Chapter 348

The maid hesitated, trying to
litely decline. “Ms. Rosario, could you stay in the room next
door? It has great lighting as well.”
Johanna wandered around the room, her eyes catching a half–used bottle of sunscreen on the table. An object like that could only belong to a woman.
Feigning curiosity, she asked, “Who stayed here before? This sunscreen must’ve been left by the previous guest, right?”
The maid nodded curtly. “Yes,” she said, not offering any further information.
Johanna didn’t push. She smiled and said, “I’ll stay in this room. Please tidy it up for me and throw out anything unnecessary, thanks!”
With that, she let the sunscreen slip from her hand, and it dropped into the trash with a dull
thud.
The maid looked even more uncomfortable, hesitating before gently advising, “Ms. Rosario, without Mr. Russell’s approval, we’re not allowed to make such decisions. I must insist you take the room next door instead. All the guest rooms are decorated the same, so there really
isn’t much difference. ”
Johanna’s patience was wearing thin after being refused twice in a row. However, her soft, graceful demeanor didn’t waver. Smiling sweetly, she replied with a subtle firmness, “And what if I insist on staying in this room ? ”
“Then I’ll have to get permission from Mr. Russell,” the maid responded evenly.
Speak of the devil, Stephan appeared just then.
His brows furrowed when he saw Johanna standing in the room where Felicia had once stayed for over a month. Without any hesitation, he ordered, “Move her to the first floor. She’s not allowed upstairs.”
With that, he strode toward his master bedroom changed into fresh clothes , and left the villa without glancing back. The rumble of the car engine echoed as his sleek black vehicle. disappeared down the driveway.
Johanna had no choice but to settle for a room on the first floor.
The sprawling mountainside villa was massive. The first floor wasn’t just for guest rooms. It also housed entertainment areas like a private theater and game room. The basement level featured a gym, living quarters for the staff, and other utility spaces.
But Stephan’s words weren’t just about assigning her a room–they were a clear boundary. The second floor was his private domain, one that was evidently open to someone else but firmly closed off to her.
Johanna felt a twinge of frustration.
But she quickly composed herself. Being able to accompany Stephan to Khogend was already a major step forward, wasn’t it? She just needed time and patience.
“Slow and steady wins the race,” she whispered to herself.
She wouldn’t just aim to stay by his side–she wanted his heart, his everything.
With her resolve renewed, she smoothed her expression into a gracious smile. She even turned to the maid to apologize for earlier, politely asking if she could explore the villa to familiarize herself with her surroundings.
“Would you like me to guide you, or would you prefer to look around on your own?” the maid asked, her tone still professional but slightly warmer.
“I’ll wander by myself. Thank you,” Johanna replied, heading off in a random direction.
The mountainside estate lived up to its name , sprawling across an entire mountainside. The pathways were lined with rare and exotic plants, giving the estate an air of refined luxury.
She spotted a small dog playing with a colorful ball on the well–manicured lawn as she strolled.
It was none other than Cloud, the same dog that had snarled at her earlier.
The maid had mentioned that the dog belonged to Stephan. Johanna found it hard to believe How could someone as obsessive about cleanliness as him have a pet?
Before she could ponder further, the ball rolled over and stopped at her feet.
Cloud barked twice, eager for its toy but hesitant to approach her..
Animals had a way of sensing human emotions, and despite Johanna arriving with its master, Cloud instinctively kept its distance from her.
Johanna’s lips curled into a cold smile.
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