?Chapter 1172:


    Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind him.


    “Dad, I knew I’d find you here…” Mnie hurried over, wrapping Hurst in a hug. She teased, “I need a favor… Can you get me two invites to the charity ball?”


    Hurst blinked, slightly taken aback. He had already handed his daughter one invitation. “Who are they for? Ethan and Marisa?”


    Mnie’s eyes went wide. “Dad, can you read minds? How did you guess that so urately?”


    “Who else would it be? Who else makes you ask?” Hurstughed, fishing two invitation cards from his pocket. He handed them to his daughter. “Here. I already had them ready for you.”


    “Thanks, Dad!” Mnie beamed and nted a kiss on his cheek. Then she asked, “Have you invited Maia yet?”


    Hurst’s face stiffened at the question. He cleared his throat, trying to hide his unease. “Not yet. I was just about to send her a message when you showed up.”


    “Dad! You can’t just text her. That looks half-hearted. You should invite her in person.” Mnie stepped back, made a cheering gesture, and urged, “Go for it, Dad!” Then she spun around and ran off.


    “You little rascal…” Hurst grinned. “But you’re right. Maybe inviting Maia in person is the way to go.”


    His grin faded as he typed a message to Cade: “Stay in Drakmire and keep digging. Don’t let me down.”


    Meanwhile, Rosanna waited anxiously for Austen to return. Fromst night until now, she had lost count of how many times she’d called and messaged him.


    The fear of losing Austen—along with the worry that he was only toying with her and had never truly cared—gnawed at her relentlessly. It swelled fast and out of control, tightening around her chest until anxiety nearly suffocated her.


    “Austen, are you hiding from me or what?”


    At that moment, her phone buzzed in her hand.


    A message from Austen popped up: “Sorry, I’ll reach outter. It’s not a good time right now.”


    Let your imagination soar with gα?ησν????s．?ο??


    “Not a good time right now?” Rosanna furrowed her brow, scanning the message again to make sure it was really from Austen.


    She didn’t reply right away. Instead, she took a slow, measured breath, trying to quiet the storm rising inside her. Austen seemed tangled up in some kind of trouble—something that was keeping him froming home anytime soon.


    But then again, his response felt like proof that he still cared. At least he’d bothered to reply.


    “Hmph! I knew you couldn’t stay away from me… Fine, I’ll give you another chance,” she muttered. A faint smile tugged at her lips as the weight of her earlier worry quietly lifted.


    She nced out the window, calm resolve settling in. “I just hope you don’t take too long…”


    There was no time to dwell. The charity ball was next on her list. She opened Twitter and typed a quick post: “Proud to represent the Nelson family at this year’s charity ball. Let’s make it a night to remember.”


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