Chapter 35
After snapping the perfect photo, Joshua handed the phone back to Allison, his eyes steady, his voice casual. “Looks like you got a message from a friend.”
“Huh? Let me check.”
Allison opened the message, and her face froze momentarily.
She realized that since messages popped up as banners on her phone, Joshua must’ve seen it.
Feeling a tad uneasy, she turned to him and said, “It’s from my ex. We’ve already broken up.”
“Okay.” Joshua’s expression stayed neutral, his eyes giving nothing away.
“I’ve blocked him on messaging apps. Just forgot to block his number.”
Allison felt a wave of anxiety, unsure why she felt guilty. She was twenty–five; having an ex was totally normal, right?
Plus, she dated before the whole arranged marriage deal with Joshua. She hadn’t done anything wrong, so what was this guilt about?
Once she sorted it all out in her head, Allison relaxed. “I’ll block him right now.”
In front of Joshua, she added Shawn’s number to her block list.
Then she assured him, “Don’t worry. I’ve agreed to marry you, so my ex is just part of the past.”
Joshua nodded, his dark eyes still unreadable, but as Allison turned away, the corner of his mouth twitched
into a faint smile.
—
After spending a few days with Joshua, Allison headed back to Oak Lake.
She hadn’t given her family a heads–up about her return, so there was no one from the Owens family at the airport to greet her.
Instead, Joshua’s assistant was there to pick her up.
The sleek black Rolls–Royce Cullinan rolled up to the Owens family estate.
“Want me to go in with you?” Joshua asked.
Allison shook her head. “No thank you.”
“Alright.”
Standing at the front gate, Allison felt a mix of emotions about being back home.
Joshua saw her hesitate but didn’t stick around.
Once the car pulled away, Allison finally rang the doorbell. When she’d left home three years ago, she hadn’t taken her keys. Now, having to ring the bell at her own house felt odd.
Paola, the housekeeper, opened the door and was stunned to see her.
“Miss, you’re back?” Paola’s voice was thick with emotion.
Allison felt a pang in her heart and nodded softly.
“You’ve finally come back. That’s wonderful… I’ll call Mr. Owens right away.”
“He’s not home?”
“No, he’s at the office, and Mrs. Owens is at a parent–child event at Miss Lizzy’s school.”
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Chapter 35
With no one home, Allison felt a wave of relief.
She just returned, and needed a moment to breathe before she’s ready to face everyone.
Her stepmother, her sister, and her father, with whom she’d had tension for years, were each a challenge.
Allison headed to her bedroom, which looked exactly as she’d left it–clean, tidy, and dust–free, clearly well–tended.
She unpacked her suitcase, put everything in its place, and took a refreshing shower.
Exiting the bathroom, Allison heard a knock on the door. Paola called from outside, “Miss, what would you like for dinner? I’ll go get the groceries.”
Allison opened the door with a soft smile. “The usual.”
“Great!” Paola beamed, genuinely happy.
Paola had been working for the Owens family for over a decade, and watched Allison grow up. To her, Allison was like her own daughter.
On the night Savannah passed away, it was Paola who had carried a young, snow–covered Allison back inside the house.
After Savannah’s death, Javier had been too grief–stricken to focus on his daughter. During those hospital days when Allison battled a stubborn fever, Paola stayed by her side, caring for her tirelessly.
Allison, devastated by her mother’s death, had lost interest in food, and it was Paola who patiently coaxed her to eat, offering comfort and support tirelessly.
