Hannah scoffed and turned back to the racks of gowns.


    Samuel shot Cherry a re. "See that? Hannah is incredibly patient. Anyone else would have pped you silly by now. Know your ce and stay out of the way."


    Cherry, however, was now buzzing with excitement. Did Hannah''s words mean she could go to the g after all? This was perfect! Once Hannah had chosen her gown, she could pick one too. They were all thetest couture designs; she couldn''t go wrong with any of them.


    After Hannah made her selection, she and Samuel went to the small sitting room for afternoon tea. Cherry, overjoyed, happily began to browse the gowns herself.


    Watching her, Samuel leaned closer to Hannah. "Hannah, are you really going to let here along? You know she''ll just cause trouble."


    Hannah lifted her teacup, gently blowing on it. "And if I don''t bring her, do you think she''ll just stay home quietly? She''d probably follow us and try to sabotage something there."


    Samuel considered this. It was true; Cherry was anything but predictable.


    "Good point. She''d probably just run to Grandpa and Grandma with some sob story about how you bullied her. It''s such a headache. Uncle Sean is such a schr, and Aunt Shirley is from a prestigious family. How did two such aplished people raise such a... such a spoiled brat?"


    Hannah lowered her gaze, thinking for a moment. "There''s something I''ve been curious about. My mother''s name is Cheryl. It''s our custom to avoid giving children the names of their elders, so why did your Uncle Sean name his daughter Cherry?"


    The question had been on her mind since she first heard Cherry''s name.


    "After Aunt Cheryl went missing, the family tried to arrange a marriage for her, but she refused, saying she would never marry. Around that time, Aunt Shirley got pregnant and suggested that since Cheryl


    Chghaat


    wouldn''t have her own children, she could adopt theirs. To honor Aunt Cheryl they named their daughter Cherry, because the names sound so simr. But then, not long after, Aunt Cheryl announced she was pregnant and wouldn''t need to adopt."


    Hannah paused. Samuel had described her uncle and aunt as a schr and a


    "Aunt Shirley told my mother that being pregnant and unmarried would bring shame to the Temple family. She urged her to terminate the pregnancy and adopt their child instead. But Aunt Cheryl refused She was determined to have her baby."


    Samuel leaned in closer, his eyes darting around the room to make sure no one was listening. "Aunt Cheryl was incredible," he whispered. "If she hadn''t gone


    missing, she would be the head of the family now, not Uncle Peter."


    "That couple wanted to inherit Aunt Cheryl''s assets. When they heard she wouldn''t marry, they came up with that whole adoption scheme. I


    bet the real


    bet the real reason Cherry dislikes you is because your return means you''ve taken back what she thought would be hers."


    He paused, another thought urring to him.


    "And when Aunt Cheryl disappeared, they were the first ones to suggest dividing up her property."


    Hannah took a sip of her coffee, her gaze hardening as she watched Cherry approach them.


    "You want to get to know Quennel, don''t you?"