behind the villa as soon as she arrived-it wa

everything was already set-delic

day with a kind of quiet elegance. Malcolm Ham

ut how two such impressive people e

armly. Clarissa, as naturally as ever, walked

nd her every movement had that unmista

on the table, the scent of b

led lightly, and asked,

. "Sebastian sent it over. No idea what he's busy wi

fingers tightening just

told his mother about th

is name-let alone drinking tea he

bastian. And it definitely wasn't the

y, Margaret, I've been learning a new tea-

ad always had a knack for tea-making since she

se, I'd love that. If you end up liking

her head. "No

e so fast it fe

g enough to notice these things-more years and

, "Did you and Seba

astian for a long, long time. So she didn't

rst got together, no one had b

th genuine warmth. To Clarissa, sh

larissa of her own soft-sp

didn't reply,

tle for your own good. Always swallowing your feelings. You don't have to

s hand a soft pat,

she was feeling down. She used to blame Sebastian for that, which

ally felt more at ease. At least there'd

ll, calm smile

-not the tearful,

up?" Margaret was

oment to come t

Did Sebastian do somethin

e what kind of person Sebastian was. If someone like Clarissa r

place. Margaret would know the truth soon enough when Seb

gs messier. And then there was Elian-keeping

an's in Hawaii?" Clarissa aske

o and handed it over

ng with everything because of pressure from both our families. But there was nothi

hat's never stopped. They've been tangled up for so long, I've lost count. It's m

she didn't lay it all out, Margaret

Margaret and Sebasti

l times, her face darkening each time. There was

e she wanted to march over and b

e seemed miserable when we were together. And look, I know my parents asked you to look after me, and I appreciate that. But

stian didn't hurt the way she thought it migh

a heavy sigh before finally saying, "He owes you. From now

eek, her heart sinking. She had a bad feeling-that without

th dusk setting in, Margaret didn'

ng out, she bumped in

im politely,

ed. "Here to see Sebastian? He hasn't b

om the side. Clarissa only s

me to check on

*

husband. "Next time Clarissa visits, don't y

was, Malcolm's tone sof

to try and set them up anymore. Do you even realize your idiot son went off to vacation with that ex

r room, slamming the door behind her