Chapter 78 Leon’s Present
Engaging with Milly seemed to ignite a competitive streak in him, vying for her attention.
A man can be bested, but never shamed!
#Finished
“Why doesn’t he just let me have the seat? He’s the older brother, after all, Anthony grumbled, feeling exasperated.
Jonathan rolled his eyes at the sudden appeal to fraternal bonds. Anthony didn’t bring that up when they had the scuffle.
“Respect your elders. You gotta give respect to get it,” Jonathan asserted firmly.
Observing Anthony’s mounting frustration and his hand inching towards Jonathan’s hair, Jordan stepped in. “Hey, swap seats with Xavier. Join me over here.”
The table was laid out with Jordan at the head, Milly and Jonathan on the right, and Xavier and Stephanie
on the left.
Xavier didn’t argue. He pretended not to have seen the scuffle earlier and stood up. “Sure. Take my spot, Anthony.”
He then moved to the other side of Stephanic.
Anthony settled into his seat opposite Milly, snatching a lobster and crunching its head with audible relish, almost as if he were getting back at Jonathan.
Unfazed by the gesture, Jonathan merely smirked, digging into his own meal. Whether his good spirit stemmed from triumphing over Anthony or other reasons remained ambiguous, but contentment adorned his features.
Xavier kept his attention on his plate, yet a glint of animosity danced in his eyes.
Stephanie’s earlier grievances about feeling sidelined suddenly made sense. Even Jordan and Anthony were now keeping their distance from her. Initially skeptical, Xavier now discerned a subtle shrewdness in his new stepsister’s demeanor.
The swiftness with which she had turned Jonathan, who harbored resentment towards her, showcased her strategic prowess.
No wonder Stephanie found herself at odds with her.
Suddenly, a servant bustled in, announcing, “Miss, there’s a visitor asking for you at the door.”
Milly raised an eyebrow. “For me?”
At this hour, she couldn’t fathom who would seek her out.
The servant confirmed, “Yes, a young man in his twenties wishes to speak with you.”
A young man in his twenties? George sprang to mind, but the servant’s uncertainty ruled him out. The plot thickened.
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Chapter 78 Leon’s Present
stumbled upon a secret.
Finished
She affected surprise, remarking, “Milly, is this one of your acquaintances? You’ve always had such social finesse, unlike me. I grew up in a more reserved environment, never befriending boys I don’t know.”
Milly rolled her eyes. She could taste the sarcasm flowing in the air. It almost overpowered the flavour of
her food.
Stephanie was close to calling her a harlot
“What’s his name? Did he tell you?”
“Smith,” answered the servant when they recalled the guest’s introduction.
Leon? My brother’s here!
With a surge of excitement, she sprang to her feet, paying no heed to the chair’s grating against the floor. and dashed out in her nightgown, leaving the rest at the dining table exchanging baffled looks.
Leon had arrived just a tad too late. Wrapping up affairs in the country, he got wind that his sister had aced her college entrance exams.
A faint sense of letdown lingered in his chest.
It was a big moment, yet he oddly found himself on the fence about attending, uncertain if she’d feel let down by his absence.
“Leon!” A clear, cheerful voice pierced the night’s silence.
Swiveling around, he caught sight of a young girl in a white linen nightgown, akin to a nocturnal sprite, fluttering her radiant wings as she darted towards him.
In that moment, she seemed like his very own beacon of light.
The next instant, this ethereal figure threw herself into his arms, emanating a soft, sweet fragrance.
“Leon, what brings you here?” Milly’s expression held both surprise and elation.
Since their parting at the school’s graduation, they hadn’t crossed paths.
Leon affectionately tousled her hair, sidestepping her question but chiding gently. “Why the mad dash? What if you took a tumble?”
Despite the reprimand, his voice dripped with tenderness.
Almost reflexively, Milly blurted out, “I’m not afraid. I know you’ve got my back.”
Her words, like pebbles in a serene pond, sent ripples outward.
Clearing his throat, Leon murmured softly, “Yeah, I’ve got you covered, always just you.”
His
Words, carried on the night breeze, were barely audible. Milly strained to catch them. “Leon, what did
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Chapter 70 Leon’s Present
Meeting her gaze, Leon flashed a smile. “Ah, it’s nothing.
But Milly wasn’t buying it; she had heard him speak.
“Hey, Milly, got a graduation present for you. Check it out and let me know what you
you think”
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#Finished
Seemingly shifting gears, Leon passed her a gift box from beside him. It was neatly wrapped, its weight giving no clue to its contents.
“What’s in here?” Milly momentarily forgot her earlier query, eagerly inspecting the box in her grasp.
“Open it up and see
With excitement, Milly undid the wrapping and found herself captivated by the stunning evening gown within. “Is this a dress?”
“Yep, it’s an evening gown. Since you’re diving into acting, there’ll be plenty of fancy shindigs down the road. Good to have something ready, Leon elaborated.
He knew Milly had no shortage of evening wear in the opulent Burnett household. But he had his own reasons: he wanted her to wear this particular gown he’d gifted her.
Technically, it was an extravagant piece, crafted from exquisite glazed cloth that shimmered even in the dim light. Embroidered pearls added an extra dash of elegance to the ensemble.
Milly was utterly taken with the gown, unable to resist admiring it. Suddenly, she caught sight of a familiar symbol out of the corner of her eye.
Κ
Every designer left their mark on their creations, tucked away in a discreet spot, both to assert their rights. and for identification purposes.
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