nineteen?”
“Twenty. But I’m---”
“Twenty! For six years139Please respect copyright.PENANAvpcOVbdv2H
he never looked your way once. Why then are you still pining with that kind of139Please respect copyright.PENANAEEMt2bEoBX
man, huh?”
Megan gritted her teeth,139Please respect copyright.PENANAPbXkF1Iwmt
“He confessed to me five months ago – I told you and mom all of it – and we139Please respect copyright.PENANADu71yrofRo
both decided to take it slow. I don’t see what’s so wrong that everyone is139Please respect copyright.PENANAn6hKryE68F
complaining.” She couldn’t help the sass at the last words.
Jemma narrowed her jade-green139Please respect copyright.PENANAXuZJNsT83l
eyes, threateningly. “Don’t think that because you’re far away, you can run139Please respect copyright.PENANAHbuqJI8OQl
your mouth on me on the phone anyhow, I won’t tolerate that.” Thank God she139Please respect copyright.PENANAEPvbVbEjK7
wasn’t close by or her godmother would’ve slapped her silly.
“Sorry.” She felt like139Please respect copyright.PENANAqkRU94aarm
a schoolgirl as she apologized. “But I love him, Jemma.”
“You’re almost139Please respect copyright.PENANAse1NgFRi7j
thirty---” Jemma started.
“Twenty-six.”
“---and he hasn’t put a139Please respect copyright.PENANAUgXbXKCkU3
ring on your finger yet---”
“Again, we just started139Please respect copyright.PENANAbMP1F3BOUR
dating,”
“---What is he waiting139Please respect copyright.PENANAR7tTjQTjDB
for? The apocalypse? He isn’t sincere with you. Well, it’s a good thing you got139Please respect copyright.PENANAyD9U77rjaK
married to that Scottish guy, Aneislis, right? He’s the right one for you.”
Megan looked139Please respect copyright.PENANAYWTvNIj4R9
incredulous, “In case you’ve forgotten, he’s Michelle’s husband. I have no139Please respect copyright.PENANAeXOfxuHg6D
interest in him.”
“He’s yours for life,139Please respect copyright.PENANAMOixBGyBbm
whether you accept it or not. Even though Michelle is found, she won’t be with139Please respect copyright.PENANA7Dm4yEBmnD
him. You should know this. Also, it’s best if---”
Megan was distracted.139Please respect copyright.PENANAmtcontBuyl
Her sight was drawn to the glittering, luxurious car – a Maserati – gliding139Please respect copyright.PENANA7UfY26TsFw
towards the manor. It stopped, the backseat door opened, and out came the man139Please respect copyright.PENANAYMkUij3Xvz
her godmother approved of. Her nose was wrinkled in distaste. She stared,139Please respect copyright.PENANAUGtD5WdKTo
sour-faced, as he helped someone down – an adorable, little girl. He shut the139Please respect copyright.PENANAPy3tCiyWoJ
car door and walked hand-to-hand a few steps before the girl made a demand.
“Daddy, carry me.”
Her cheerful, childish voice139Please respect copyright.PENANA6mpDSaTYrc
rang out. Aneislis obeyed, continuing his journey inside the house.
Megan unintentionally139Please respect copyright.PENANAkKgNhSevRr
pressed the end button to the video call as her mind pondered about the139Please respect copyright.PENANAme91Jia5mU
information she had learned.
So, he had a daughter. Wonder139Please respect copyright.PENANAyw0V2BNNOs
why that tiny detail wasn’t told to her, she rolled her orbs.