Chapter 204 Flirting
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<b>70 </b>
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Penelope’s voice carried that soft, motherly warmth, but every word hit with the weight of someone who had lived long enough to know better.
“Anne, don’t let him fool you. The problem isn’t marriage itself–it’s that you trusted the wrong person. A good marriage should lift you up, make your life richer, and give you someone who’s both your safe harbor and your strongest shield. Don’t you agree?”
Anneliese froze where she sat, her legs stiff as if nailed in ce. She didn’t dare move for fear Penelope would notice. Her cheeks burned hot. “Y–yeah… right,” she muttered.
Anneliese tried to shift her foot, just the slightest movement, but the man mped down even harder. The firm, unyielding lines of his thigh muscles pressed against her foot, and she could feel every ounce of that strength.
Penelope went on, her tone both tender and firm. “Sweetheart, you’re only twenty–two. That’s such a beautiful age for a young woman–so full of energy and light. This is the time to enjoy sweet romances. Youth means you’re allowed to make mistakes. It’s your greatest freedom. Take my advice: when something ends, let it end. Then move forward without fear. If one rtionship doesn’t work out, toss it aside and find another. Don’t let fear hold you back.”
Anneliese truly agreed with her. Penelope’s words made sense. Since the divorce, and with her finally returning to the studies and dreams she’d once left behind, there was no room left in her heart. She didn’t want to divide her energy anywhere else.
Still, she nodded with a faint smile. “Grandma, I’ll remember what you said.”
Penelope patted Anneliese’s hand. “Oh, sweetheart, I was only making a casual remark. I wasn’t scolding you. Why are you so tense? Look at you–your cheek is flushed, and you’re even breaking into a sweat.”
<i>Red </i><i>cheeks</i>? That’s <i>the </i><i>least </i><i>of </i><i>it</i><i>–</i><i>I’m </i><i>on </i><i>the </i><i>verge </i><i>of </i><i>tears </i><i>here</i><i>! </i>
Anneliese lowered her head, flustered, and brushed her fingers across her forehead. “The soup’s a little hot,” she muttered.
“Then take your time. No rush.” Penelope finally let go of her hand and smiled. Penelope lowered her gaze to her te, but not before shooting Jonathan a discreet re.
With Penelope’s attention no longer pinned on her, Anneliese seized the chance. She lifted the spoon again and used the motion of sipping soup to sneak a pleading look at Jonathan across the table.
<b>11:59 Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>12
Chapter 204 Flirting
<b>70 </b>
+10 Free Coins
But the man didn’t even nce her way. He kept eating as if nothing was going on, calm and unbothered.
Helpless, Anneliese pulled out her phone under the table and opened WhatsApp. She sent him a little bunny emoji–paws pressed together, begging for mercy.
<i>Ding</i><i>. </i>
Jonathan’s phone buzzed. Anneliese tensed, worried he might ignore it. Relief washed over her when he reached for his phone and opened the message.
But he still didn’t let go of Anneliese’s leg. Cornered, she gripped her phone tighter and hurried to type another message.
‘I really messed up–big time. I swear I won’t push my luck again!‘
<i>Man</i><i>, what </i><i>the </i><i>hell </i><i>was </i><i>I </i><i>thinking</i>? <i>I </i><i>actually </i><i>had </i><i>the </i><i>guts to </i>kick him. I’m <i>kicking </i><i>myself </i><i>for </i><i>it </i><i>now</i>.
Anneliese kept sneaking nces at Jonathan, her eyes almost pleading.
<i>Ding</i><i>–</i><i>dong</i>.
Penelope gave a sharp snort. “Can you not? We’re eating. Do you have to keep working at the table?”
Jonathan let out a helpless sigh. “Grandma, I’m not working right now.”
“Oh, please. If it’s not work, what else would it be? Flirting?<b>” </b>
“Maybe.”
“I don’t buy it. Show me.” Penelope thrust out her hand without hesitation.
Anneliese froze. Panic hit so fast her hand jerked, and the spoon slipped right into her bowl of creamy soup with a ssh.
Jonathan watched her flustered reaction from across the table and couldn’t hold back a quietugh.
He flicked his fingers across the screen, shot her a quick reply, then locked his phone and set it on the table. “Nothing ever gets past you, Grandma. I’m done checking<b>.” </b>
A secondter, another ding–dong went off.
This time it was Anneliese’s phone. Her heart shot straight into her throat.
11:59 Fri, Sep <b>12 </b>
Chapter 204 Flirting
:
<b>70 </b>
+10 Free Coins
Thankfully, Penelope seemed oblivious and kept her head down, focused on her meal.
Meanwhile, Jonathan finally let go of her leg under the table.
Anneliese yanked her foot back at once, ducked her head, and shoveled food into her mouth as if that could hide her. She didn’t even dare to check what Jonathan had sent her.
Later, after dinner, she sat in the living room chatting with Penelope. Only then did she open WhatsApp and sneak a look at the message.
‘Where the heck are you kicking at? You’re gonna take responsibility if it breaks?‘
Anneliese recalled how Jonathan had been lounging with his long legs spread out. When she kicked at him earlier, she probably hadn’t paid attention to where her footnded. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have ended up with her ankle trapped so neatly between his knees.
Just then, Jonathan walked in, carrying a te of freshly washed fruit the maid had just prepared.
Her ears burned all over again. She fumbled to put her phone away as if it had suddenly be scalding hot.
Jonathan settled into the single sofa beside her. He wore a crisp white shirt and ck trousers, the top two buttons undone. His sleeves were rolled carelessly to the elbows, exposing lean, well–defined forearms.
He picked up a small knife and began peeling an apple. As the de turned in his hand, the veins along his arm shifted with each movement, taut and strikingly sensual. The peel came off in one long ribbon, unbroken from start to finish.