Chapter506DoNotWantHerToMisunderstand
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Afterobservingforawhile,LysandernoticedthatAuroradidn’tseemufortableinhisarms.Infact,Aurorawascuriouslyyingwithhissleevecuffwhileshewasslowlysippinghismilk.
However,hereyesneveronceleftthistinybundlethroughouttheentiretime.
Shecautioned,“AlthoughAuroraisnotshyaroundstrangers,youshouldstillbecareful.”
Asubtle hintofamusementglimmeredinJosiah’seyes.hisvoicenoticeablysoftened,radiatingwarmthandaffection.“I<b>know</b>.”
Heasked,“Didyousleepwelstnight?”
“Mm.”Lysanderasked,“Afterwefinisheating,whereshouldwestartlearningfrom?”
Josiahsaid,“Norush,let’smeetsomeonefirst.”
Ashespoke,hereachedoutforabrightlycoloredlisianthusfromthevaseonthetable.Aftercarefullywipingoffthewaterdropletsfromthestemwithatissue,hehandeditovertoAurora<b>.</b>
Children’sattentionspansareshort.Aurora,whohadgrownboredwith theshinycufflink,immediatelybeamed,herge,darkeyessparklingwithdelightasshebabblediprehensibly.
Lysander’sgazesoftened.“Kidsaresoeasytoplease.Justaflowercanmakeherthishappy.”
Josiahchuckled,holdingthechildcloser.“Beingeasytopleaseisagoodtrait.”
Assoonasshefinishedspeaking,shepausedbeforeemphasizingseriously,“Iamdthatshe’ssomeoneelse’schild.itisfoywithherforawhilelikethis,butifitisyourownchild,don’texpecttohavethiskindofleisuretime.Takingcareofachildisverytedious.”
“Iamnotafraidoplications.”
Lysanderpausedwhileshewasdrinkingmilk.
However,shequicklyregainedheposure.ShethenpluckedanotherrosefromthevaseandpresentedittoAurora.
Aurorawasimmediatelycaptivatedbythebrightredrose,promptlydiscardingthelisianthusshe hadjust
momentsago.
Josiahliftedhishandtoepttherose,hisfingertipslightlybrushingagainstthebackofherhand.
Lysanderdecisivelywithdrewherhand,instantlybreakingcontactwithhim.
Auroradidn’tunderstandorknowabouttheaffairsofadults<b>.</b>Seeingaflowerwasenoughtomakeherhappy.Sheimmediatelywantedtoreachoutandtouchit,butbeforeshecould,theflowersuddenlymovedaway,sparkingherinterestandcausinghertoextendhertinyhandeagerly.
<b>Josiah</b>wasworriedshemigheintocontactwiththepollen.Hetactfullymovedhishandbackward.creatingasafe<b>distance</b>betweenherandtheflower.Oncesheretractedherhand,heyfullyshiftedtheflowerforwardagain,makingitseemasifhe<b>was</b>engagingherinagame.
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“Mhm.”
“Don’tworry,shelovesflowersandwon’tsqueezethemtoohard.”Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.
Thewomansoonreturned with<b>a</b>trayoffruitandwholegrainbread,alongsideastackofeggtartsanddesserts.Withoutthetartsanddesserts,itwouldlooklikeahealthybreakfast.
Thebreakfastreflectedherownelegantyeteasygoingdemeanor.
Josiahgreetedhercalmly.“Ms.Lionhart,longtimenosee.”
Nievasmiledwarmly.“Mr.Guerra,Iwasnningtocatchupwithyouafterbreakfast.Didn’texpecttorunintoyousosoon.”
AfterspeakingwithJosiah,sheturnedtoLysander,smilingreassuringly.“Iknewit,anyoneinthisspotmustbeconnectedtoMr.Guerra<b>.</b>”
Sensing Lysander’sdifort,Josiahsmoothlyintroducedher,“Letmeintroduceyou.ThisisMs.NievaLionhart,andshe’smarried.”
Heemphasizedtheword“married.”
NievaLionharughed.“Oh,Igetit.
Josiahsmiled.“Whatdoyouget?”
“YouemphasizedIammarriedtoavoidanymisunderstandingsonherside.”
Josiahdidn’tdenyit.“ThisisLysanderThorne.She’sgoingtotakeoverThorneConstructionsandEnergiessoon.”
Nievanodded withasmile.“Hello,Ms.Thorne.”
Lysanderalsogreetedher.“Hello,Ms.Lionhart.Itseemswe’requitefated.”
Nievawasoutgoingandtalkative.Shewasalreadyenthusiasticwhenshehada<b>chance</b>encounterwithLysander.NowherenthusiasmincreaseduponlearningofLysander’sconnectiontoJosiah.“AsIsaid,meetingbychance<b>means</b>we’redestinedtobefriends.”
Auroraenthusiasticallyrespondedwithan“Oh.”
InfectedbyNieva’scheerfulness,Lysanderfeltmuch<b>of</b>herearlieruneasefadeaway.
NoticingJosiah’sskillfulhandlingofthechild,Nieva<b>teased</b>,“Mr.Guerra,what<b>have</b>youbeenupto?Youseemtohavepickedupnewskills.nningtobeadotingfather?”
Shewasmerelyjestingbuthadhirclosetohome.However,Josiahdidn’trevealhisrealthoughts<b>and</b>said,“itisjusttakingcareofachild.Ipickeditupfromwatchingothers.”
Impressive,Nievaremarked,thengottobusiness.“Bytheway,youstillhaven’ttoldmewhyyouinvited
meforthisfreevacation<b>.</b>”
Josiahdodgedthequestionwitha<b>smile</b>.“Ithasbeenawhilesincewstmet.Let’snotspoilthemoodbytalkingaboutwork.I’lltakecareofAurora<b>while</b>youtwoenjoybreakfast.”
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Understandinghisintent,Nievasmiledmeaningfully.“You’vechanged,bingmoreconsideratetowardswomen.”
Catchingon,Josiahsmiledback.“Yourdaughterisadorable.IrememberwhenIwenttoherweingpartyatHofcaster,shewastinylikeakitten<b>.</b><b>”</b>
“Thatwas sixmonthsago.Kidschangequickly,”Nievasaid,proudlylookingatherdaughter.“Youremindedmehowmuchshe’sgrown.We oftendon’tnoticeit.”
Lysander’searliersuspicionswereconfirmed.Nieva’sbackgroundwasindeedimpressive.
JosiahknewofLysander’ssharpwitandassumedshewouldhavepiecedtogetherthesituationregardingtheLionhartfamilybynow.Heasked,“<b>Have</b>youbeensobusystayinghomewithAurorahatyou’veneglectedyourinvestments?”
“Istillhandlestuff,butnotascloselyasbefore.Ibelieveinbncingworkandrest.Noteveryoneislikeyou,willingtoliveforwork.”
Nievawaidbackandenjoyedtravelingwithherdaughter.Inpassing,sheasked,“You’renottryingtoymatchmakerforsomeone,areyou?”
“Yourfamilydealsinfinance.Can’tIneedyourhelp?”Josiahrepliedlightly.
Thoughsilent.Lysanderperkedupatmentioning“investment”and“finance<b>.</b>”
Afterdaysofimmersingherselfinfinancialnews,LysanderhaddevelopedakeeninstinctandimmediatelyponderedwhyNievawashere.
Josiahwouldn’treconnectwithanoldfriendwithoutareason.
Everdirect,Nievasaid,“Comeon,withyourresources,Imightneedyourhelpsomeday.Youwouldneverneedmyinvestment.IsitforMs.Thorne?Josiah,you’vefallenhard!”
Josiaughed.“Youjusthavetogetajabin,don’tyou?”
Nievapressed,“Okay,stopbeatingaroundthebush.IfitissomethingIcanhelpwith,Iwill.Ifnot,noamountofpersuasionwillchangethat.”
Josiah’sturnedserious.“I’llgettothepoint.”
Withoutanywarning,hebroughtLysanderintotheconversation.“Lysanderhasafriendwhosefamily<b>business</b>isfacingfinancialdifficulties.Ihopeyoucanhelp.”
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