Chapter 1288


    A whileter, Celeste returned to Ernest and Maria''s house. She was full of doubts and worries.


    After Cindy brought her for a makeover, she went to buy some clothes. Her aunt then sent her back


    to Maria''s house personally.


    Instead of apanying Celeste, Cindy unloaded the things and left immediately. She didn''t even


    meet Ernest and Maria.


    Celeste waited outside the vi with a pile of clothes and gifts that she had bought in the mall. She


    called Maria and waited for her toe help her along with the butler.


    There were too many things for her to carry. Her aunt had also chosen gifts for Ernest and Maria.


    Cindy''s kindness caught Celeste off guard. That was why she was full of doubts.


    "Maria, I''m back. I''m at the gate," As soon as the phone was connected, Celeste told Maria her


    location, "Come pick me up. I have a lot of things with me. You better ask the butler toe


    together." "Okay, I''lle right away," Maria heard her and prepared to go downstairs right away.


    When she went downstairs and saw Ernest, she paused for a moment before saying to the butler,


    "Mr. Butler, please follow me for a while."


    "Ok," The butler nodded immediately with a smile.


    "Where are you going?" Ernest nced at Maria, asking, "Is Celeste back?"


    "Yes, Celeste is back. Ernest, you can continue to do your work. Let''s go," Maria did not ask for


    Ernest''s help. She turned around and left with the butler.


    With a snort, Ernest got up and followed her.


    "Why did you follow me?" Maria turned around and saw Ernest following her. She immediately


    snapped, "We don''t really need your help, Ernest."


    "I have nothing to do," Ernest remarked, "I''ll go with you. Maybe I can help."


    Maria had no choice but to let Ernest follow her.


    After a while, they arrived at the gate.


    Celeste stood on the side of the road, with a bunch of gift boxes ced neatly on the ground.


    She had changed her appearance. Her hair, which was tied up earlier, was now resting loosely


    behind her.


    From afar, they noticed that Celeste had trimmed her fringe neatly, and her long straight hair had


    cascaded behind her shoulders. She looked elegant and sophisticated, giving off innocent and


    sweet vibes at the same time. In fact, she resembled a young and dainty female student.


    "Wow, you look beautiful," Maria eximed and ran over in a hurry. She did not hide her praises for


    her good friend at all, "Celeste, you''re so pretty!"


    On the contrary, Celeste was embarrassed by the praises. She blushed slightly and said, "Thanks


    for thepliment."


    "You look really good," Maria couldn''t help scanning Celeste from head to toe.


    At that moment, Ernest and the butler caught up to them.


    Ernest also looked at Celeste. A momentter, he smiled and praised her, "It''s beautiful. You look


    betterpared to when you tie your hair."


    The butler nodded as well, "Miss White is beautiful. She''s a natural beauty."


    Embarrassment shed through Celeste''s gaze. She lowered her head slightly and said hurriedly,


    "Let''s go back first. We have to take these things back."


    "Why are there so many things?" Maria was shocked by the big pile of boxes on the ground, "Don''t


    tell me that you bought the whole shopping mall?" "No, I just bought some clothes and some food,"


    Celeste replied.


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    Ernest and the butler each carried several heavier bags, leaving only a few lighter ones for Maria


    and Celeste to carry.


    On the way back, Maria asked her softly, "How was everything? Have you dealt with it?"


    "No," Celeste shook her head.


    "Did you see Liam?" Maria was also worried about Liam''s situation.


    "Yes," Celeste replied, "My aunt was there. I went with her to the hairstylist too. Liam''s team will


    settle everything for him, and my aunt''s manager will help too. I don''t know the details."


    "Then that''s fine," Maria was optimistic, "The more people there are, the stronger we are."


    Celeste wasn''t that positive, but she wasn''t that dejected either.


    They went back together, but they didn''t realize that in the car not far away, Cindy was looking at


    them.


    Her eyes were deep and full of emotions.


    After watching Celeste and Ernest disappear into the house, she ordered the driver to turn around


    and go back.


    When they got home, Celeste brought her clothes into the room and ced all the gifts and food


    she had bought downstairs.


    "You''re so courteous to actually buy us gifts," Maria received a set of skincare products and was


    very happy, "As expected of my aunt-inw. This is suitable for a sixteen-year-old like me."


    Cindy had chosen skincare products for Maria. She was not suitable for makeup at the age of


    sixteen, but she could still cleanse and protect her skin.


    Meanwhile, Ernest received a cool and trendy headset.


    The butler and driver all had gifts as well.


    After receiving the gift, Ernest looked at the headset. It was thetest model.


    "Don''t you have anything to say?" Maria looked at Ernest.


    "She''s very detailed," Ernest said, praising Celeste''s aunt.


    However, Celeste was not downstairs. She was upstairs tidying up her belongings.


    "That''s true. Even the butler and the driver have received gifts," Maria said, "She''s very thorough."


    Ernest pursed his lips but didn''t say anything. His eyes had a faraway look.


    Maria went upstairs with her skincare products and snacks. When she went upstairs, she saw that


    Ernest was still in a daze.


    She shouted, "Are you ok? Aren''t you going upstairs?"


    Ernest came back to his senses and replied, "You can go first."


    "I''ll go upstairs and give Gary a call then."


    Ernest was stunned. He quickly added, "If I were you, I wouldn''t call him."


    "Why?" Maria felt that Ernest was being jealous of Gary again.


    "Think about it yourself," Ernest rebuked and didn''t exin any further.


    "Why stop midway? That''s so petty," Maria snorted. "If you want to say something, just say it. You


    won''t die just by talking more."


    "When we have different opinions, it''s useless for me to say anything further. Be careful that


    something bad might happen with your good intentions," That was the only thing Ernest wanted to


    say.


    On the second floor, Maria locked herself in her room. After thinking about Ernest''s words, she


    understood the meaning behind it.


    If she had called and told Gary that Celeste had returned, Gary would definitely feel a little more at


    ease.


    But if she didn''t, Gary would definitely call Celeste since he had no idea whether she was safe or


    not.


    So that was it.


    After she understood this, she heaved a deep sigh of relief.


    She was so close to messing things up for Celeste.


    Now, Maria was d that she did not call Gary.


    Just then, the phone suddenly rang.


    She was shocked and nced at the phone. It was a call from her father.


    Maria patted herself on the chest, feeling guilty. She thought that it was from Gary.


    She picked up the phone quickly and answered in a friendly way, "Dad, why are you calling me at


    this hour?"


    If she remembered correctly, it was midnight at home now.


    "From your tone, it seems that you''re not happy answering my call," Zachary''s tone was full of


    usations against his daughter.


    "Oh, no, don''t get me wrong," Mariaughed, "I didn''t mean that. I miss you very much, dad."


    Maria quickly ttered her father and sweet-talked her way out of trouble.


    Zachary eased his tone slightly and was gentler towards Maria. "Are you used to living in London?"


    "I''m used to it here," Maria said hurriedly, "Everything''s great here. Don''t worry, Dad."


    "You don''t even call us. Your mum misses you very much," Zachary reprimanded.


    "I miss mum too," Maria said hurriedly. "I''m just taking time adapting to the time difference here.


    Everything''s amazing here. Dad, tell mum not to worry."


    "Your mum was worried about you guys. That''s why she is going to London with your grandmother


    and your aunt Hermione. Their flight''s tonight."


    "Mum ising now?" Maria was shocked.


    Zachary replied, "Yes, they''ll be living in London for a week. After checking up on you lot, they''ll


    head to the United States to visit Gary and Lowell before returning home."


    "I''ve only been here for a week, and mom is alreadying?" Maria wanted to wail.


    "From your tone, I can hear that you dislike the idea?"


    Maria quickly denied, "No, of course not, dad, I-1 just think that you two are still treating me like a


    child." "Their flight is tonight. They will probably reach your ce at 12 o''clock in the morning,"


    Zachary continued, "Let me tell you in advance, you''d better not let your mother see you feeling sad


    or being in a mess. If not, she''ll be upset."


    Maria was stunned. A whileter, she figured out the reason behind his call.


    "I see! Daddy, you pity mom. You didn''t call me because you missed me at all, did you?"


    "Cough," Zachary cleared his throat and said, "What do you think?"


    Maria had to face reality.


    She came out of the room and shouted in the corridor, "Ernest? Ernest! We have a big problem."