hapter 156


    “Sorry.”


    Xanthea felt a deep pang of guilt upon hearing his words, “I know I can’t get you an identical one, but I


    canpensate you triple the original price, or if you like another designer’s work, I could arrange a


    custom order.”


    Leonardughed, “Xan, do you think I care about the money, or do you think it was really about the


    dress? I was just looking for an excuse to be friends with you. Stay for breakfast and consider it


    your way of making it up to me, okay?”


    Cedric chimed in, encouraging her, “Ms. Nightshade, please stay. There’s quite a distance from the


    freeway, and with the morning rush hour, it’s gonna be packed. Why not have breakfast before you


    leave?”


    “Xan!”


    While they were talking, Matthew sent out a message, and soon, his phone rang, “It’s your mom


    calling.”


    “Mom?”


    Xanthea took the phone, but before she could speak, she was met with a torrent of rebuke.


    “Xan, you’re just too headstrong, running off without telling anyone and your phone off the whole time.


    Your dad and I couldn’t sleep; we were worried sick all night!


    Thankfully, Matthew told us where you were. He’s driven all night to pick you up from Everde. What


    were you doing there alone?”


    “Alone?”


    She raised her eyebrows slightly, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over Orion downstairs, “Didn’t Uncle


    Oliver tell you why I was in Everde?”


    “He was out socializingst night, just as drunk as you. You two are just like kids, irresponsible as ever!


    Honestly, I regret leaving you in his care.”


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    Xanthea went silent, not expecting to be scolded along with her uncle.


    “Mom, my phone was broken; otherwise I would have called,”


    “Don’t think you can sweet–talk your way out of this. Come home now. Hearing you spend a night


    alone in a strange city, drunk, your dad’s furious. You need toe home and exin it to him


    yourself.”


    “Okay, I understand.”


    Xanthea hung up the phone, feeling dejected. She was about to decline the breakfast invitation when


    she noticed the eager eyes below; they genuinely seemed to hope she would join them.


    Her visit to the Marlowe family was unexpected, but everyone at the estate had been so warm and


    weing, eating her like an honored guest and taking care of her, even in her drunken state:


    It seemed rude to refuse their kind invitation now.


    “Ms. Marlowe?” At the doorway, a servant’s voice called out.


    Xanthea looked up to see Queenie, in her pajamas and slippers, hair disheveled, charging towards her


    like a madwoman.


    Chapter 156


    What was she up to? Noting to pick a fight, surely? Xanthea frowned slightly, her expression


    guarded.


    Lifting the hem of her night skirt, Queenie ran to the second floor. She stopped abruptly in front of her


    and then slowly raised her head.


    Xanthea was startled by the sight of her swollen eyes, dark circles, pale face, and scabbed lips, a


    groggy state as if ghosts had sucked dry all her energy – not a trace of the dolled–up Lolita from the


    day before.


    What had she gone through in just one night? Did she do that to her?


    Cedric had mentioned this morning that the marks on her neck were from fighting with Queenie.


    Xanthea had thought she’d been too drunk to defend herself properly, but seeing Queenie now, she


    was just relieved thetter hadn’t called the police then!