Chapter 597


    Chapter 597 Ste Johnston


    Shawn smiled but didn''t answer my question. The car continued moving along the sinuous coastline.


    As I looked out the window and took in the scenery with a tilted head, I feltpletely at ease. I knew it


    was because the man was beside me. I was happy that he offered to bring the kids over and stay with


    us for some time.


    When we arrived at the vi, I got out of the car. Seeing that Shawn remained in the vehicle, I asked,


    "Are you going somewhere else?"


    "I have something to attend to."


    "Will you be back for dinner?"


    The man grunted and left the ce.


    In the stilettos Shawn had chosen for me, I stepped into the vi. As usual, Eins and Zwei were the first


    to discover my presence. They quickly came over and surrounded me. When Diego, who was smoking


    in front of the door, heard the noise, he said, "I''m the only one here for now. Emma and Ian will be here


    soon. What ingredients do you have in your house? I suddenly feel very lonely, Renee." He sighed.


    I stroked Eins'' head and asked, "Why do you feel so?"


    "You have Shawn, Emma has Christopher, and Ian has Serene. I''m the only single person. I don''t even


    know why I''vee here to have dinner with several loving couples."


    "Ian and Serene aren''t the lovey-dovey type, though."


    When Diego realized I was right, he let out a breath. "You have a point. What do you have in your


    refrigerator? Ian and I will cook for all of you. Christopher can get some rest since he''s a rare visitor in


    Espoo."


    I asked with a smile, "Why don''t you count Shawn in?"


    "It''s not like I have the guts to make him cook for us unless he''s willing to do it. Anyway, I think he won''t


    cook today."


    I approached him and asked, "What makes you think so?"


    "Because he let youe home on your own."


    "He said he''de back for dinner."


    "See? Only Ian and I will cook, then."


    After entering the living room, I said, "Don''t be so dejected. I''ll help you outter. There are all sorts of


    ingredients in the refrigerator."


    "That''s not it. Preparing dinner is just a small matter. For some reason, I''ve been feeling downcast for


    the past two days."


    There was only one reason he was moody. "You miss your ex-girlfriend."


    Hearing that, he let out a sigh. "I feel even more terrible now. She''s obstinate and filled with negativity."


    A momentter, he appeared heartbroken. "But that''s her life. She had always been aggrieved and


    cautious during her formative years. Without anyone''s support, she studied hard and graduated from


    school. She''s also been working hard. She''s like a flower that grows in the mud. She wants to embrace


    the world, but a part of her wants to resist it. In this dangerous world, she has to protect herself.


    Although she feels hollow deep within, there''s nothing she can do about it."


    Ciara was indeed that kind of person.


    "Forget it. Ian and the others will be arriving soon. I have to get prepared now. By the way, your dress is


    beautiful."


    I replied joyfully, "Shawn bought it for me."


    "Oh, stop it!" Diego snorted and entered the kitchen.


    I then sat down on the couch and read a book while Diego prepared the ingredients in the kitchen.


    Soon, Ian arrived at my house, followed by Emma several minutester. A gentle Christopher stood


    beside her.


    I called out with a smile, "Christopher."


    "How are you, little girl?"


    Christopher and I were best friends. I once said that we could understand each other well.


    Emma took his hand and pinned him down on the couch before saying, "I''ll help out in the kitchen while


    you''ll stay here to keep Reneepany." Then, she whispered, "Serene will be here as well."


    Christopher got to his feet. "I''ll help them out—"


    Emma turned him down. "There''s no need for that. Just wait." Then, she strode toward the kitchen.


    "She''s still very young." I found their cheeky interaction adorable.


    "Yeah. She''s always energetic." Christopher''s eyes were brimming with love.


    "How long do you n on staying here?" I asked.


    "I''ll leave with Emma. However, she has work to do during the day, so I''ll probably hold some concerts


    in nearby cities."


    With the book in my hands, I replied, "You''ll be working, then."


    "Yes. I''m a mature man now, so I''d like to spend more time with Emma. If you have some free time, you


    can be my special guest."


    I was surprised. "Huh?"


    "You helped me out in Bryxton before. All my friends liked your performance and thought that you were


    talented."


    I asked hesitantly, "What are you trying to say?"


    "You can be a pianist too. I''ll be your mentor. I''m sure you''ll learn a lot and be skillful in a few


    years."


    "I don''t deserve a mentor like you, a world-renowned pianist."


    "Little girl, that''s what friends are for."


    Just then, Eins and Zwei barked outside the house. I reckoned that Serene had arrived, so I shouted in


    the kitchen''s direction, "Ian! It must be Serene. Can you go over and wee her in?"


    Ian left the kitchen and asked, "Why is she here?"


    "Emma invited her. She''s such a good friend, isn''t she?"


    Hearing that, Ian remained calm. "She''s alright."


    Then, he left the house and called out to Eins and Zwei, after which the dogs stopped barking. Ian


    asked, "Why are there the two of you?"


    This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    I heard an unfamiliar voice say, "Serene said she wasing over for dinner, so I decided to tag along.


    Is there a problem with it?"


    Serene sighed. "She insisted on following me."


    Two beautiful women then entered the house. One of them was wearing a long yellow dress. She was


    none other than Serene. The other woman was d in a short ck skirt.


    Serene introduced the woman beside her to us, saying, "She''s my older sister, Ste. Sorry for bringing


    her with me without asking."


    Certainly, I wouldn''t mind Serene''s sistering to my house.


    I shook my head. "It''s fine. Everyone’s wee."


    Ian told Serene and Ste to sit across from us before entering the kitchen. I heard Diego ordering, "Go


    to the backyard and set up the lights. Take the projector there as well. We''ll have dinner and watch a


    movie in the backyardter. Don''t forget the stereo speakers as well, in case anybody wants to sing."


    Hearing that, Ian furrowed his brows. "Stop bossing me around!"


    Diego smiled and shouted in our direction, "Mrs. Zeller, it seems that Ian can''t do so many things on his


    own. Why don''t you help him out?"


    Serene got to her feet and replied politely, "Sure. Let''s go."


    Only then did Ian leave with satisfaction.


    After they were gone, only Christopher, Ste, and I were left in the living room. Although we were not


    familiar with Ste, she seemed to be extroverted. She kept asking us questions while I responded


    politely. A momentter, she said, "I know you, Christopher. You''re a famous pianist. It''s said that you''re


    married."


    Christopher replied impassively, "Yes."


    "Is your wife here?"


    He then responded, "Yes."


    Christopher was always dispassionate in front of others.


    "Oh, I can see that you don''t love to talk."


    This time, Christopher remained silent.


    Ste didn''t mind it as she went on to say calmly, "Serene is my younger sister as well as the youngest


    daughter in the Johnston Family. Some time ago, our grandfather let her take charge of the family."


    I asked in surprise, "Why are you bringing it up all of a sudden?"


    She rolled her eyes. "What''s wrong with that?"