"NO." Ashley, clearly still hung up on yesterday’s events, refused flat out. "I haven’t seen Annabelle in two years, and I just want to hang out with her alone. If we bring a giant third wheel along, how are we supposed to have any fun?"
Leona Grant was speechless.
Ashley had always been this blunt. She was his sister, after all, so Leona Grant just frowned at her words and said nothing.
Annabelle was bored and had nothing better to do. Besides, she was tired of being stuck under the sa roof as Leona Grant.
She thought for a mont, then said, "Alright, I’m in. You pick the place."
"It’s a plan!"
The two won changed their clothes and left a short while later.
Leona Grant watched Annabelle walk away without a single backward glance, and a knot suddenly ford in his chest.
’She used to try every trick in the book just to be with him. Even a simple conversation would leave her overjoyed for days.’
’But now, it was like she couldn’t even be bothered to look at him.’
For so reason, this realization made him deeply uncomfortable.
Seeing the complex emotions on Leona Grant’s face, Patrick Grant’s eyes glinted with a fleeting smile.
A chauffeur drove while Annabelle and Ashley sat in the back, Ashley engrossed in her phone.
As they drove, she suddenly tossed her phone aside, lounged back in her seat, and asked gossipily, "Annabelle, is it just , or have your feelings for my brother cooled off?"
Annabelle looked at the mischievous young woman with amusent. "What makes you say that?"
"Your eyes," Ashley said, her lips curving into a lazy smile. "You used to only have eyes for my brother. You’d watch his every move. But today, I noticed you didn’t. You didn’t even look at him once. If that’s not your feelings fading, then what is?"
"Your detective skills are impressive, I’ll give you that." Annabelle glanced at her, a small smile playing on her lips as she suddenly added, "And thank you for yesterday."
Ashley paused, confused. "Thank for what?"
"You were trying to embarrass Vivian Yates on purpose yesterday, weren’t you? Was it for my sake?"
Annabelle and Ashley had spent years together, after all. She knew her sister-in-law’s personality inside and out.
The young woman might seem quirky and act like a spoiled princess, but she was fiercely loyal.
"Oh, that." Ashley toyed with a strand of her hair, feigning boredom. "I just can’t stand that two-faced act of hers. She pretends to be a saint, but the stuff she pulls behind people’s backs is horrifying. I was planning to give her a proper lesson, but I can’t believe my own brother yelled at for her sake. It pissed off so much. By the way, does she pull that crap on you all the ti?"
"Hah." Annabelle didn’t respond, just letting out a short, sarcastic laugh.
’Thinking back on all the things Vivian had done, Annabelle felt it wasn’t even worth talking about.’
Ashley looked at Annabelle, a faraway look in her eyes. "Annabelle," she said softly, "I’ve noticed sothing since you ca back. You’ve changed."
Annabelle let out a soft laugh, not denying it. "So," she asked lightly, "do you prefer the old , or the I am now?"
Ashley lowered her eyes, as if she already sensed what was coming. "I just hope," she said quietly, "that no matter what happens, our relationship won’t change."
The corners of Annabelle’s mouth lifted into a warm smile. "Ashley," she said, gratified, "you’ve grown up."
"Annabelle, I really like you," Ashley said earnestly. "I hope that for my sake, and for our whole family’s, you’ll give my brother another chance. Trust , he’ll eventually see how wonderful you are."
’A chance?’
’It wasn’t as if she hadn’t given him one. But what had he done with it?’
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