Chapter 381
The bright moonlight spilled down, suffusing the car with a gentle brightness. Amidst the air, an aura of
romance lingered.
A soft breeze swept by, causing the roadside grass to sway. The des of grass yfully nudged one
another as they moved.
Inside the enclosedpartment, only the echoes of kisses resonated. The girl closed her eyes,
relishing the affection from the man. With his eyes open, a faint crimson hue tinged his gaze. He
tenderly traced every contour of her features, meticulous and attentive.
Tracing the memory of their encounter, he eased back slightly, granting the girl a brief respite to catch
her breath before leaning down again to graze the tender, desireden corners of her lips. The pangs
of longing spread freely between their lips and teeth, reluctant to part.
No number of kisses felt satiating. His hand instinctively ascended her back, moving leisurely until his
palm rested on her neck. Their breaths grewbored, foreheads touching, synchronizing their heavy
exhtions.
Ava’s face took on a flushed hue akin to a delicate blush. Her lips held a gentle swelling. Reluctant to
let go of him, she clung to his neck fervently.
A husky resonance rumbled against her neck as the man asked, “Don’t want me to go?”
Ava nodded, her reluctance evident, as she nestled against his shoulder.
Eventually, with Ava nestled at his shoulder, he sent a message to Joseph, instructing him toe and
collect her.
Shortly after that, Joseph’s car emerged from the estate. Spotting Joseph through the car window, the
man patted Ava’s back, saying, “Your brother’s here to fetch you.”
At his announcement, Ava finally relinquished her hold. Frank affectionately tousled her hair and said,
“Ille to pick you up tomorrow morning. You decide the time.
“Alright,” Ava replied obediently, her toneced with reluctance and a hint of helplessness.
Then, Frank swung open the car door and disembarked. Joseph, who was donned in pajamas a typical
attire at 10:30 pm – briefly met his gaze before opening the passenger door, inviting Ava to exit.
Joseph’s keen eyes naturally detected his sister’s atypical rosy checks. Heprehended the situation
but maintained politeness as Frank ensured Ava’s safe return. As such, Joseph said, “Thank you for
bringing Ava back. Young girls shouldn’t stay upte at night. Perhaps, you can send her home earlier
next time.”
Frank grasped the meaning behind Joseph’s words, recognizing that thetter had found it toote. He
responded, “Ill do my best.”
He refrained from issuing a definitivemitment.
Matters of the heart were elusive to predict urately. If he agreed and failed to deliver, he risked
appearing unreliable.
Once Ava was seated in Joseph’s car, Frank addressed Joseph, saying. “Open the trunk for a
moment.”
Joseph unlocked the passenger side, allowing his sister to settle in. Then, he popped the trunk open,
observing as Frank retrieved bags from his car and transferred them into Joseph’s vehicle. A faint
smirk danced on his lips, a nearly teasing gesture, as hemented, “It seems like you’ve made quite
the investment.
Frank responded, “It’s my pleasure.”
With everything stowed, Joseph promptly took the driver’s seat. He nodded to Frank, who was leaning
against the car door. before turning the car back into the estate.
Once the car had pulled into the estate, Frank lingered a moment longer, reluctant to depart. After not
smoking the entire day, he extracted a pack of cigarettes from the car. Tapping one out, he ignited it,
and the crimson ember flickered brightly in the subdued ambiance. After taking a draw and exhaling, he
turned toward the bodyguard, who had already started to walk away, and asked, “Care for one?”
The bodyguards shook their heads in unison, politely declining. Yet, out of courtesy, Frank extracted
another cigarette from the trunk and handed it to the guard stationed at the main entrance, saying,
“Workingte into the night is hard work. Take this to stay alert.
The guard epted the cigarette. But, as he was about the decline Frank’s offer, Frank had already
started the engine and pulled away.
In the wake of his departure, all that lingered was the murmur of the wind and a haze of uncertainty.
The bodyguard thought. “To smoke or not to smoke? Is this considered a form of bribery?”
From the moment she woke up, Rose began berating Frank in her heart for his actions. Why did he
book such an early flight? People do not even wake up this early for work!
Carrying a white suitcase, she descended the stairs. When William noticed Roseing down the
stairs, he rushed forward to help her move the luggage. He expressed concern and said, ‘I’ve prepared
some breakfast for you. Take it with you, and you can eat it on your way to the airport
He handed Rose the breakfast and helped load her suitcase into the trunk of the car.
Grace approached the pair and instructed, “Stay safe. Four people are apanying you, but they will
not interfere with your trip or report on your actions and whereabouts. They are merely responsible for
your safety.”
Taking a bite of the sandwich her father made, Rose nodded before opening her arms to embrace her
mother. She said. “Thank you, Mom. Love you.”
Grace’s eyes briefly moistened at Rose’s words, and she patted her daughter’s shoulder, reminding
her, “You’re runningte. Isn’t the flight at 6:30 am?”
“Oh, I’m leaving. Goodbye. I’ll bring you something back when I return.” Rose said before departing.
Even though she was using William’s money, she still wanted to show her gratitude.
“Alright, Grace responded softly. She felt touched and warmed in her heart.
At the Athana Airport, a woman wore a short white polo shirt and torn ck jeans, a dark blue baseball
cap on her head, and a mini limited edition bucket bag hanging from her shoulder. She also wore
sunsses with pale purple lenses.
Behind her were four men dressed in in clothes. They were following closely behind her.
Rose pushed her suitcase herself to avoid arousing suspicion, striding purposefully toward the airport.
People who always stay ahead of fashion trends tend to have an inherent knack for attracting
attention.
N?velDrama.Org content rights.
People nced at her asionally when checking tickets from a distance. Rose boarded the ne
and found her seat ording to her ticket. Frank had a conscience and booked her a first-ss seat
“Frank is still rather considerate,” Rose thought to herself.
She sat in the window seat. A beam of sunlight snuck in, and she was rtively content. The four
bodyguards who followed her could not sit beside her since their tickets were purchasedter. Frank’s
tickets were booked in advance, causing two bodyguards to sit behind Rose and two in the economy
ss.
Rose felt drowsy as soon as she sat down. Having woken up early in the morning, she suspected
Frank had done this intentionally. She did not remove her sunsses, pulled her hat low, and covered
herself with a thin nket, preparing to sleep.
Sleepiness overcame her swiftly. The ne had not taken off yet, and she was already in dreand.
As such, she did not notice the person sitting next to her.
A man stood by the seat, his lowered eyelids ncing at her attire as he hesitated momentarily. He did
not say a word as he gently sat down beside her.
A flight attendant approached to inquire about his needs, but before she could speak, the man
extended his long hand. gesturing for her to be quiet. He then waved his hand, indicating he did not
need anything.
The flight attendant assumed they were a couple and regarded them with envious and congrattory
eyes.
The man did not want to exin further.
Just then, the sound of a vibrating phone came from his pocket. After sending a reply, he turned off his
phone and quietlyid back on his seal, pretending to sleep.
The ne took off, and Rose had already in deep slumber. Her usual sleep position was not great, and
sleeping while sitting was ufortable. In her dreams, she had forgotten she was on a ne, and
she tilted her head to the side.
A sudden force jolted the man beside her. He turned to look at Rose but saw she had not reacted. She
was sleeping soundly. Was this insomnia? Catching up on lost sleep after waking up early?
How long had they boarded the ne since she had already fallen into a deep slumber?
Edward extended his hand, gently nudging Rose’s head toward the center of the seat. Yet, after two
attempts, she still ended up slumped against his shoulder. After repeating this process three times, he
ultimately surrendered, thinking. “Well, I suppose it is going to be like this.
Eventually, he closed his eyes, surrendering to slumber as well. Having stayed awake all night to
been an elusivepanion.
Rose’s eyes remained shut, yet her hands were raised as if to rouse herself. She momentarily forgot
she was on a ne. “Ah… sofortable, she mumbled.
Seated beside her, Edward observed her without expression and noted that herposure exceeded
even that of Sherri.
Now fully awake, Rose yawned and surveyed her surroundings. Absentmindedly addressing herself
and the person beside her, she muttered, “Forgot I was on the ne. I slept like a log”
As her gaze shifted, she noticed the man seated beside her. Donning sses, he sported khaki
trousers and a casual shirt. He exuded a handsome elegance.
Puzzled, she wondered, “Wait, why is Edward Landor sitting next to me? What’s happening?”
Observing the astonishment on the face of the Roberts family’s daughter, Edward could not help but
chuckle, a faint smile gracing his lips. “What a coincidence, he remarked.
“What a coincidence! Are you also headed to Artrond? Are you on vacation? Rose asked, her
expression brimmed with disbelief.
“We are already in Artrond. We are not going,” Edward replied, correcting her.
However, he omitted that she had slept through the entire journey. Concerned she might feel
embarrassed, he subtly adjusted his shoulder to alleviate the numbness.
“Already? I slept the entire way. Oh my God. I thought I was in my bed. What’s wrong with your
shoulder? Could it be frozen shoulder?” Rose inquired, her concern palpable.
Edward found himself at a loss for words.
A moment’s pause followed, then Edward politely replied, “A little.”
Upon learning that the person beside her was suffering. Rose’s natural inclination as a healer emerged.
She offered advice, saying. “As a friend, I would suggest looking into this. It’s a chronic ailment that
worsens with fatigue. Do you frequently experience soreness? I can show you some exercisester.
They’re quite effective. If you ignore this now, you might have trouble lifting your arms as you age. It’s
quite unfortunate.”
Edward, who was fibbing, now felt embarrassed at his fabricated condition.
After disembarking, the pair walked side by side, trailed by bodyguards who exchanged nces at the
sight of Mr. Landor as if they were conveying a silent message.
One of the bodyguards signaled through his eyes, saying. The two of them are on an overseas date.
The other bodyguard replied silently, “How would I know? I just saw it. It was a mistake.
“Where are you staying?” Rose inquired, her usual affable nature shining through.
Edward, typically reserved in his responses, recognized that silence would be impolite when faced with
such a straightforward question. At the Wintend Hotel,” he replied.
“What a coincidence, I’m staying there too. Shall we head there together? Rose suggested, considering
him a genuine friend by now.
Rose Roberts really treated him as a friend now. He felt that this person was easy to get along with. In
addition, he was Sherri Landor’s brother, so there was nothing to be afraid of.
“Certainly, as long as you don’t mind,” Edward concurred, recollecting Frank’s words.
Rose responded gracefully, “Why would I mind? We’re merely friends, not a couple.
If one had a girlfriend, but their heart belonged to someone else, even a fool would feel uneasy.
However, Rose kept this thought to herself, silently musing over it.