Chapter 258Who Are You to <b>judge </b>Them?
Emelle turned around and <b>replied</b>, “I slept soundlyst night, so I didn’t know.”
Willem looked at her. After drying his hands, <b>he </b>said, “After what you just said, shouldn’t you follow up by asking me where I wentst night?” Emelie frowned slightly. “I don’t recall ever interfering with your daily activities before, Mr. Middleton.”
william put down the towel and indifferently said, “You can ask more in the future”
Emelie couldn’t <b>understand </b>why he suddenly became so demanding, and she suddenly felt less impressed with the Eastanian charm of the <b>r </b>responded, “Alright”
For the next 72 hours, she could only consent to whatever he said.
m stood up and walked over to Emelie. “What are you looking at?” he asked. “Do y
Emelle shook her head “No, I’m just <b>looking </b>around.”
want to take a boat ride?”
restaurant<b>. </b>She nodded casually at
“If you’re interested in a boat ride, I’ll take you,” Wim remarked. He headed out of the prhate room, but Emelie was really just looking around.
She reluctantly followed him.
He had always been so decisive and arbitrary
William briefly spoke to the manager<b>, </b>who promptly instructed aboarman to bring the boat ashore,
With his hands <b>in </b>his pockets, he waited for the bow of the boat to approach, then effortlessly stepped aboard and extended his hand palm–up to her.
Emelle looked at the lines on his pain for a few <b>seconds</b>. Just as his gaze was about to shift, she grasped his hand. With a slight pull from William, she also jumped onto the boa The boatman was at the stern <b>and </b>soon began to row.
The small <b>wooden </b>boat swayed slightly as it glided across theke. The perspective from the center of theke felt distinctly different from that on the shore.
Emelle <b>and </b>Wim opted to stay on the bow of the boat rather than going inside the cabin. The ripplingke water reflected their silhouettes with each <b>standing </b>on a different sidi of the boat.
“Do they have boat tours like this where youe from? William casually asked. In his experience, historic towns often featured these <b>crafted </b>scenes of charming bridges anc serenekes to fulfill tourists‘ fantasies:
Sure enough, Emelie nodded. “Yes.”
“Have you ever tried it?” William inquired.
Emelie shook her head. Despite it being December, the chill on the <bke’s </b>surface made her tock her hands deeper into her pockets. “My dad thought spending 40 dors on a boat ride thatsts only 20 minutes, with the same scenery visible both on board <b>and </b>onnd, was a waste of money.”
Wim rated an eyebrow. “So, do you want to try it?”
as she watched the tourists cruise along the riverbank.
Emelle nodded earnestly. As a child, she had truly wished to try it out. Back then, she had always felt envious as she was Wim chuckded. “If he’s too tight to drop codors to make his daughter happy, then how did he muster up the courage to bet his entire fortune on <b>a </bnd deal?”
Emelle pursed her lips. Ronan had fallen for this trap because someone convinced him by saying, “<b>Let’s </b>pool our money to buy this piece ofnd in the new district, it’s in a prime location<b>, </b>and once the area develops fully, thend’s value will skyrocket. We’ll be sitting on a goldmine.”
Ronan had been brainwashed into believing that it was his chance to strike it rich, so he had gone ahead without hesitation.
Yet, the oue turned out to be the exact
opposite. It was <b>all </b>a sham, and he had been deceived
As William said that, his <b>tone </b>dripped with disdain. He scored Ronan’s reckless ambition, hisck of <b>self</b>–awareness, and his attempt to strike it rich like a nouveau riche dreamer.
Emelie chose <b>not </b>to react to Wam’s disparagingments. Instead, she turned away.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.
William continued, “He’s in his 40s and stillcksmon sense. It’s no wonder that he gets into protests and brawls in prison.”
He was clearly frustrated with Emelle being so close to her family. Whether it was her parents or siblings, they seemed to upy too much of her thoughts and emotions. He preferred it when she had eyes and heart only for him for the past <b>three </b>years.
He found it unsenting that missing just one day at the hospital could cause such anxiety in her. While her family seemed burdensome to her, he feltpelled to help her out <b>of </b>respect for her
“A bunch of troublemakers,” he added dismissively.
Finally, Emelie couldn’t hold back any longer. She tumed to look at him and sternly said, “Despite his countless ws and shorings, he’s still my father. His protests are for my mother’s sake, and his tights in prison were provoked by someone ndering me in front of him.”
Then, she added, “He’s just an ordinary person, and it’s his first time being a parent. Like everyone else, he has his good and bad sides. I can ept that my parents aren’t perfect, but who are you to judge them?
Will narrowed his eyes. “Are you trying to educate miku
Emelle shook her head slightly. “No, not at al
William took a step toward <b>her</b>, and Emelle instinctively wanted to step back. However, there was nowhere to retreat on the boat,
William’s expression turned slightly cold, just as he was about to speak<b>, </b>a voice echoed across theke, “Mr. Middleton’s great to see you in such good spirits!
Chapter 260xotic Beauty
The two people on the boat instinctively looked toward the source of the voice. They saw a man
The man was the one who had spoken
and a woman leaning against a window by the river.
Emelie’s fiestreaction was to exim, “What a coincidence it’s charles Davis.”
Charles wasn’t from Capebatt Cry and was from Calmcrest. He hade to Capebat city specifically to attend a banquet hosted by the Graham family. She hadn’t expected to run into him here at Riverstone Bistro.
The <b>young </b>women beside him was unfamiliar to Emelle. Even from a distance, her striking features were evident. She was truly a beauty.
Seizing the opportunity to avoid a potentially contentious topic, Emelie said, “Mr. Middleton, It’s Mr. Davis,”
“I saw,” Wirs replied. He nced at her, temporarily setting aside her eller defiance He instructed the boatman to dock
Charles and <b>the </b>young women stepped away from the window.
As their boat docked, the other two let the bistro,
Charles was in a suit, and hispanion was in a long dress.
Emelie’s sharp eyes were right
The woman was indeed beautiful with an exotic touch to her features, she resembled a member of a minority group
Emelie didn’t stare. She took a nce before following William.
“I was just opening the window to enjoy the view and then I saw you, Mr. Middleton,” Charles said with a smile, “Is the boat ride fun? You’d even found it interesting enough to try
<b>IL</b>
“The youngdy wasn’t allowed to ride on boats when she was a child. She could only watch and envy others. So, I took her out for a ride to fulfill her childhood dream.”
Emilie was speechless and bewildered Was he talking about her?
“Youngdy“” was only slightly less nauseating than “sweetle whening from William’s mouth.
Both Charles and the woman tumed their gazes toward Emelle
A strange <b>glint </b>shed across the woman’s eyes. On the other hand, Charles found lie somewhat familier. After a moment, he remembered and asked, “You’re Mr. Maldleton’s secretary, right?””
He recalled the poker incident and looked at her from head to toe. He then smirked with interest. “Mr. Middleton, you treat your subordinates quite well you <b>even </b>fulfilled her wishes<b>.</b>”
Emele ignored Charles words <b>and </b>focused only on herself
In cam, William asked, “<b>And </b>you, Mr. Davis? Why didn’t you tell me that you’d be in Capebatt? <b>I </b><b>could </b>have extended my hospitality to you.”
“This trip isn’t for business. It’s the weekend<b>, </b><b>so </b>I’ve brought my cousin, who has recently returned from Lablos, here for a bit of fun.”
Charles Introduced the young woman, “This is my cousin, Elena Allen. She studied and worked in Lablos before being reassigned here.”
William nced at her.
Elena gently pressed her lips together and nodded in greeting “Mr. Middleton”
William’s gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds, then he nodded and turned back to Charles.
<b>Elena’s </b><b>brows </b>twitched <b>slightly</b>. She seemed both but and <b>hesitant </b>to speak.
Emelie observed and discreetly took note of the scene.
<b>Charles </b><b>asked</b>, “Mr. Middleton<b>, </b>have you eaten yet?”
“The food should be on the table, but we haven’t started.<b>”</b>
“We’ve just arrived and haven’t ordered yet. How about we join you, and you can <b>add </b><b>a </b>few more dishes?” Charles suggested shamelessly
William didn’t refuse and instead said<b>, </b><b>“</b>Of course!
Back in the private room, the manager promptly had the food served and personally opened a bottle of Romance–Conti for them. Charles ordered a few more dishes and then turned to William with a yful suggestion.
“Mr Middleton, ce you’re so free, how about joining us at Lakeside Vi this weekend?”
Wim raised an eyebrow. “Who else ising?
“<b>Mr. </b>Swanson. We met abroad, <b>and </b>I treated him to a meal. He said he’d rear the favor once he was back home, so I decided to have him cover the vi expenses this time” Charles leaned back in his chair. He tapped a cigarette out of its pack.
William’s smile widmed <b>as </b>the picked up his lemon tea–he had driven himself, so no alcohol for him.
“I wouldn’t miss an opportunity to let Mr. Swanson foot the bill.”
charlesughed heartily and clinked his ss with William’s<b>. </b>“It’s settled then!”
Wildrank his lemon tea and set the cup down. Emelle, while pouring <b>lemon </b>tea for herself, refilled his cup as well.
Charles watched<b>, </b>a bit curious. Thest time <b>they </b>were on the bost, the atmosphere between these two was tense.
He wondered how he had be so obedient and docile in just a few months.
Emelie finished pouring the lemon tea and continued eating quietly. Suddenly, Charles asked, “your surname Hoven or Sanders?”
Emelie looked up. Charles looked at her.
She swallowed before answering, “Hoven.”
Chimpter 260 Exotic Beauty