Over the years, life had dealt her a tough hand, aging her beyond her years.
Walking through the quaint streets of Craneville, Eltham paced himself to match Brittany, their silence a testament to an unspoken harmony.
Hestia, observing from a distance, noticed a stark difference in him compared to eight years ago.
Back then, his defiance against the royal expectations seemed more a bid for freedom than a gesture of love. But now, his affection for Brittany was unmistakably genuine, a realization that stung Hestia like a needle to the heart. Aware of being watched, Eltham glanced in Hestia's direction. She quickly looked away, unable to face him. He caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette but quickly got distracted.
After they left, Hestia made a hasty retreat from the garden, too afraid to look back.
At home, Brittany went straight to her room to rest, while Eltham, after a shower, couldn't shake off the feeling of familiarity from that fleeting silhouette and decided to have his assistant look into it.
Unaware of being on Eltham's radar, Hestia returned to the hospital room to replace Twila sound asleep, letting out a sigh of relief. The chapter with Eltham had closed eight years ago; they were never meant to share a world.
The next morning, Hestia and Twila,
now in a little dress, checked out of the hospital Twila's eyes sparkled with excitement at the mention of Nathan, wishing for a day out at the amusement park. Hestia was hesitant to impose on Nathan any further, despite Twila's affection for him, hoping to keep their distance.
Meanwhile, Eltham, in his sleek car, pondered over the information his
assistant gathered about Ms. Bennett's return and the mystery child. Learning of Hestia's unfortunate marriage to a
vel
disreputable man stirred a protective instinct in him. He decided Hestia
had to leave Craneville for her own safety, to avoid any potential drama with Brittany.
The assistant, surprised by the order, wondered silently about Eltham's long-standing avoidance of other women, assuming it was all for Hestia-or perhaps for someone resembling her. But Eltham made it clear; Brittany was not a stand-in for anyone. She was her own person, distinct from Hestia.
Hestia, with little savings, opted for a modest apartment over a hotel stay, refusing further financial help from Nathan. Upon returning, Twila turned on the computer to a news clip of Eltham and Brittany's high-profile partnership, pointing out the "handsome man" to her
mother.
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