Gregâs head was buzzing.
The picture was old, so it had turned yellow and smelled of mold.
However, his attention was drawn to the determined look in the older daughterâs eyes. That look resembled Ashlynâs a lot.
A wild guess flashed through his mind. It canât be, can it?
His heart was thumping loudly, as though it was going to jump out of his chest.
Even though it was already late at night, he still called Ashlynâs number.
The phone rang, but no one picked up.
Many possibilities flashed through his mind. He wanted to find out if his guess was right.
âJonathan, please help me take care of my son with Naomi for the next two days.â
âWhy are you calling me and telling me this in the middle of the night, Director Maxwell?â Jonathan had just fallen asleep when he was woken up by the call. His head felt like it was exploding.
âIâm going to Maredania right now to find Ms. Berry to ask her something!â Greg sounded emotional as he spoke. âRemember to come here with Naomi tomorrow morning!â
When he finished, he hung up the phone.
The next morning, he woke up early, packed his bags, and headed to the airport.
âWhere do I get the ticket, young man?â an old woman asked in a small voice after stopping him in his tracks.
Greg couldnât help but furrow his eyebrows. This old woman seems quite familiar. Where have I met her before? I canât remember.
He was in a hurry to get on his plane, so he quickly pointed and said, âOver there. Thatâs where you get the ticket. Where are you flying to?â
The old woman smiled. âMy daughter-in-law has invited me to Maredania! Even though Iâm pretty old, Iâve yet to travel outside of the country!â
âThen I think weâll probably be boarding the same plane. Come, Iâll accompany you.â
Greg wouldâve never imagined that the old woman would do something rather unexpected at Biancaâs birthday banquet.
Coincidentally, the old womanâs seat was next to his.
He took good care of the old woman since they were from the same city, and she was old.
It was his belief that any adults would be reminded of their parents when they saw the old woman.
Hence, he just did what seemed natural to him and didnât give it too much thought.
After getting off the plane, the old woman smiled. âThank you. Youâre a good man.â
âWhere are you going? Do you need me to send you to your destination?â Greg felt the cordial old woman was pleasant to interact with, too.
âNo need. My family will pick me up,â she said as she stood by the road in front of the airportâs entrance.
He didnât say much of anything else as he bade the old woman goodbye and headed to the hotel room he had already booked.
When he found Ashlyn, her red lips curved upward. âYouâre here just in time, Director Maxwell. Iâm in need of a male companion.â
Greg couldnât say what he originally wanted to say because he didnât have the opportunity to do so. A few fashionable young men and women swarmed toward him, surrounding him, before giving him a makeover.
Half an hour later, Greg was in a black suit and staring at himself in the mirror speechlessly. He was used to wearing casual clothes, so the suit made him uncomfortable. Why am I dressed like Iâm going to an award ceremony?
âWhat are you trying to do, Ms. Berry?â he asked.
âI want you to accompany me to a banquet,â Ashlyn informed before taking the vacated seat.
The men and women from earlier began giving her a makeover, too.
Greg felt like he was breaking down as the day approached its end. Ashlyn had been so busy that he hadnât had a chance to talk to her.
Soon, it was already seven in the evening.
The Yates familyâs castle was brightly lit. It certainly made the prestige of the Countâs Mansion obvious.
Bigshots from all around Maredania and different industries had shown up at the venue.
Even the oil tycoon, Nicholas, and his little brother, the president of the International Piano Association, Caleb, showed up.
Someone mentioned that they heard even the president of the country had sent his blessings.
It was apparent that the Yates family was very influential in Maredania.