FreeNovelXavier shot Gabriel a sidelong glance, his voice tinged with a hint of defiance. “Why do you care if I'm not hitched? If anyone should be walking down the aisle, it’s you!” Gabriel's ruggedly handsfeatures twisted into a smirk. “Marriage? Haven't given it a thought.” With a knowing chuckle, Xavier replied, “Shere, my friend!” “Don’t follow my lead on that one—it’s hardly something to brag about,” Gabriel snorted dismissively, shaking his head. Xavier just laughed it off, a hush-hush whisper of amusement. Back at Estelle’s side, Norah was visibly distracted. The sight of the neglected bowl of soup on the coffee table only deepened her agitation.
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Her eyes briefly caught the tall silhouette outside the window, and she leaned in to ask Estelle, “What's up with Mr. Flemmings? He's looking a bit under the weather.” Estelle answered solemnly, “He’s been injured!” “What?” Norah almost yelped, guiltily scanning her surroundings before lowering her voice to a worried whisper. “Is it bad?” “It’s bad, but he probably won't make a fuss about it.” Norah's face was a mask of anxiety. “That's just like him—never taking his own troubles seriously.” “Don’t worry. I'll have Damian and Zachary look after him,” Estelle reassured her. Norah glanced towards Xavier, her insides churning with concern. Zachary and his crew were known for their laid-back attitude. Were they really up to the task of taking care of Xavier? She was irked, not just because she couldn't openly show her concern, but also because her own restlessness was getting the better of her. She told herself that her path wouldn't cross with Xavier's again. He had turned her down more times than she could count, and there was no point in clinging on. Yet, she couldn't help but notice him whenever he was around. This tormenting taste of unrequited love was utterly excruciating! Estelle was well aware of Norah's feelings for Xavier and felt sorry for her, even though there was little she could do. Once Xavier made up his mind, it was unlikely anyone could change it. Evelyn sat beside Estelle, sneaking a cautious glance at an old man dressed in what resembled a classic tweed suit. She whispered, “Is that your mentor?” Estelle followed her gaze and nodded, “Yes, that's my mentor. He might also be your grandfather, but we can’t be sure just yet.” Evelyn had just googled Old Mr. Quintin, and his list of accolades had dazzled her. She could hardly believe a member of her family could be so prestigious. But was she truly Old Mr. Quintin’s granddaughter? “If you are, that would be wonderful. If not, I'll help you find your biological parents,” Estelle promised. Evelyn smiled and nodded, “It’s okay. I'm used to being on my own. Everyone seems tense today. Let's deal with your situation first, then we can focus on mine.” She wasn’t naive. Today's drama made it clear that Estelle was being framed, but she also saw the strong support Estelle had. Estelle, considering the chaotic situation, replied, “Alright, in a couple of days, I'll take you to my mentor’s place to sort this out.” “Okay!” Evelyn eagerly agreed.
The others didn’t know Evelyn's true identity and assumed she was a new friend of Estelle’s. They showered her with extra care and warmth, leaving her feeling both flattered and extremely cautious. After her conversation with Evelyn, Estelle received a call from Sallie. As soon as Estelle picked up, Sallie's excitement was palpable through the phone.
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“Estelle, you're absolutely killing it!” Estelle’s expression remained cool. If it weren't for the Crawleys and the Macclains pushing her to the edge, she wouldn't have wanted things to escalate to this point. “Did they drag you into this mess?” Estelle inquired. “Not at all. Grandpa and the Crawleys have been making threats, but they've been too preoccupied to act on them,” Sallie reported, then added urgently, “Oh, by the way, Grandpa just called my dad about auditing the accounts between the branch and the head office. They might be planning to skip town with the cash tonight.” Estelle’s voice turned icy. “They won't get away—not a single one of them!”
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