Chapter 98
“Mr. Wilfred,” Emily nodded politely. “What’s going on?”
“Oh, we’re out of gas,” Wilfred replied with a small chuckle. “Trying to figure out how to get down the mountain.”
The Mandale Hotel was nestled halfway up a coastal hill.
“My apologies, Mr. Wilfred,” his assistant interjected, clearly embarrassed. “I completely forgot to refuel.”
Emily hesitated, feeling awkward. She wanted to offer them a ride since Wilfred had just helped clear her name. But then she remembered that she hadn’t driven here. She Had come with Sean.
“You can ride with us,” Sean offered smoothly, breaking the tension.
“That’s very kind of you. Thank you,” Wilfred said with a warm smile.
The four of them climbed into the car. Sean took the driver’s seat, and Wilfred’s assistant quickly claimed the front passenger seat, leaving Emily and Wilfred in the back
Sean couldn’t help but feel a twinge of annoyance. He had wanted Emily in the front with him, not chatting away with Wilfred in the back.
“So, Miss Yates, how old are you? Are you from Lincourt City?” Wilfred asked, his tone friendly as he turned slightly toward her, his expression warm and inviting.
“I’m 26, I think,” Emily replied with a small smile. “I guess I’m a local. I had a head injury in the past, so I don’t remember much.”
Wilfred’s warm and approachable demeanor put Emily at ease, and after all, he had gone out of his way to help her earlier. She couldn’t help but engage in conversation with him.
The truth was, her memory loss had erased so much of her past, including how old she was. It wasn’t until Justin had her undergo a bone age test that she found out.
“What about your parents?” Wilfred asked, his tone gentle
“My parents…” Emily lowered her head, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap. Her voice grew quiet. “I don’t have parents. I’m an orphan.”
“I’m sorry,” Wilfred said softly, his voice laced with empathy. “I didn’t mean to bring up something painful.”
Sean, however, gripped the steering wheel tighter, his jaw clenching slightly as he listened to Wilfred’s line of questioning, glancing into the rearview mirror with an icy gaze.
“It’s okay,” Emily said after a deep breath, her tone brightening as she forced a smile. “It’s all in the past. Honestly, I’m doing well now. I have things I enjoy, and maybe forgetting the hardships was a blessing in disguise. Who knows, maybe I grew up struggling and losing those memories gave me a fresh start.”
Her optimistic outlook brought a smile to Wilfred’s face, though he seemed lost in thought for a moment before snapping back to the present.
“What do you enjoy doing?” he asked softly, his voice tinged with curiosity.
“Painting,” Emily said, her eyes lighting up. “I absolutely love painting.”
“My younger sister enjoys painting too,” Wilfred said, his gaze softening as he watched her enthusiasm.
“Really?” Emily perked up.
+75 BONUS
Wilfred nodded with a warm smile. “Her name is Haley. If you have time, I’d be happy to show you her work.”
“Haley?” Emily’s eyes widened in surprise.
Haley was her favorite artist. She was a prodigy of the modern era and the youngest, most celebrated painter in the field. Her work was nothing short of extraordinary, a rate genius in the art world.
Emily could hardly believe it. Haley was Wilfred’s sister? And now here he was, sitting beside her in the same car. The coincidence was staggering.
“That would be amazing! If you have time, I’d love to visit, Emily said, her excitement bubbling over. She felt like she’d just won the lottery.
With the mention of Haley, Emily and Wilfred found themselves deep in conversation, their laughter occasionally filling the car.
“Miss Yates, Mr. Smith,” Wilfred said with his smooth accent as the car neared their destination. “Dinner is on me as thanks for the ride. Please allow me to treat you both.”
“No need,” Sean quickly cut in, his tone firm. “It was nothing. Just a ride down the hill.”
Sean’s dislike for Wilfred was palpable. He was already regretting his decision to offer him a ride, and the growing unease in his chest wasn’t helping.
When the dinner invitation came up, Sean didn’t hesitate to cut in before anyone else could respond, eager to shut it down.
Fantastic. Another rival trying to take Emily away.