Thalia lowered her gaze, her eyes moving downward.
Asher was holding her hand, their fingers intertwined. His voice carried a mocking edge: “Reunite? As if Thalia would give such rubbish a second nce now that she’s with me.”
Crude, perhaps, but not untrue.
Thalia smiled demurely, ying along by leaning closer to him, nestling against his side like a contented bird seeking shelter. “Asher’s absolutely right. There’s only room for him in my heart now. Why would I spare a thought for some forgettable mistake from my youth?”
Drake’s smile froze, his expression darkening.
“A forgettable mistake from my youth.” Her words stung.
Was that truly how she saw him? As something so utterly insignificant?
Drake’s hand tightened into a fist at his side as he struggled to control his anger and resentment.
Simultaneously, a sh of jealousy crossed Grace’s eyes, almost imperceptible. She silently gritted her teeth, mentally cursing Thalia a thousand times over.
Victoria jumped in with a deliberately pointed tone: “Well, Miss Bet, perhaps this exins why your family has such a questionable reputation. Chasing after someone Thalia grew bored with–rather desperate, isn’t it?”
“Who are you calling ‘someone she grew bored with“?” Drake snapped, unable to contain himself any longer.
Eliza’s face flushed with anger. She was about to argue with Victoria but caught sight of Sebastian standing behind her and thought better of it.
She couldn’t afford to antagonize the Darwin family.
“I’m talking about you,” Victoria replied coolly, crossing her arms and regarding Drake with open disdain.
“So you’re Drake Ashcroft? Dating you seems to be like having a criminal record for Thalia. Thank goodness she came to her senses and gave you the boot. Otherwise, I might have had to hold a knife to her throat to force her to break things off. Weren’t you back with your ‘perfect ex‘ or whatever? Why not
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bring her out for a stroll on such a lovely day?”
Drake was practically apoplectic with rage.
As he appeared on the verge of losing controlpletely andunching into a tirade against Victoria, Grace quickly grabbed his arm. “Come now, let’s all stop arguing. This is just a misunderstanding. It’s my fault entirely–I had no idea Drake and Thalia were previously involved.”
Grace bit her lip lightly, her eyes filling with tears as she looked at her brother, the picture of a wounded.
innocent.
“Brother, I truly didn’t know Drake was Thalia’s ex–boyfriend. I thought… I thought he was simply Eliza’s
friend, nothing more… Brother, you won’t me me, will you?”
Asher was about to speak when Thalia beat him to it, mimicking Grace’s affected manner: “Sister, it was merely an innocent mistake. How could I possibly me you? Your brother won’t me you either.”
Asher wasn’t certain what Thalia was nning, but he supported her unconditionally. With a cold expression, he replied, “If Thalia doesn’t me you, then neither do I.”
Grace was momentarily speechless, looking at Thalia in confusion. Thalia offered her a sweet smile that sent chills down Grace’s spine. What was this woman plotting?
-Thaliaughed inwardly. If Grace wanted to y games, they would see who would end up more
ufortable.
James, who had been silently observing the drama unfold, finally spoke up: “Let’s not all stand about like this. We should have something to eat and rest before the hike. We’ll need our energy for the climb.”
The spectators dispersed. Everyone began setting up camping tables and chairs,ying out tablecloths, and arranging the evening meal preparations.
Portable grills, charcoal, camping stoves, cookware–all the necessary equipment was avable. Everyone busied themselves, some preparing the barbecue, others working on hearty stews.
Thalia and Victoria gravitated toward the barbecue station together.
Victoria whispered: “Why don’t you just send him packing?”
The “him” in question was Drake.
Thalia calmly basted a rack ofmb with herb butter. “It wouldn’t work. I’ve tried several times before.
He’d just turn up again another day.”
20-53
Your Gold Digger is Actually A True <b>De </b>
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“Thalia, I was right, wasn’t 17 This Grace Bet is absolutely devious. Would you sooner heteve she didn’t know Drake was your ex, or that I’m bloody Queen Victoria reincarnated?”
“I know she’s doing this deliberately, I suspect Grace and Drake have been in contact, conspiring to break up Asher and me. Since they’re so determined to make me ufortable, I might as well y along, and see who ends up more bothered by it all
Victoria gave her a thumbs up. <i>“</i>Spot on! Absolutely <i>right</i>! I’m with you all the way, darling!”
Sebastian wandered over, eager for gossip, <i>“</i><i>Thalia</i>, was that absolute tosser really your ex–boyfriend?
Before Thalia could answer, Sebastian yelped in pain, clutching his head.
Asher’s cool voice came from behind him. “Mind your own business.”
Sebastian’s expression turned wounded, “Why did you flick me? That bloody hurt! I was just checking if Thalia was alright.”
“Are you really that idle?” Victoria shoved two tters into Sebastian’s hands–one withmb chops, the other with marinated chicken. “Make yourself useful and grill these.”
Sebastian could only ept them wordlessly,
Asher embraced Thalia from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder, his arms encircling her waist. His tone was uncharacteristically tender: “Lia.”
Thalia leanedfortably against him while continuing to tend to the barbecue. “Thismb will be ready
in a moment.”
“Mmm.” His presence enveloped herpletely.
Asher alternated between pressing soft kisses to her neck and gently nibbling her earlobe, his warm breath tickling her skin. Thalia couldn’t help but giggle.
When he attempted to nibble her ear again, Thaliaughingly moved away. “Stop that! Everyone’s watching,”
Asher’s voice was deep and seductive. “Let them watch. Let them see how perfectly happy we are together.”
Nearby, Sebastian quipped: “Victoria, do you smell something in the air?”
Victoria sniffed exaggeratedly, “What smell? I only smell the delicious barbecue.”
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Sebastian replied in a theatrical tone: “It’s the sickeningly sweet stench of love.”
Still holding Thalia in his arms, Asher drawledzily: “Rubbish. Love smells perfectly delightful.”
Meanwhile, Grace watched Asher and Thalia’s public disy of affection with barely contained rage, her knuckles white as she clenched her fists.
When the food was ready, everyone gathered around the tables to eat.
They had arranged two tables–Thalia, Asher, Sebastian, James, Charlotte, and Victoria naturally gravitated to one, while Grace, her two friends, and Drake took the other.
Just as Thalia and Asher sat down<b>, </b>Grace approached with a steaming bowl.
She ced it on the table in front of Asher, leaning down so closely she was practically pressed against him.
“Brother, I’ve made some beef stew. Try some.”
Asher shifted subtly toward Thalia to create distance between himself and Grace, then casually pushed the bowl toward Thalia. “Lia, it’s beef stew–your favorite. Have a taste.”
Grace’s smile froze on her face.
Thalia picked up a fork and sampled a tender piece of beef.
After finishing the morsel, she turned to Grace with a sweet smile. “Mmm, it’s quite good. Thank you,
sister.”
That wasn’t the end of it. Asher took the fork and speared a buttery potato, feeding it to Thalia. “Try this
one.”
The others around the table watched this disy with inward admiration for Asher’s tactics.
They thought: Well yed–he’s managed to politely refuse his sister while simultaneously pleasing his fiancée. Brilliant!
Victoria, always ready to fuel the drama, chimed in: “Aren’t they just the sweetest couple? Always disying their affection. Grace, look how utterly devoted your brother is to your future sister–inw.”
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