Chapter 120
“What?” Emily was stunned.
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Wilfred lowered his gaze, a soft smile masking the sadness in his eyes. “I apologize if I was too forward.”
“Haley is a renowned artist. Someone with my reputation couldn’t possibly take over her work,” Emily replied with a self–deprecating smile.
Wilfred didn’t press the matter further.”
After finishing their tour of the studio, they descended the staircase. Emily figured it was time for her to take her leave. The sound of her low heels on the wooden steps echoed, “click, clack“.
Wilfred broke the silence with a casual question, “The first time I saw you was at the Yates family banquet. Are you a relative of the Yates family?”
Emily shook her head, keeping her eyes on the steps. “No, we just happen to share the same last name.”
He nodded, then asked more directly, “The man from the Smith family who was with you that day—is he your boyfriend?”
Caught off guard, Emily froze for a moment. “Could he be interested in me?” she wondered briefly before dismissing the thought. “With his status, he could have any woman he wanted. Why would he notice me?”
Pushing aside the odd feeling, she replied casually, “I don’t have a boyfriend, and I’m not planning on dating anyone for now.”
After all, Justin was her client, not her boyfriend.
Wilfred’s visible delight at her answer surprised her.
By the time they reached the first–floor living room, Emily was ready to say goodbye, but an assistant rushed over with a sense of urgency.
“Sir, Mr. Richard just landed in Haven State. He twisted his ankle at the airport and is now at the hospital,” the assistant reported anxiously.
Emily prepared to leave, not wanting to intrude on Wilfred’s family matters.
“Miss Yates, why don’t you come with me?” Wilfred suggested.
She politely declined, “I wouldn’t want to intrude on your family visit.”
“It’s no trouble. I’d like to introduce my brother to you,” he insisted.
*
1
In the car, the assistant drove while Wilfred and Emily sat in the back.
Wilfred began speaking slowly. “My family has four siblings–two sisters, a brother, and me. But none of us are related by blood. Our mother couldn’t have children, so she adopted all of us.
“Even though we’re not biologically connected, we’re very close. Our mother was always busy with work, so we grew up learning and supporting each other.“.
Emily listened intently, surprised by how much Wilfred was sharing.
“You know Haley, my younger sister–the older of the two. My other sister is a bit mischievous. Maybe you’ll meet her someday.” His tone turned somber. “Haley came here three years ago for inspiration but went missing
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Chapter 120
during her visit. We’ve been searching for her ever since.”
Emily was taken aback. She offered softly, “I’m so sorry to hear that. Don’t lose hope. Fate has a way of bringing people back together.”
Wilfred smiled faintly, his gaze warm. “You’re right. If it’s meant to be, we’ll find her.”
Emily lowered her eyes. As an orphan abandoned by her parents, she knew no one would ever search for her. “Now, you’ll meet the youngest in the family,” Wilfred said as the car pulled up to the hospital.
At the hospital entrance, Emily purchased a fruit basket as a gift for the patient.
When they entered the room, a boy in his early twenties was sitting on the hospital bed, his injured foot propped up as he played a game on his phone. The sound effects of the game echoed loudly through the room.
Hearing the door open, the boy, Richard, looked up from his screen. His expression shifted from surprise to disbelief and then to excitement.
“Sis!” he shouted, his eyes brimming with tears. He eagerly tried to hop off the bed on one leg to greet her.
Wilfred quickly stepped forward and pressed Richard back onto the bed. Turning to Emily, he explained, “Miss Yates, don’t mind him. My brother is a programmer. He doesn’t see many women, so he gets a bit excited. Please don’t take it personally.”
