Chapter365
“Huh?!”
Sheturnedherfaceinhorror,“Sosoon?”
“Xannie,timetogetout.
“No,no,Iwon’tgetout.”
Xantheaclungtotheseatbelt,refusingtoletgountilOrionleanedinandwhisperedinherearwithachuckle,“I’mjustkidding.”
“Really?”
<strong>“</strong>Really.”
“You’llbeamonkey’s<strong>uncle</strong>ifyou’relying!”
“Comeoutandseeforyourself.”
Skepticalyetcurious,Xantheapokedherheadout,andherjawdroppedatthesightofthesprawling,magnificentestatebeforeher.
CouldthisbetheestateOrionmentionedbefore,theentimergerthantheMarlowefamily’sinthenorthernareasofCrestwood?Thiswasn’tjusttentimerger,itwasanendless,sprawling,luxuriousprivateind!
“Orion,thisceis…”
“XantheaHavenEstate.”
“Xanthea?”Shelookedathimindisbelief.“That’smyname.You’rejoking,right?”
Beforeshecouldfinish,twolinesofservantsintheestatesimultaneouslyopenedthetall,gildedgates,revealingaluxuriousmainviwithfourstrikinggoldencharactersontheentrance–XantheaHavenEstate.
Theservantsbowedandsaidinunison,“Wee,Madam!<strong>Good</strong>afternoon,Madam!”
Theopulentestate,thegleamingentrance,theandthe uniformvoices–everythingleftXantheainshock.Shecoveredhermouthindisbelief,takingalongmomentbeforeslowlylookingathim,“Why?”
Onionlookeddownather,hisdarkeyesfilledwithtenderaffection,“Becausethiswillbeourhome.”
“Ourhome?”Shepaused,thenbitherlip,touchedandamused,“Ihaven’tevenagreedtomarryyouyet,andyou’vealreadypreparedourmarital home?”
“Yep,soyoucan’tback<strong>out</strong>now”
Oriontookher<strong>hand</strong>,gentlykissingitasiftosealthedeal,“Yourname’salreadyonit.Ifyoudon’tmanyme,you’llowemetentimesthpensation.”
“Thisnamingdoesn’tcount!Wait,Ihaven’tagreedtoanything,sohowcanIbackout?Andtentimesthpensation?Youwantmeto
gobankrupt,youwickedcapitalist!”
“Madamissoadorable!”
“Yes,yes,andsobeautiful.I’veneverseensuchaprettygirlinmylife!”
“Howcananyonebesocharminglypetnt?”
Look,YoungMasterlooksatherwithsuchadoration,it’salmostdripping outofhiseyes.It’senoughtomakeanyone jealous.”
Thegroupofservantsgiggledandwhispered,theirvoicesclearlyreachingXanthea’sears,making<strong>her</strong>shylyhidebehindOrion,“Let’s<strong>go</strong>inside,<strong>shall</strong>we?”All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.
Orionchuckled,holdingherhandtighter,“Alright”
Spanningnearlyahundredacres,XantheaHavenEstatewassovastthattouringitrequiredarideinaEuropean–styleelectricgardentrolley.XantheasatinanelectricEuropean–styleflowercarriage,justabouttotakeinthescenerywhenhereyesweregently<strong>covered</strong>by theman’stie
“Orion,whatareyoudoing?”
Thsttimehepulledhistie,itwastobindherhandsandattemptsomethinginappropriateunder<strong>the</strong>guiseofbeingMaximus.Thistime,withhereyescoveredintheopencouldhebenningsomethingevenmoreimproper,