Chapter 78
+13
Joseph came out of the theater, and upon seeing the two, he boasted, “Lenore, I’ve got VIP seats for us right in the front row.”
This was Senanville, and as the son of the Heartland Chamber of Commerce president, many people knew him. Lenore, wanting to keep a low profile, asked him to change the way he addressed her.
Bonnie thanked him shyly, “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” After all, she was Lenore’s dear treasure; Joseph wouldn’t dare accept her thanks.
“Mr. Joseph Chapin.” Just as the three of them were about to head inside, a voice suddenly called from behind.
Joseph turned around to see Ryan, and put on the typical insincere smile of a businessman and said, “Mr. Yarwood.”
“Nice to see you,” Ryan chuckled, his eyes sweeping over Lenore and Bonnie, casually asking, “And who might these two be…”
A glint appeared in Joseph’s eyes as he calmly replied, “My friends.” He had no intention of introducing them further.
Ryan wisely refrained from asking more questions and gave a glance at the girl with a strong presence. He gestured to the group and said, “Shall we go in together?”
They all had to enter. It was unavoidable. After exchanging a look with Lenore, Joseph nodded and headed towards the theater.
Regardless of how fast or slow the girl walked, Joseph stayed a step behind her, showing respect. Ryan’s expression shifted slightly, a touch of amusement in his eyes.
With fifteen minutes remaining until the show began, the theater that seated two thousand was already filled, with a sea of heads stretching across the venue.
Esther, who had been scanning the crowd, brightened up when she spotted Ryan. She quickly stood and waved at him, “Ryan-”
As soon as the word left her mouth, she noticed the people next to Ryan. The rest of her sentence got stuck in her throat, and Esther’s smile froze.
She thought, “That face is Lenore! And Bonnie, too! How could they be here, especially with Ryan?‘ That distinguished–looking young man beside them seemed familiar.
“It’s him…” She remembered seeing this young man two days ago in front of the Heartland Chamber of Commerce building. Back then, he had come out to greet a girl. Esther thought, ‘Wait… a girl?‘
Esther’s gaze fixed on Lenore, who took in the casual black jacket, the bucket hat with unique roguish charm.
She thought, ‘So, it wasn’t just my imagination that day. That person really was Lenore! How could Lenore even get into the Heartland Chamber of Commerce?‘
Esther’s face darkened as her fingers clenched unconsciously. She felt an overwhelming urge to rush over and rip Lenore apart. Her gaze was like that of a venomous snake, intense and vicious.
Lenore glanced over nonchalantly, noticing Esther all dolled up. She raised an eyebrow and walked with Bonnie to their seats. By sheer coincidence, they ended up right in front of Esther.
Rachel spotted Lenore too, momentarily startled, and then a look of disgust quickly appeared on her face. “Lenore, who invited you here? Do you really think you belong in a place like this?”
Lenore turned her head slightly, her eyes having a mischievous glint, as she grinned slyly, “Oh, is this place owned by your family or something?”
Rachel paused mid–sentence, furrowing her eyebrows as she let out a cold snort, “Is this how you speak to your aunt? Growing up in a small town really left you without manners. You’re worlds apart from Esther,”
Lenore chuckled slightly and said, “Did you ever treat me like your niece?”
“What’s all this talk about aunts and nieces?” Ryan paused as he approached, looking puzzled. “Mom, do you know them?” he asked.
Esther clenched her palms, suppressing the jealousy in her heart, and forced a smile. “Ryan, that’s Lenore. My sister who grew up in a small town and was responsible for my mom’s death when we were kids,” she said.
1/2
Dreame–Read Romance…
4.4 FREE
Open
2:43 PM
+13
Chapter 78
Ryan was taken aback, his confused gaze falling on the girl in front of him. “Are you Lenore?” He had heard his uncle mention having an elder daughter named Lenore but had never met her.
Lenore gave a slight nod and said, “Yes.”
Ryan was even more confused. Although he had never met her before, he had heard Esther talk about her. She was described as having a wild side, getting into fights, staying out all night, and rumored to be kept by someone–basically a troublemaker.
But the girl standing in front of him now–let’s not even mention the courage she showed while saving someone earlier–her entire demeanor was totally different from those stories.
Noticing Ryan staring at Lenore, Esther bit her lip, and a quick gleam of calculation flashed in her eyes.
“Sister…” she called softly to Lenore, her eyes red, with tears welling up.
She pleaded, “I know you don’t like me, but I really love dancing. I’ve worked so hard to prepare for Victoria’s audition today. You’ve already caused Mom’s death, please let me go, okay?”
2/2
