<b>Chapter</b><b>303</b>
It<b>seemed</b>hewas<b>nning</b><b>a</b><b>big</b>event.<b>To</b>thoseinthe<b>know</b><b>,</b>Gregorywaschangingthe locks.<b>But</b>toothers,he<b>might</b><b>look</b>like<b>he</b><b>was</b><b>engaging</b>insomeancientritual.
Ifinallyputtwoand<b>two</b>together.“Isthis…yourmissingfiancée’sgarden<b>?</b><b>”</b>
Gregory’sthicshesflutteredasheshotme ance<b>.</b>“Youknowtheanswer,so whyask<b>?</b><b>”</b>
<b>“</b>You…”Icouldn’thelpbutblurtout,“Have<b>you</b>everconsideredwhatifyoucan’tfindher?”
Hestaredmedown,hiseyesnarrowing,amischievoussmileonhislips.“ThenIcertainlywon’tsettledown foranyone,including<b>you</b><b>.”</b>This is from N?velDrama.Org.
“Stoptteringyourself.”Inearlychokedonmywords.“Someonelikeyou?Iwouldn’ttakeyouevenif<i>you</i>werethst guyintheworld<b>.”</b>
Havingbeenburnedby Bryant’sunrequitedloveoncewasenoughforme.Fromthenon,I’dsteerclearofmenhauntedbytheghost<b>of</b>apastlove.
Andwhowashe?Theheirof theForddynasty,alegacyfivegenerationsdeep.
Asadivorced woman,whatrightdid<b>I</b>havetoevendreamofbingpart oftheirfamily?Besideshim,hisfamilywouldprobablychaseme<b>out</b>withpitchforks.
<b>“</b><b>Mr.</b>Ford<b>,</b>Ms.Webster.”Thebutlerran over,outofbreath.“I’vebeenlookingeverywhere<b>for</b>you two:LadyRamonawasaskingfor<b>you</b><b>.”</b>
WhenwereturnedtoRamona’sgarden,BryantandDorothy werethere,too.
Dorothy wasonthevergeofameltdown.“Grandma,you’reseriouslynotattendingmineandBryant’sengagementparty?”
“Marriageisamatterfortheparentstoattend.”RamonawavedatmeelegantlyasIwalked in,showing<b>no</b>interest<b>in</b>the festivities.“<b>I’m</b>gettingoldanddon’t enjoytheseloudeventsanymore.”
<b>I</b>nodded slightlyandwalkedover,Ramona pullingme<b>to</b>sitbeside her.
Fuming,Dorothylookedlikeshewantedtocrushhercoffeecup.“Whatifitwere Lilliana’sengagementparty?”
“You’vealwayparedyourselftoLilliana.”Ramonadidn’tdirectlyanswer,butherpointwasclear:
Lilliana,thegranddaughterwhosharedaquarterofRamona’sblood,wouldn’tjustbeanotherguest.She’dtakethe<b>reins</b>andmakeitaneventtoremember.
Notentirelywitless,Dorothycaughttheimplicationandfelt slighted.“HowcouldInoparemyselfto Lilliana?EventheservantsreminisceabouthowquirkyandsmartLillianawas asachild! Butnomatterhowgreatshewas,she’sgonenow.Whycan’tyoupraisemeforonce…Ah<b>!</b>”
BeforeDorothycouldfinish,withzeroregardforgentlemanlyconduct,Gregoryflungacupofwarmcoffeerightather.
Unperturbedbyhickofdecorum,Gregory’s smirkgrew wider.“Dorothy,whatrightdoyouhavetpare yourselftoher?Herinfluenceiswhyyou’rehermandingattention.”
Thatsinglestatementhad metaphoricallytrampledDorothyinto thedirt.Itwasasifhewassayinganimitationdaringtopareitself<b>to</b>theoriginal.
Bryant,whohadoncestoodbyme,steppedforwardtoprotectDorothy,hisgaze<b>icy</b>.“Mr.Ford<b>,</b>regardlessofyourthoughts,sheis myfiancée.”
<b>Is</b>thatso?”Gregory’ughcamewith implication.“IfshetrulymanagestomarryintotheFergusonfamily,Imightrespecther.”Bryant’seyeswidened,andhequicklychangedthesubject beforeDorothycouldcatchthe hiddenmeaning.“Whetheryourespecther<b>isn’t</b>thepoint.”
“Oh<b>.</b><b>”</b>Gregoryseemedunbothered<b>,</b>hisgazesweepingovermebeforerestingon Dorothy withahalf–smile.“Doyouthink he’sthat<b>into</b><b>you</b><b>?</b><b>”</b>