"I don’t know any of the kids here. They play together so well. I feel... like none of them actually like ."
"What good is thinking like that? You need to take initiative! Don’t you rember? You’re an adorable, lively, lovable little treasure.
A new environnt makes you feel shy, but the other little kids facing you will feel shy too.
The initiative is in your hands; you can use it anyti. You can’t wish for everyone to like you while doing nothing in return. Pies don’t just fall from the sky—don’t you agree?"
Darnley thought for a mont and nodded. "I really wish Miya could co too. If she were here, I’d have soone to play with, and Miya wouldn’t feel lonely either."
Thinking of Miya, a hint of sorrow clouded Faye Townsend’s eyes. She missed her dearly.
She said nothing, started the car, and drove away.
At the traffic light, the car ca to a stop. When Faye glanced back unintentionally, she spotted an Audi trailing her car again.
Faye frowned. Was she seeing things?
She instinctively morized the license plate number ending with 292.
After driving through two intersections and turning a corner, she noticed the Audi with the 292 plate was still following her. She could now be sure—that car was indeed stalking her.
She drove the car back to her ho. As soon as the car stopped, Faye called Uncle Rivers. After Uncle Rivers ca out and brought Darnley inside, Faye turned around and walked toward the Audi parked a short distance away.
Seeing her approach, the Audi slowly backed away and began to leave.
Faye wanted to chase after it, but the car reversed so fast that there was no way for her to catch up.
She clenched her fists silently, staring at the car as it sped off and turned right at the intersection.
Who would be so bold as to tail her? Had she offended soone recently?
From now on, she’d have to be more cautious.
Faye turned around and walked slowly back to her house.
When she returned indoors, she suddenly rembered that her bag was still in the car.
Turning back outside to retrieve it, she had just opened the door when she heard the sound of a car door being shut from the neighboring house.
She turned to look and saw Hunter Warren stepping out of his car.
She was speechless to the extre. For a mont, she really wished she could throw that liar Roman Hughes into the Pacific Ocean to feed the fish.
The two were not far apart, and as their eyes t, Faye gave him a faint nod.
It was the kind of brief greeting neighbors would exchange before she turned and headed back to her ho.
Hunter watched her, feeling as though a corner of his heart was being tightly wrung.
He disliked how distant and cold she had beco toward him, as if he were rely an insignificant stranger.
As she reached the door, he suddenly called out to her, "Faye Townsend."
Faye stopped calmly and looked at him.
He took a few steps forward. "Aren’t you curious about why I’m living here?"
"Does it matter?" Faye looked at him. "Anchester is so big, there are countless houses. I couldn’t possibly ask everyone why they’re living in their own hos."
Hunter looked at her thoughtfully. It was true what they’d said—when won beco heartless, they are the most terrifying. She proved them right.
"Second Master, do you need sothing from ? If not, I need to go inside. My child is waiting for to get back and have dinner."
Hunter furrowed his brows. "Next Wednesday is Grandma’s death anniversary. Will you help organize it?"
Faye froze for a mont, gazing at him. Grandma’s death anniversary?
In the first and second years after her passing, Faye had personally managed her morial services.
Then, she had gone abroad and seed to have completely let it go.
If it weren’t for his reminder, she might not have rembered at all.
Grandma had been a kind woman. During her lifeti, she gave Faye much warmth.
"I’ll have to check my schedule. I’m not sure if I have the ti."
Hunter’s tone turned serious. "Grandma treated you well while she was alive. We’re not officially divorced yet—you are still her granddaughter-in-law. You can act cold-hearted toward , but you shouldn’t do this to Grandma. She cared for you as though you were her own granddaughter."
Faye stared at him, hesitated for a mont, then nodded. "Alright. Anything else?"
She agreed not for his sake, but because Grandma really had loved her deeply. Emotionally and morally, there was no reason for her to refuse.
Hunter’s voice softened with a hint of sadness. "Have things between us co to such a point that, unless there’s business, we can’t even sit and chat together? Even as friends, you don’t have to be so heartless."
"We can’t be friends. To , certain people are either for loving or for hating. If I can do neither, I’ll simply treat them as strangers. And you—you’re soone I can neither love nor hate."
That ant, to her, he was just a stranger.
Hunter stared at her, dazed, as she gave him a small smile, turned, and pushed open the door to the courtyard.
He watched the gate swing shut with a thud, his heart filled with growing alarm. Faye’s indifference toward him had made him uneasy.
This feeling didn’t seem fake—Faye... had she really made up her mind to leave him?
Hunter let out a heavy sigh and turned back toward his own ho.
Faye stepped into her house, where Uncle Rivers quickly ca forward to speak. "Miss, earlier when you had carry Darnley inside, did I hear you say... soone was stalking you? Who? Are they soone dangerous to you?"
Faye shook her head. "Uncle Rivers, let’s not jump to conclusions for now. I haven’t figured it out yet. But I’ve morized the license plate number. I’ll call Declan and have him investigate the car."
"Miss, could it be soone you’ve upset? Either way, you’d better be extra cautious for the next few days.
Also, I’m thinking of hiring soone reliable to guard Darnley starting tomorrow. I’m worried certain people might target Darnley just to vent their anger on you."
Uncle Rivers’ words made Faye nod repeatedly. "You’re right, Uncle Rivers. Find a trustworthy bodyguard tomorrow."
"Don’t worry, Miss. I would never take Darnley’s safety lightly."
"Has Clara co ho yet?" Faye asked as she headed upstairs.
Uncle Rivers shook his head. "Not yet, Miss. Do you want to start dinner now or wait for Miss Clara?"
"I’ll give her a call."
"Alright, Miss."
Faye went upstairs to change before calling Clara, who was stuck late at work and unable to co ho for dinner.
She headed back downstairs and told Uncle Rivers to start the al. After eating, while Darnley was drawing, Faye said to Uncle Rivers, "Uncle Rivers, next week is Second Master’s grandma’s death anniversary. He asked to help organize it. Can you assist with this?"
Uncle Rivers smiled warmly. "Second Master reached out to you?"
Faye nodded.
"Miss, now this is proper. The late Mrs. Townsend treated you well back in the day. Helping with her morial makes you a sincere and loyal granddaughter-in-law."
Faye sighed. "I know Grandma treated well too. But with my current strained relationship with Second Master, doing this feels awkward and inappropriate."
"Miss, you’re overthinking. You’re not doing this for Second Master; you’re doing it for Mrs. Townsend."
Faye nodded. She felt that evading this responsibility would only make her seem guilty, which was why she agreed with Hunter’s request.
Besides, she truly wanted to do sothing for Grandma. Even if it weren’t entirely appropriate, one day out of the year shouldn’t matter too much.
On the fourth day of Clara’s stay at her house, Oliver Turner finally ca to visit.
At the ti, they were in the middle of dinner, and Darnley gleefully rushed over to Oliver the mont he saw him.
"Dad Oliver, you’re here!"
Oliver scooped Darnley up in his arms. "My precious son, it’s been days since I visited you. Are you mad at ?"
"Not at all. Faye said you were busy and told not to bother you."
Oliver stroked the boy’s head affectionately. "Such a good son."
Clara glanced at Oliver and quickly looked away, her expression turning sour.
Noticing this, Faye stood up and addressed Oliver. "Oliver, have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet. Uncle Rivers, can you set a place, please?"
"Of course, Director Turner." Uncle Rivers turned to prepare a place for Oliver, who then seated himself opposite Clara.
In a displeased tone, Oliver said, "What’s this? Can’t even greet now?"
Clara looked at him. "Why are you here? Aren’t you busy?"
"You leave a perfectly good house just to bother Faye. Why?"
"I was feeling stifled alone. Can’t I co to Faye’s place to unwind?"
"Feeling stifled? Then put your energy into work. Honestly, you’re stifled because you have too much ti on your hands." After saying that, Oliver turned to Faye. "She hasn’t caused you any trouble, has she?"
"Of course not." Faye looked over at Clara. "With only a few of us here, it’s nice having soone around to talk to.
Clara and I are the sa age, so we relate to each other about many things."
Oliver glanced at Clara, recalling the ti she threatened to commit suicide upon learning of Faye’s existence.
He never could have anticipated these two won would one day beco friends.
Faye noticed Oliver seed to want to talk with Clara, so she set down her utensils. "Perfect timing—I’m full and was planning to go for a walk. Uncle Rivers, bring Darnley along with ."
"Sure, Miss."
Faye turned to Clara. "Clara, take your ti eating with Oliver. No point in letting him eat alone—that would be boring."
With that, she picked up Darnley and headed out with Uncle Rivers.
The two maids tactfully retreated to the kitchen.
Once everyone else had left, Clara began poking her food with her chopsticks, avoiding Oliver’s gaze.
Oliver saw her reluctance and put down his utensils, looking at her directly. "I get that you’re feeling upset. But you’re an adult now—what good does running away from ho do?"
Clara bit her lip. "You ignore my feelings and treat that woman so well. Am I not allowed to have my own thoughts?
Even though... I don’t rember much about my mom, I know she’s the woman who killed my mother.
It doesn’t matter if you loved her—or even if you want to protect her. The fact that she is my enemy can’t be changed."
Oliver let out a long sigh. "Your mom’s passing hurt deeply too, but this is all in the past. Luna has paid the price she owed.
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