After a couple more hours of mingling, ra finally slipped into Dn''s car, ready to head back to the Capital. The folks from North Ashford were all gathered outside, their faces a mix of reluctance and warmth.
"ra, once our town gets better, you''ve got toe back and visit us," one of them called out.
"My family got quite a bit inpensation. We''re nning to buy a house in the Capital ande see you," another added with a hopeful grin.
"Sweetheart, how''s your back? I was out of linest time and shouldn''t have hit you with the rake," an older voice chimed in, full of regret.
The farmers'' voices floated in through the open window. ra had only spent a few days with them, but already they couldn''t bear the thought of her leaving.
No one had ever managed to lift North Ashford''s apples out of the mud and turn the ce into a tourist spot. Old grudges from decades past were finally put to rest, and they didn''t have to worry about the folks from South Ashford anymore. Life was on the up, and they would focus on apple growing and tourism
development. The old vige leader''s dream wasing true, and gratitude was in the air.
ra nced in the rearview mirror at the people who lingered. She felt a wave of emotion.
Truthfully, she hadn''t done much. The people of North Ashford, from the elders to the kids, had a genuine simplicity that was so different from the atmosphere in South Ashford.
She took a deep breath, offering a soft smile. "Mr. Dn, developing tourism here could also be great for thepany. The locals are genuine and will get along just fine with tourists. I''d worry about the South Ashford folks and their ways. They''d overcharge visitors."
Dn, flipping through some documents, gave a quiet "Hmm" in response.
This was the first project ra had seen through after she woke up, and excitement buzzed within her.
They drove in afortable silence. She was beat and soon dozed off against the window. By the time she woke up, they''d reached the Capital.
The car had stopped just outside her apartmentplex. She quickly got out, bending slightly to say, "Thanks, Mr. Dn, for the ride back."
She expected him to drive off once she finished speaking, but Dn looked up from his papers, locking eyes with her. Just as ra wondered if she had something on her face, he shifted his gaze and rolled up the window.
Standing there, ra felt a dyed awkwardness. As she turned to head home, she spotted Naomi at the entrance.
Naomi didn''t look too happy, marching over with purpose. "ra, what''s going on with you? Your dad''s at home, nearly losing his mind, and Quinn''s not in a good mood either. You need toe back with me and apologize."
Naomi''s tone was calmer this time, not like her usual outbursts. She thought ra would be moved and rush back home, but ra''s eyes just skimmed over her briefly before looking away calmly. She looked totally uninterested.
Naomi had assumed that if she made the first move, ra would revert to the obedient daughter she remembered. Now that she was ignored, her temper red.
"What''s your problem?! Everyone at home is miserable because of you, and you still won''t think about it? Do you even know why Simon never liked you?"
"Naomi, I have thought about it. It''s because there''s always a sister in the house who keeps trying to seduce him. When men are faced with that kind of attention, they usually can''t resist, so I let him go. But you''re all so weird-when I wanted him, you were upset, and now that I don''t, you''re still upset."
Naomi was trembling with anger. "Are you crazy? Why are you talking about Quinn like that?"
ra was already on her way into theplex, her voice cool. "Don''te looking for me again. I''ve told you I''m done with you all. As for the engagement with Simon, I''ll handle it with the Ferguson family myself."
Naomi was used to ra smoothing things over but couldn''t handle the sudden change. She took a deep breath. "Don''t regret this. I know you used to do this just to get our attention."