Hearing the words "I just don’t like you anymore," Shane’s hand paused mid-serve, his expression also stiffened.
Even though he knew it was just sothing she said in a fit of pique, his heart inexplicably ached for a mont.
Audrey Sutton, with her head down as she ate, didn’t notice his change and continued, "Honestly, if I weren’t kind-hearted enough to stay with you, you’d be a bachelor for life."
Shane smiled faintly without speaking, thoughtfully picked up so food, and continued eating.
Audrey had classes in the afternoon, so after lunch, she stayed in Shane’s lounge for a nap, telling him to wake her at 1:30, then slipped into his lounge.
A couple of minutes later, Shane followed her in.
He saw her lying on the bed, playing with her phone, not asleep.
Audrey turned her head to look at him and asked, "Are you going to sleep too?"
Shane hadn’t intended to, but her suggestion seed appealing. He nodded, "I’ll sleep for a bit."
Audrey imdiately shifted to the other side of the bed, watching as Shane took off his jacket, unbuckled his belt, and climbed under the covers.
Audrey smiled up at him, put down her phone, and snuggled up to him, looking up to ask, "How long are you going to sleep? What if we both oversleep?"
Shane didn’t answer, lowering his head to take in the scent of her hair, his hand wandering around her waist.
Feeling his touch, Audrey realized his intentions might not be to nap.
She brushed his hand away, "Stop it, I have my brother’s class this afternoon, and I can’t fall asleep in it."
Having just snuggled into his arms, Audrey quickly moved away, creating so distance between them, tucked herself in, and closed her eyes, saying, "Sleep!"
Shane moved closer again, simply holding her without any further moves.
He was so close, his chin resting in the hollow of her shoulder, his breaths falling softly on her neck, making it ticklish.
She giggled, curled her neck, and pushed his head away with a small hand, "I can’t sleep like this."
Shane just moved his head away, still holding her, his voice deep, "I find it harder and harder to understand you."
"What? What nonsense are you talking about? What do you an you can’t understand ?"
Shane chuckled, "Nothing, let’s sleep."
"You’re so mysterious," Audrey murmured, not taking it to heart as she nestled into his embrace and closed her eyes, savoring the lazy afternoon.
The next day, the rain cleared, and the skies were fair.
The temperature didn’t rise to thirty degrees; it was a comfortable ten-sothing degree sunny day.
Vanessa Sterling got up early, thinking the wedding was in the morning, but when she contacted Clarissa Morgan, she was told not to hurry, that soone would pick her up in the afternoon.
Unaware of the wedding arrangents, Vanessa Sterling just waited at ho.
Miles Sterling had not returned since leaving last night, and there was no sign of him in the morning.
In the afternoon, around two, Vanessa received a call from Clarissa Morgan and headed out with her bag.
The driver sent by Clarissa ca to pick Vanessa up, and Clarissa herself wasn’t in the car.
After about a ten-minute drive, they stopped outside an upscale nail salon, and the driver said, "Miss Morgan is waiting inside, just go in."
"...Thank you."
It was Vanessa’s first ti in such a place, as she generally didn’t have many opportunities to go out, and aside from Audrey Sutton, she didn’t seem to have any friends to go shopping with.
Upon entering the shop, she saw Clarissa Morgan sitting on the sofa getting her nails done.
Seeing Vanessa, Clarissa smiled and waved, motioning to the empty sofa next to her, "Vanessa, co sit here."
Vanessa walked over and a staff mber approached with a toolbox, "Let trim your nails first, and you can pick a color and style."
Vanessa paused before responding, "Huh? I’m not here for that... I’m just keeping her company."
Clarissa smiled, "We have ti to kill anyway, and second aunt is treating you to a nail session, go ahead. Your hands are so slender, and your skin is so fair. It’ll definitely look beautiful with nail polish."
The staff mber also smiled, "Indeed, your nail beds are beautiful, even a single color would look great."
Without waiting for Vanessa’s consent, the staff had already grabbed her hand to start working on her nails.
Clarissa held up the nail polish color board, asking Vanessa, "Vanessa, what color do you like?"
Vanessa looked at the colorful board, and before she could finish looking, Clarissa said, "How about this red one? It makes your skin look whiter and it’s quite classy."
The staff chid in, "Red is quite popular this year. The color Miss Morgan picked is one of our store’s best-sellers, many people love it."
Clarissa smiled and asked Vanessa, "Vanessa, what do you think?"
Vanessa gave a small nod, "...It’s okay."
She had no experience with manicures and no particular color preferences.
After spending almost two hours at the nail salon, Clarissa took her to a nearby styling salon, picked out a red dress that matched the nail color, and applied sowhat heavy makeup.
The look was sexy, yet Vanessa’s timid gaze seed a mismatch with the sexiness.
But it was that very contrast that presented a unique kind of beauty, as if even such bold styling couldn’t overshadow her purity.
Staring at herself in the mirror, Vanessa felt a bit awkward, thinking, wasn’t she supposed to be a bridesmaid? Bridesmaids rarely dress like this, right?
Clarissa didn’t consult Vanessa about her preferences, styling her the way she intended, and then went to the cashier to swipe her card.
By the ti they left the salon, it was dusk. Once in the car, Vanessa checked the ti on her phone.
Six thirty.
She sat there, uncomfortably tugging the sowhat short skirt, looking at her red-painted nails, which did indeed look quite nice.
In the car, Clarissa was busy making phone calls, one seemingly work-related and the other to Quentin Sterling.
Vanessa learned from the calls that they would shortly et up with Quentin.
Being able to see him made this outing worthwhile for her.
Vanessa’s feelings towards Quentin Sterling could hardly be called love.
She had been sent to The Sterling family too young to rember. She didn’t know who her parents were or how she ended up with The Sterling family; she only knew she had once tried desperately to fit into the family, to please everyone, carefully observing everyone’s expressions and moods, yet no matter how hard she tried, she never earned their approval.
Mr. and Mrs. Sterling didn’t like her presence, and had tried more than once to drive her out of their ho.
It was Miles Sterling who didn’t allow it.
But she held no gratitude in her heart for Miles, because she felt to him, she was just a plaything.
A toy that must never defy him.
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