"Sorry to trouble you, Caroline."
Moreau had an uneasy feeling when she reached the kitchen, only to find that Caroline had finished almost all the work. She only had to wait for the dough that was still being fried in hot oil to cook. It wouldn't take much longer. The golden brown color had already begun to surface. There was also a melt that became a memorable part of the bowl and did not go unnoticed. "This is my duty, Miss. After all, Master asked for it directly. But I didn't see him. Didn't he leave with you earlier on important business?" "Who said that?" asked Moreau instinctively, almost unconsciously raising one high eyebrow while looking at Caroline's distorted face. "Just guessing when he asked me to keep the ballpoint pen he used.” The woman added a nervous smile, between the fear of misspeaking. However, Moreau would understand her. She shook her head vaguely—determined not to leave an odd impression on Caroline. "I just went to my rIt had been more than an hour since the movie had started. Moreau had no idea where Abihirt had gone, but the man never arrived at the place they had promised. She had even sent several messages, including the barcode of the movie ticket and none of them could imply the prospect that Abihirt would read it. Perhaps the man had never really intended to, had deliberately left Moreau waiting and ended up sitting almost alone here. It was necessary to underline the existence of the others—the audience who were enjoying the storyline. However, it was not the same as someone having said they would be present, even if they were not. Abihirt had a desire not to give Juan a chance. With irony, it made Moreau feel half annoyed. She had been desperately holding back by not agreeing to Juan's request—when the offer of a movie night was made again, while they knew Abihirt was making her hopes dashed. The man's purpose was uncertain, like a puzzle and Moreau had to swallow forcibly.
Abihirt seemed to have something to talk about, but they understood the moments where not to make even the slightest noise, though the man's excited breathing was still enough to leave an impression and Moreau did not want to get bogged down for too long. She probably needed to start things off by slightly avoiding anything that would make the situation feel complicated. They didn't deserve to hold hands. Nothing could describe the specifics of how they should behave, other than the full knowledge of something that could hardly be called a date with her mother's husband. How bitter. Moreau almost grinned sarcastically, then she hid her hand between the crack of her tightly clasped legs. Abihirt wouldn't be able to do anything more than insist that they start things without talking first. At the very least, she wanted to know what was holding her stepfather back for so long that he could barely be here. Office work? The business with Froy? Or perhaps Barbara had come to h
Moreau walked first. Deliberately widening her stride with a steady pace, but that did not deny that Abihirt would stop whatever she was doing. The man's touch on her wrist was a testament, then a tug left her stuck against the wall. "You're angry." Abihirt's deep, raspy voice sounded almost like a whisper, filled with labored breathing when their faces were so close. Moreau swallowed roughly. Wishing she could forget some things, she deliberately turned her face away from looking directly into her stepfather's eyes. There was nothing to talk about for now. It would be useless if they tried to just build something that wasn't. "I know you're angry. Your mother used to act like this too." Abihirt spoke again, but Moreau was a little incredulous that the man would bring Barbara into the conversation. There was no correlation between her, who was trying to seem okay, trying not to explode at any significant time, and her mother who probably had some quirks and
"Your skates, Sir...." A servant came to hand over something Abihirt had requested, but his attention was riveted straight on watching Moreau's beautiful form still moving on the ice. The girl was spinning. Moving her legs. Like surfing, but it all looked exactly the same awesome pattern. He remembered how he always played a video of his mother doing something similar. There was almost a resemblance. The only difference was that Moreau knew how to rebel, while there was the desperate variety of a woman who decided to end her life after facing the attitude of a cowardly husband—even as a father... the old bastard was irresponsible. Abihirt did not want to remember all the events that were listed as part of the worst of his life. A moment to turn his attention to the man who was still waiting for an answer. "Just put it down." Just a short order; done immediately, then the man walked backwards. At first there was no intention of just being here. H
"You often see me and Juan training and also attending tournaments. There seems to be another reason or do you have an interest here, hence the sponsorship of our activities?" she asked with some form of suspicion. Perhaps it was just curiosity. She was sure it must be someone with a particular interest to be able to do all this. "My mother was a figure skater." There was something strange in Abihirt's deep, raspy voice, but Moreau didn't understand where the correlation between something burdensome the man was feeling and what they had in common—meaning... the woman who had given birth to such a handsome man. "Wouldn't it be great if your mom was a figure skating ex. You can bring me to meet her and I can learn more—" "Do you want to meet her in the grave?" Just like that. Moreau was silent for a moment. She really never meant to or at least not to offend Abihirt. The man didn't say it from the start and made the information seem like a surprise.
"You closed it down? Wait...who are you? The owner of the mall?"Nor would she be able to hold back any longer. An overreaction that might have amused Abihirt, so much so that there was almost a smile before it was drowned out by a touch on the top of her head. "I am the highest shareholder." Abihirt replied calmly. The man was rich. Moreau understood, but never thought that her stepfather would be willing to sacrifice the most important part of his income just to have some fun; to enjoy the remaining time between them. "How big of a stake do you have to be this influential?" she asked again to make sure something might sound more reasonable. "95%." Damn it, Moreau was stunned for a moment. It wasn't just a share, but there was a trend where Abihirt's position was almost at the line of complete owner of a mall of this size. "You're not afraid of losing your mall profits just because you want to have an affair here?" Not knowing that stat
"So hard, that you'll forget how to be yourself."Her stepfather's statement was spoken without emotion. However, for some reason Moreau felt there was something odd when the man decided not to say anything against the judgment she gave to someone—supposedly her mother's father-in-law. "What does that mean?" she asked slowly. Perhaps there would be another time. Not now, after feeling inappropriate to talk about something irrelevant. Let Abihirt reveal the answer. "Not all heirs will always inherit everything their parents had. I pioneered." That sounded sarcastic, but Moreau didn't expect Abihirt's statement to be directed at her. There was a note of inheritance from Jeremias Riveri—though up until this point Barbara seemed to have no interest in simply urging her to start an important lesson on the need to cultivate a company. Perhaps there was some purpose in her being preoccupied with the various activities of her figure skating career. Against a body
"Looks like you're shopping in bulk, Moreau ...." There was no impressive information when Barbara suddenly appeared after opening the door to the room a little rudely, then stood proudly with her arms folded in front of her chest. Moreau would not deny it as she stared straight in her mother's face. There was no smile. Instead, there was a cynical tendency, as if it had been in place before Barbara had set foot here. Moreau silently snorted. It was quite surprising and strange to have her mother come unexpectedly. That woman shouldn't know anything, but perhaps it was just a habit; showing up; commenting; and saying inappropriate things. In any case, she was too lazy to deal with her mother. Knowing there would be more serious problems if they eventually crossed the line. It could end up as a bad prospect to say that all of this was bought by one person. Moreau had refused when Abihirt offered something more. She just didn't want to. Coincidence—indeed; th
"Shouldn't we be going home? Why are you taking me to a hotel instead?" Moreau had sensed something unusual about Abihirt's decision from the start. Just waiting for the moment—the right moment to ask a question. At least here, when they were trapped in a room together. No one would interrupt, though she was wrong in her assumption, as a faint knock from outside immediately prompted the man to open the door. Moreau did not try to know who the person behind Abihirt's large body was. She did not want to deliberately shift her face just to risk a direct view. Let her stepfather speak for a moment. She didn't want to get involved in the conversation there either. Maybe it was just a custom as the owner relaying information to the hotel staff. It shouldn't be anything. Moreau kept waiting... until she finally noticed the new clothes in the man's hand. She instinctively looked down to scrutinize every single thing that clung to the body. They were still half damp. Need
Moreau was a little tense about the various reasons lodged in her mind. Abihirt's touch had caused an electric shock and the most important part was that the wound from Froy's actions might become apparent. That could be evidenced from Abihirt's suddenly silent facial expression, while the man's fingers moved slowly. It was as if he wanted to give her a light stroke, then instantly became a firm grip—not painful on her neck, but enough to scare Moreau. Worried that Abihirt would suddenly strangle her when the man was not in good control; angry perhaps, though there was still no specific reaction to be found, other than her stepfather remaining still. Or actually not .... "Why didn't you tell me this from the start?" the man asked in a voice that sounded like skepticism-disbelief. It almost made Moreau flinch and blink quickly so as not to arouse more suspicion. "Tell you what?" She understood where Abihirt was going with this. Intentionally feigning
Moreau let her hand soak in the water, letting the touch there, on Abihirt's arm like leaving a trace of mutual need. "Your mother will not be home today." Then a whisper from that deep, hoarse voice added something Moreau had hardly ever thought about. Reflexively... she parted her lips and asked, "Why?" "Your mother asked permission to take a vacation." Okay. She might have forgotten that; about Barbara's statement the other day during their dinner together. But that didn't mean this was part of their freedom, did it? Moreau still wanted to keep the boundaries or actually she was still waiting for when the irritation in her mind would disappear. "But I still want to go home," she said finally. Let Abihirt relent. The man should always give in, though Moreau unexpectedly felt her stepfather's embrace loosen. Only briefly, which made the new touch feel more intimate as she was lifted high and invited to sit by the lake. Perhaps Abihirt
"Thank you." There shouldn't have been anything else. The only thing Moreau wanted to do was put the necklace back on. She would be self-sufficient for times like this. Ironically, there was no time to read the slightest warning when Abihirt unexpectedly pulled her into the lake. "Abi—my phone!" Moreau shouted instinctively. She was now flooded quite high up. Almost her entire body was completely wet. And the very first thing she did was to grab the handheld cell phone that was clearly tucked into the back pocket of her pant. At least it was still on, but it was quite doubtful that it would last after almost the entire compound was submerged in water. She gave Abihirt a sharp look. Didn't know whether to feel grateful when still holding the necklace in hand so tightly. Probably, she would have gone straight to the edge just to make sure if her cell phone was okay or not. Moreau lifted the flat object high into the air. The lake shore felt shallow enough tha
"You have to be careful." Don't know why, but that's what Moreau said. She looked longingly at Abihirt's face. The first brief reaction was a faint nod. There was nothing else to do when she only needed to observe her stepfather's body was out of sight. Abihirt dived. Moreau did not expect that she would be waiting for quite some time. That was surprising. There was no clue about her stepfather from the start. Abihirt's method was definitely not like Froy's who often popped into the air, though this made Moreau feel very scared as she further examined the calm surface after a few puddle runs. Abihirt was completely unpredictable about appearing, and then... at times she would daydream—the sound of splashing water immediately drawing her attention closer. Moreau straightened her shoulders. Unfortunately, she would not immediately find Abihirt turning his head towards her. The man presumably just wanted to scoop up some oxygen and dive back into the water.
Moreau's body suddenly stiffened at the sight of the water splashing, while Abihirt had gotten closer to Froy. The man offered help to his nephew and there was some relief that they were slowly swimming to the shore. She and Gabriel instinctively ran to the lip of the lake. It wasn't Froy Moreau was thinking about. Only her stepfather. Let Gabriel take the remaining action by welcoming the man—who seemed to be panting—to be laid down on the grass with a groan. The cramping was painful. The feeling could be imagined so clearly in her mind. Moreau winced, but also looked over to find that Abihirt had climbed to the ground. Now the man towered over her soaking wet. Staring at his nephew half annoyed, though saying nothing but letting Froy calm down a bit more. Slowly... at least it had subsided. There was still no conversation. However, Gabriel again offered to help when Froy tried to get up from his seat and looked up hesitantly. "I can't find the necklace."
Moreau continued to watch her stepfather. The unpredictable handsome man was now at least trying not to be incensed at any form of resistance from Froy. "You know that throwing something small into the lake will make it difficult for you to find, so why do you keep doing it? You keep throwing Moreau's necklace for no reason." Abihirt's question was simple enough, but it more than made Froy almost faint. The man's eyes moved restlessly. It took a few moments of pause to actually find an answer. "I was out of line, Uncle. I was angry at the attitude you gave Lewi and the way you gave the necklace to Moreau instead!" That was like a huge protest. Froy's voice boomed loudly. The man was lucky, because it seemed like Abihirt had paid with money to make people leave the park, which Moreau only realized when she looked around. Not a surprise. She should be used to it. "What's wrong with that? Didn't I replace Lewi's necklace with a new one?" Abihirt's statement this time made Fro
Moreau thought that Gabriel's involvement in the trip to Sierre De Guadarrama National Park was something that made it an unfair prospect. However, it turned out that she was wrong to include such a notion, as Abihirt's wishes were more understandable when asking her to move to Gabriel's car, while the man walked into the building—quite a flashy place there. Moreau had been to this place before; it was where Froy got married and she ended up asking for permission to leave early. It was a little odd to think that Abihirt had actually come to the man's nephew for some sort of accountability. Now she found her stepfather forcing Froy to walk. Although it seemed forced, Froy would have no choice. The man's body had disappeared in the car. Only a tendrils of shadow remained, then she also had to watch Abihirt's body get into the driver's seat. The car engine started and that's when Gabriel understood to bring them up behind. "Abi wants to ask his nephew to dive
Moreau shook her head for a while. In the end, she decided to lift her face. She was almost surprised—of course, because this was not what she wanted to find; the smallest hint of disappointment on her stepfather's handsome face, no matter how much Abihirt tried to keep every detail of the reaction between them brief. The necklace left to her was indeed a lasting memory and Moreau was sure it was very-very precious. "I apologize." She still could not take it for granted that Abihirt did not want to prosecute anything at the moment. There was an impact where her heart felt like it was being crushed. Staring at the man made her eyes sting and heat up. To the time that kept crawling forward... would soon be accompanied by seepage of water and Moreau would not be able to hold back. Perhaps Abihirt understood how worry controlled the fear in her mind, so the man hugged instead of saying angry. Hugging after letting her tremble as if this was an unexpected outburst of trouble. "N