"Isn''t it your job to protect her? How did she end up in a tree?" Dominic Tired two questions at him.


    Dominic didn''t ask why they were there. He was more concerned about Vespera, who was still up in the tree.


    Calvert looked genuinely innocent. "The dog just ran out of nowhere, and everyone panicked. The second 1 tumed around, they were already climbing the tree and wouldn''te down."


    Dominic''s expression grew more serious.


    By this point, Vespera, who had regained herposure, was so embarrassed she could have died right there. She''d clung to the tree trunk so tightly that she was probably leaving indentations in the bark


    And what really stung was that she could tell Dominic was fighting back augh. She was sure of it-he wasughing on the inside.


    Dostumed to the men who hade with him and instructed them to leash the wolfdog and lock it in a cage.


    Then, he walked over to the tree, extending a hand to Vespera. "Come down, the tree is practically leaning from your weight."


    Vespera red up at him, knowing full well the tree had always been crooked.


    Blushing, Vespera started to descend slowly, when she climbed up, she hadn''t thought much about the height, but now that she was going down, she was filled with regret


    wondered how she even managed to climb up in the fit ce


    reached out to him, and Dominic effortlessly lifted her down. "Pretty impressive. You can climb trees."


    "Don''t say another word!" she muttered, covering her face in embarrassment.


    "Such an impressive skill should be listed on your resume," he said with a grin, his shoulders shakding with suppressedughter.


    She knew it. He wasughing at her.


    From the towe, Reba called out, "Hey, Dominic, aren''t you going to help me down, too?"


    Dominic didn''t even look back as he replied, "jump down, it''s not that high,"


    Rebaughed in frustration. He was too practical.


    Calvert mowed to catch her. "Don''t worry, Reba, jump! I''ll catch you."


    Gerard walked over to help pull Jade and Byron up from the riverbank


    The group finally made it to the courtyard


    The wolf-dog had already been locked up in a cage. It had been roaming the backyard during its free time, and everyone else had been inside.


    As soon as heard footsteps outside, the dog bolted out it had only bernabout five minutes.


    Vespera washed her face under the faucet in the courtyard. Though she felt utterly embarrassed, there was no turning back now.


    when I was up in that tree earlier at least I looked graceful, right?" she asked, trying to salvage the situation as she epted the towel from Gerard. Gerard paused, carefully choosing his words, "It was. How should I say it still kind of cute."


    Vesper was filled with despair.


    Meanwhile, Reba, who had been dealing with an upset stomach, was enjoying a peach handed to her by the homeowner, n Coleman Dominic asked curiously, "What brings you all here?"


    Reba casually replied, "We came out for alittle day trip. What about you? What brings you out here? It doesn''t quite match your status."


    "I''m here to visit a friend," Dominic responded


    "Oh, I see. What a coincidence to run into you here," Reba replied,pleting the sound of polite, obvious questions,


    Calvert was petting the dog in front of the cage and holding Byron''s hand, insisting that he pet the dog, too. It ended up scaring him, and he started crying.


    Jade had been trailing behind Reba all this time. Now, she tugged at her sleeve. "Reba, let''s go to my uncle''s house."


    "Alright, let''s go, Rebareplied, tossing the watermelon nd into the nearby trash bin as she stood up


    Vespera had intended to slip away quietly without saying goodbye to Dominic, especially since Reba had already greeted him. However, Dominic was particr about such formalities.


    He called out to her and led her to the shade of a tree. "The countryside is nice, but there are a lot of snakes and insects. Be careful."


    "Got it, Mr. Read " She nodded in acknowledgment.


    His clear, gentle voice floated in her ears.


    The air was filled with the sweet sort of freshly bitten peaches. The breeze blew geraly, and she felt a dazed, dreamy sensation, like the explosion of a soda a summer day in her heart.


    La soda can on