CH.105

Talia finally managed to snatch the keys from the perpetually grumpy Robert about taking his precious car with a grin after a brief back-and-forth.

"Be careful with her, you hear me?" Robert warned sternly. "Not a single scratch!"

Talia rolled her eyes dramatically. "Yeah, yeah, I got it, Mr. Overprotective. I'll treat your baby like royalty, sheesh!"

It was a familiar song and dance between the step-cousins. Robert put on an air of gruffness while inwardly not being able to resist indulging her.

Talia knew just how to push his buttons to get what she wanted.

With the keys safely in her grasp, she headed out, making her way down to the shoreline to meet Lavinia as they had planned earlier.

Talia found Lavinia staring out at the softly swaying waves when she reached the shore.

She seemed totally absorbed in her own thoughts, the breeze lightly tousling her hair.

"Lavinia!" Talia called out in a singsong voice, breaking the spell of her cousin's reverie.

Lavinia turned with