Helios took a glance at Barbara and placed his hand on the back of hers. “It wouldn’t take long before I disclosed our relationship. Even if Mother didn’t find out about it, I’d still announce that I have a girlfriend when I quit the entertainment industry.”When Elder Master Boucher was about to say something, Yael interrupted him and spoke first. “Since everyone’s back, just stay here for dinner tonight. Helios, show Barbara around the house and get her acquainted with everyone when you have the time.”Helios nodded but took Barbara back to his room first.Barbara looked at the posters on the wall, almost all of which were his, and the countless trophies that were being displayed on the bookshelf, which were all the awards that he had won in the film industry over the years. There were also magazines, interviews, and newspaper article cutouts about him.She picked up a book and flipped through it. It documented Helios’ journey when he became famous at the age of 18.She laughed.
Daisie was rendered speechless.Colton was such a weirdo.When Waylon heard the doorbell ring, he turned around to get the door and saw that it was Ryleigh and Barbara, both carrying some food.Barbara had never seen Waylon before and thought that he was Colton, but there was a difference, “Why do you have a tan?”Ryleigh laughed. “He’s not Colton. That’s his brother. Colton is over there.”Barbara looked over and saw Colton and Daisie in the house. It wasn’t surprising as they did look too much alike.“Godmother, Aunt Barbara, you’re here.” Colton waved. Once the food was nicely seasoned, they started preparing for dinner—barbecue. Barbara and Daisie were playing with Sapphie while Colton and Waylon helped their mother start the fire.Ryleigh skewered the beef and got closer to Waylon when he saw how serious he was, “Have you been undergoing military training for three years?”Waylon looked at her. “Something like that.”Ryleigh nodded and patted his shoulder. “But boys l
Maisie was curious but didn’t ask anything. She went in and yelled something.Kennedy put down his food and walked to the door. Samantha asked if he could speak with her, and he nodded. Maisie watched them walk into the courtyard, and her curiosity was piqued. Ryleigh and Barbara immediately approached her, especially Ryleigh, who was very surprised. “Why is Aunt Samantha here?”Maisie smiled and touched her chin. “Why can’t she be here? But what happened between Uncle Kennedy and Aunt Samantha?”Samantha loved Sapphire and would come to visit her when she had time, yet she hadn’t been around a lot lately.And looking at the two of them speaking outside but not knowing what they were talking about, the entire atmosphere felt weird. Barbara put her arm over Ryleigh’s shoulder. “I think it’s best not to speculate. Let’s eat.”Ryleigh agreed, and since she was hungry, it would be a good time to have a great meal.Maisie stood there and took a few more glances when the two walked
When Kennedy returned, he bumped into Maisie and was surprised. “Why are you out here, Zee?”Maisie walked toward him. “Uncle Kennedy, what do you think about Aunt Samantha?”She had overheard their conversation. Something had happened between the two of them, and that was why they were ‘avoiding’ each other.Kennedy didn’t say a word.Maisie sighed. “If you really don’t have feelings for her, you should tell her sooner rather than later. However, if you feel the same, I think you should be a little braver.”Kennedy looked away and slowly said, “I don’t know what’s on my mind. I’ve always been focused on work and never thought about getting married or if I could really do that, taking care of both my family and career. Samantha is a great woman. She had a failed marriage, but I never had one.“I can't promise that I’ll be able to give her stability, and I definitely can’t guarantee I won’t disappoint her. I’m afraid I might fail.”Maisie smiled. “How do you know that you’ll fail
Nolan was trying to explain when Daisie ran down the stairs. “Great-grandpa!”Nicholas was stunned when he heard Daisie call Thomas ‘Great-grandpa’ and looked at Nolan curiously.Nolan nodded. “That’s right, Dad. Elder Master Clifford is Mom’s father.”Maisie turned to look at them and suddenly recalled that Nolan had said ‘We might become relatives’ and realized that was what he meant.Thomas was Natasha’s father, meaning Natasha was a Clifford as well. Thomas and Nicholas sat in the middle of the room and talked. That was when Nicholas found out that Natasha’s mother was Madam Knowles’ sister and that Natasha wasn’t an orphan. Instead, Simmone had been attacked soon after giving birth to her.Madam Knowles had adopted Natasha, knowing who she was. Madam Knowles had been in love with Sam Knowles, but she had been forced to marry his father. She had adopted Natasha, hidden her relationship with Simmone, and used the information about his daughter to make Thomas a pawn in her r
Jackie probably had his own reasons for staying in Bassburgh. Maisie suddenly remembered bumping into Zeta at the restaurant and that the latter had said she was going to meet a friend. “Were you the friend Zeta met at the restaurant that day?”Jackie turned to look at her. “Why?”Maisie crossed her arms and said it was nothing, then added, “Zeta was someone Madam Knowles arranged to get close to Mr. Knowles. Did you… not know?”After saying that, she raised her brows and smiled. “You didn’t get involved in the affairs of the Knowles, nor did you ask why Zeta borrowed your car. You might be pretending to be ignorant, but since you lent her your own car without question, it means that you were very close.”People would usually only lend their cars to the people they trusted and had a good relationship with. Otherwise, would they lend them their cars?Jackie chuckled. “Are you an investigator?”Maisie shrugged. The wind blew the last leaf off the tree while Jackie stayed quiet
After Jackie finished speaking, he turned around to look at Maisie. “I know about her affairs with Mr. Knowles, including the fact that she is a courtesan trained by Madam Knowles.”Maisie remained silent. Mayhap Zeta had only been following Madam Knowles' orders, becoming an assassin as well as betraying herself. She had sold her life to Madam Knowles and never considered how the consequences would be.On the surface, Zeta indeed had done a lot of bad things. She was the one who had hatched the plan to kidnap Nollace, and she was also the one who had almost killed Colton through that ‘accident’ on Christmas. However, she had just been following orders.Was Zeta really that bad? Maisie did not think so. At the end of the day, she was just Madam Knowles' pawn. If she had really been a bad person, she wouldn't have rejected Jackie when he confessed to her. Instead, she would have used him to help her get back on her feet. She could easily win over a man's heart with fancy words, b
Ryleigh was stunned, and she quickly explained, “That's not what I meant. My cousin isn't young anymore, so I'm sure he'll be happy when he becomes a father.”“What about you?” Maisie rested her arm on Ryleigh’s shoulder and teased, “When are you going to give Louis a chance to become a daddy?”Ryleigh pushed her away and said, “Stop making fun of me.”Barbara and Maisie let out boisterous peals of laughter.In the meantime, Helios and Louis came in. “We can hear your voice downstairs.”Upon seeing Louis, Ryleigh said with her mouth pouted, “They are making fun of me.”Helios shrugged and walked straight toward Barbara while Louis turned his head sideways. Ryleigh grabbed him by his collar and snarled, “Where are you looking at?”She stomped her feet and added, “Are you going to help me or not?”Maisie chuckled. “Ryleigh, it isn't good to tell on your cousin-in-law.”Ryleigh looked at her and said, “I’m your cousin-in-law as well.”When the thought popped up in her head, sh