Chapter 284


    ra froze mid-step as she caught sight of the man''s striking features. "Mr. Brodie? What are you


    doing here?" she asked in surprise.


    Why did Brodie''s profile remind her so much of Ian''s? Not only that, their builds and movements


    were uncannily simr. She''d mistaken twopletely unrted men for one another. If Ian found


    out, he''d surely be as sour as an overturned jar of pickles.


    Brodie offered a gentle curve of his lips. "I''ve acquired thatnd. I''m nning to build an eco-friendly


    farmstead and thought I''d scout the ce out."


    ra followed the direction of Brodie''s gesture and saw a verdantke stretching before them.


    Nodding in approval, she said, "Theke is surrounded by hills. The environment is really serene,


    and the water is pristine. You could develop some water attractions. I bet it would be a hit."


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    Brodie chuckled. "You seem to know quite a bit about development."


    "I worked on an eco-estate project with Ian once. It''s simr to what you have here."


    At the mention of Ian, a shadow crossed Brodie''s eyes, and his voice deepened a notch. "Have you


    two made up?"


    ra smiled and lifted her hand to show off her ring. "He proposed to me. We were going to get our


    marriage certificate the day before yesterday, but Grandpa Reed took a nasty spill, and we couldn''t


    make it."


    Brodie saw the twinkle in her eyes, like when she was a child and had spotted something she


    adored. A touch of bitterness flickered across his face, but he managed a small smile. "ra, if


    Ian''s mother had hurt someone you love, would you still stay with him?"


    ra''s gaze faltered. "Does my father''s kidnapping have something to do with Leonora?"


    Brodie pursed his lips, his gaze filled with a pained empathy. "It might be connected, but we don''t


    have enough evidence yet."


    Biting her lip in contemtion, ra''s eyes shimmered with restrained emotion. "It''s rted, but


    thankfully, my father''s unharmed. I won''t hold it against Ian. He''s his own man. His mother is a


    different story."


    The look in Brodie''s eyes intensified further. He wanted to ask her if she would still feel indifferent,


    knowing it was her mother who was harmed. But seeing ra''s unwavering trust in Ian, he


    swallowed his words.


    An unusual tension hung between them, which was abruptly shattered when a dark figure leaped


    out from behind them, lunging at ra. With quick reflexes, Brodie yanked ra out of harm''s way


    andnded a kick in the belly of the shadowy figure. Only then did ra see it was the aggressive


    stray dog that often roamed the vige. After being kicked, the dog charged at Brodie.


    Brodie grabbed a stick from the ground and defended them both, keeping ra safely behind him.


    After a tense few minutes, the dog finally retreated.


    ra, nearly in tears and shaking, asked, "Brodie, are you hurt?"


    Brodie almost lost hisposure, wanting to embrace her andfort her as he had when they


    were younger. "Don''t be scared. I''ve got you," he would have said. But his hand, raised to touch her


    head, stopped midway and fell back to his side.


    He sighed, his eyes closing for a moment. Things between him and his little girl could never return


    to how they once were. He forced a smile. "I''m fine. Just got my clothes dirty, that''s all."


    ra finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Reed''s home is just up ahead. Let me take you there to clean


    up."


    Brodie hesitated, but ra insisted. "It''s no bother. My dad''s there, too, and we haven''t had dinner


    yet. You just saved me, so the least I can do is treat you to a meal."


    As Ian stepped into the yard, he saw a man sitting at the table conversing with Casey over drinks.


    Despite the dim lighting, he instantly recognized the man as Brodie. His fists clenched at his sides.


    Was Brodie here to reconcile with ra?


    At the thought, Ian felt a rush of blood to his head, and an unprecedented anxiety overtook him. He


    hurried towards the room.


    ra, about to stoke the fire, was startled by a shadowy figure. When she recognized the face, her


    voice filled with excitement. "Ian."


    Ian''s lips curled into a weary smile as he opened his arms to her. "Baby,e here and give me a


    hug."


    Dropping the piece of wood she was holding, ra rushed into his embrace. Her cheeks, slightly


    flushed, rubbed against his chest as she looked up at him.


    "Why are you here sote?" she asked.