<b>Chapter</b><b>304</b>
Naturehaditswayofshowingfavor.Otherwise<b>,</b>why wouldBryantfliphisstancesofast,frommarriagealliances<b>to</b>divorcepapersflying<b>?</b>
AndDorothywasonthesamewavelengthasme.Evenmoreconfident,sheliftedherchin,“Otherwise?Iamfarbetter<b>than</b><b>Jane</b><b>,</b><b>right</b><b>?</b><b>”</b>Shit!Igotcaughtinthecrossfire<b>for</b>noreason.
Thankfully,aservanthurriedinsoonafter,announcing,“LadyRamona,MissDorothy,Mrs.Myershasreturned.”
Dorothy stoodtall andproud,grabbedBryant’s arm,andcouldn’twaittintohermother.
All<b>I</b><b>could</b>thinkwas,‘Thisisnotthecetostay<b>.’</b>
OneDorothywastroublesome enough,letaloneSusanaddingto themess.Sittingstraight,IturnedtoRamona,whispering,“Ramona,IneedtoheadbacktoRiverCitytoday.I’llvisityouinVistaTown anothertime.”This is from N?velDrama.Org.
Ramonaseemeddisappointed<b>,</b>butshedidn’tsaymuch,onlyaskingmetofollowthe butlertofetchsomething,leavingGregoryto
chat.
Gregoryhadjustleftthelivingroom whenIreturnedwiththeitem.Walkingoverleisurely,hencedatthejewelryboxin<b>my</b>hand.“WhatdidRamonagiveyou?Letmesee.”
I didn’thavethegutsto openitinfrontofthe butler.Hejustsaiditwasalittle somethingfromRamona.Upon<b>seeing</b>agembraceletinside,Iquicklyclosedit,headingbacktoRamona’s quarters.Itwastoovaluable.
Gregorysaid,“Keep it.”
Irefused,“It’stooexpensive.”
“Wholesale.”Hecaughttheback ofmycor,stoppingmefromreturningtoRamona,hisvoicetingedwithmncholy,“Overthe years,whenever Ramonaencounteredagirl aroundLilliana’sageshetookafancyto,she’dgive agift.”
What?Ididn’tunderstandtheworld ofthewealthy.“Doallgiftscostthismuch?<b>”</b>
ThoughnotaspriceyasthependantsTimothypreparedfor mychild<b>,</b>thesentimentdiffered.Thegreat–grandfatherwasgiftinghisgreat–grandchildabirthgift.Naturally,ithadtobethebest.ButRamona givingawaygiftslikethat?
Thebraceletinmyhandwasworthasmallfortune.Givingawayadozenorsocouldalmostmatchtheprice.
“Notreally.”Gregoryreleasedmy cor,walkingoutwithme,leisurelyadding,“Yoursisprobablythemostexpensive.Justwearit<b>.</b>She’sgotplentyofmoney.Iguessthisisherwayoffindingsomfort<b>.</b>”
OnthewaybacktoRiverCity,with thedriveratthewheel,Gregorydidn’tfasleepthistime,staringoutthewindow,lostinthought.I gentlytwirledthesmoothbraceletonmywrist.“You andRamonamusthavefacedalotofdisappointmentsovertheyears,huh?”
Theyhaddonedecadesofsearchingwithoutfindingher.Icould almostfeelthecycleof hope andletdowntheymusthaveendured.“Notdisappointed.”Stillfacingthewindow,hisprofilesharpyetsoftenedbymemories,hisvoicdenwith undefinableemotion,“Witheverypersonweruleout,I’monestepcloser<b>to</b>her.Whyfeeldisappointed?<b>”</b>
I<b>felt</b>apangofemotion<b>,</b>unsureifitwasenvyfortheunseenLillianaorbeingmovedbysuchgenuineaffection.Itwaslikewatching<i>your</i>favoritecharacterinadrama,separatedbycircumstancesbeyondtheir<b>control</b>,
“I’malsolooking intoyou.”Gregoryncedatme,asmileonhislips.“I’veeventhought about whatI’ddo ifyouwereher.”