Chapter 47

Dorothea had no idea that Latham had misunderstood her completely.

Latham’s eyes grew darker as he smiled, the kind of smile that made you wonder what he was really thinking. “I really like this gift. But I have to go out of town for work on Friday. I’ll be back over the weekend. Just wait for me, okay p>

She hadn’t expected him to be so thoughtful, actually telling her about his plans. It was kind of sweet.

She smiled, trying not to look awkward. “Alright. You go ahead. Just let me know the time p>

She couldn’t help but notice his bare skin, which made her a little uncomfortable, so she quickly found a reason to slip out of his room.

Linda thought maybe sparks were flying between them, maybe something new was starting. But Dorothea was out of Latham’s room in less than ten minutes, so that theory didn’t last long.

The next morning, Dorothea discovered Latham was already gone when she came down for breakfast.

“Dorothea, Latham will be back the day after tomorrow. He caught an early flight this morning and asked me to let you know,” the housekeeper said.

She just nodded, not really fazed by it. He had already told her yesterday, after all.

For some reason, Albert popped into her mind. Turns out, when a man wants to, even a husband you married by agreement can keep you updated about everything. Albert, on the other hand, just came and went as he pleased, never caring if she knew or not.

She shook her head, trying to chase away the memory of that jerk.

She dove back into work, but that afternoon, her phone rang. Layton’s name flashed on the screen.

It was the first time he’d called her on his own since she grew up.

“Dorothea, you haven’t come home for dinner in ages,” he said. “I remember you used to love paella when you were little. Why don’t you come home tonight and eat with us? It’ll be good to have everyone together p>

Dorothea was ready to say no, but then Layton added, “Your mom probably scolded you the other day, didn’t she? I told Elise to back off a little. Don’t blame your mother, she just speaks without thinking. Try not to take it personally, okay p>

After he said that, she couldn’t refuse. “Alright. I’ll be there tonight p>

She happened to have a few boxes of fruit in her car, so she figured she’d bring them as a small gesture.

When she got there, she called the butler over to help with the fruit, and right then, Alonzo arrived home.

Alonzo looked at her and the boxes of cheap fruit with obvious disdain, snorted, and walked into the villa without another word.

He still remembered his sixteenth

birthday, when Dorothea gave him a pair of shoes. Meanwhile, Carola had gifted him his very first sports car. Hedidn’t even have a license back then, but he got to show it off to his friends for months. That pair of shoes from Dorothea, not even worth ten thousand, had ended up in storage, forgotten.

In his eyes, people who weren’t impressive would never be impressive, no matter how old they were.

Dorothea was used to Alonzo’s

attitude by now. He was five years

younger, and she doubted he’d ever thought of her as his sister. Maybe when she was twenty, this would have bothered her, but now, at twenty-five, she’d learned to let it go.

When she stepped inside, Layton waved her over. “Dorothea, you’re here. Your

mom was just saying she was about to call you. I knew you wouldn’t be late p>

Alonzo shot her a look, then muttered under his breath, “Dad, I thought this was supposed to be a family dinner. Why is she here p>

Layton frowned at him. “Watch your attitude. Dorothea is your sister p>

Elise jumped in to defend Alonzo. “He’s still young, don’t be hard on him.” She glanced at Dorothea, her

ession unreadable. “Go wash your hands and come eat

“Carola’s out on a date with her fiancé, so it’s just us tonight p>

Dorothea couldn’t tell if Elise knew about her and Albert, but she couldn’t shake the

feeling that Elise had said that on purpose, just for her.

She gave herself a wry smile. She probably shouldn’t have come tonight.

“Dorothea, why are you eating so little? Here, have some more,” Layton said, unusually warm and attentive tonight.

She thanked him politely, but Alonzo just got more annoyed. He kicked her chair under the table, then “accidentally” knocked her chopsticks to the floor.