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 himpared 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.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAware 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 find 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. Bet's return and the
mystery child. Learning of Hestia's unfortunate marriage to a disreputable man stirred a protective instinct in him. He decided
Hestia had to leave Craneville for her own safety, to avoid any potential with Brittany.
The assistant, surprised by the order, wondered silently about Eltham's long-standing avoidance of other women, assuming it was
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmall 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 theputer to a news clip of Eltham and Brittany's high-profile partnership, pointing out the
"handsman" to her mother.
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