Chapter 12
Tara had no idea how long Lance had been painting. As soon as he told her she could rest, she quickly drifted off to sleep.
Sunlight streamed onto the testace, flooding her surroundings
Abreeze drifted in from behind Tara, stirring her dark hair. The sent she had used to tie it back had loosened, and with the wind, it slipped from her hair and
laited dow
Framed by the sunlight, she sat quietly on the wooden chair. Strands of her hair swayed gently in the breeze, and her beautiful fare glowed in the light. Hereyes were gently closed, her sleeping face calm and serene
At that motsent, Lance had a ridiculous vape to hide and keep her all to himself.
His grip tightened on the paintbnishamcousciously, though he didn’t notice.
After a while, he stood up and walked ever to Tara. He reached out to hiuskaway the birtist had fallen across her theut, but it send to coy with him. Every time
he moved it aside, the wind blewit right back
Lance was very patient. This time, he tucked the strand behind Tara’s ear. His fingertips brushed against her skin–especially berear–making her
Tara seemed to be sleeping soundly, undisturbed by him.
shiver
Lance withdrew his hand. He was about to celem to his painting when he saw that the wind had blown her hair across her chest again. He stared at it in silence
He didn’t want in ruin such a rare, well–composed piece, so he patiently brushed the air off her chest again
This time, Tara telt the movement in her sleep. Thinking it was a mosquito, she swatted at herchest.
She jolted awake when she realized that her hand had landed on a much largerone.
She saw who it was before her. When Lance met her bright, expressive eyes, his breath hitched. It was as if something had brushed against his heart, leaving a lingering itch deep inside.
Tara blushed, and she quickly shoved his hand away.
“Weren’t___ Weren’t you painting? Tara asked. She didn’t know why he was suddenly in front of her
11 just wanted to
Lance slipped his hand into his pocket and explained, “You were sleeping. The wind blew your hair forward, and 1
Tare nodded, still a little dared. So that was what it was she collected herself and said, “Go ahead and keep painting, then.”
¿ cooperative, as she wanted to see the finished piece, too. The painting couldn’t be left undinished.
“Day” Lance took a few seconds to steady his hand after being surprised. Then, he quickly immersed himself back into his painting.
It was quite a coincidence that just as he made the final stroke, locking echoed from the door downstairs
“Mr. Swan? Are you in there? Mr. Swain?” Stella’s anxious voice drifted up to the terrace,
Tara sucied and thought, “Finally, someone showed up.
Lance unfairtiedly finished the painting before leading Taca downstairs.
Tara followed behind him. The previously locked door now stond open. It was evident that someone had unlocked it from the outside
Stella buried over, looking like she was about to cry. “Mr. Swain.”
ce appeared cold and distant as he said, “I’m fine “
stella’s heart pounded with guilt, She was afraid he had calized she’d known about the “plan” since yesterday–and that she was the reason he and Tara had been locked in the sunroom
She deeply regretted it. No one would have expected that someone would come to the studio so early to pati
She glanced at Taza standing behind Laure and grew even more guarded.
Tata’s eyes swept over Stella, Halley, and Leah. She wondered which of the three was behind this incident.
Lance said, “Gemma’s coming later. The few of you should get ready”
He said it just to shake Leap He didn’t care for drama, especially when he was dragged into it.
Stella’s and Leah’s expressions slatted. Stella kept tight control over her composure, only letting a flicker of emotion show. But Leah broke out into a cold sweat, absolutely terrified.
y would that day be any
And it was like Tara didn’t even exist. Not one of them had after her fut she had come to expect it. They usually ignored her, so why s difficul
Whoever hat locked lat in the summon
he summon probably had idea Lance was there, too.
Next, it was updo Gemma to decide how to handle the situation.
By the time they returned to the villa from the sunum, it was alrady noom The thure men in the dining room were eating
When Shawn Saw Lance retum, be glanced at Tera behind him.
“What happened?” he asked Lance,
Soven paused eating and looked at them. He raised an eyebrow when he caught sight of Tara in the back, clearly not in great shape.
Jonah looked up briefly. When he saw that they were fine, he continued eating this lunch.
Labor took a seat and explained, “Someone locked Tara inthe art studio,
“So the person didn’t know you were in there, too?” Soren asked, bixinterest piqued.
“yeah. They locked me in with her, “Lance replied
Seren gave Tara a owing look and trased, “It looks like you didn’t make the most out of the rate opportunity.”
Taraglared at him. She was already annoyed, to begin with
“please, have some more food, Mr. Farrell,” she said. Then, in her head, she thought, “I hope you choke on it. “
It was the first time Tara had talked back to Soren like that. The froze for a moment, then burst out into laughter. “I kind of like it when you talk back.”
“kind of
He found her Emily interesting.
Tats was speechless. She couldn’t believe that Soren had this kind of kink. She found it unbelievable
Meamshile, amidst Son’s teasing. Lance recalled Tara’s tooch on his left hand. The sensation of her soft, full palm on his still left his art memory of her captivating eyes and flushed face lingered.
Shawn could tell Tara wasn’t feeling well. She looked slightly pale and drained.
“Alright. Stop teasing her,” he said.
“Have something to eat first,” Lance said to her, snapping out of his daze
Tara felt a bit lightheaded from low blood sugar. She nodded listlessly as she headed toward the staff dining area on her own
It was rare to see her like this, and even Jonah frowned at the sight of her.
“Did you see who lacked the door? Jonah asked Lance
Lance nodded. “I happened to be on the art studio’s terrace and saw the person. I’ve sent Gemma the detalls and asked her to handle it.”
tingling. And the
It was Gemma’s responsibility to handle the hiring and firing of the staff. It was a complicated matter. Only emma knew how to handle the follow–up tasks of Jetting staff go. So, it was set to leave it to her.
Jonah nodded
Leah could no longer stay calm. She never expected Lance to be inside the sunroom as well. She knew that she would surely face serious consequences with the situation involving him
She looked pleadingly at Stella for help.
But Stella had already regained her composure and ignored Leah. She refused to be dragged into it.
In the staff dining area, Tara finished her lunch. She had another bowl of bone broth that Terence had high–quality ingredients
she finally regained some energy and took a seat on the couch in the lounge forest, for a while.
d given her and could immediately tell it was made with rich,
Gemuna arrived and learned the full story of the situation from Lance’s message. She told Tara, “Tara, go back to your roum and rest today. I’m giving you half a day of paid leaNE ”
Gemma first teassured Tare, who was still feeling off
Taranudded. “Thanks, Gemnu.”
“Don’t mention it. Just go. If you’re hungry, just tell the kitchen what you
you want,” Gemma said.
Tara shook her head. “I’ve already eaten. I’ll go back to my room and sleep for a while.”
“Alright. ” Gemma felt a pang of sympathy for her. She thought that it was unfair for someone decent like Tara to be slandered in such a way and locked in the sunroom while she was working
Prejudice was indeed such a handul thing.
Tana returned to her room and lay back in bed to sleep after showering. Her slumber was far from peaceful, and her dream lett her feeling incredulous
Π
She looked up pleatingly at the tall, handsome man in her dream, his emotions franticon his face as he moved toward her.
She suddenly woke from the davam, gasping for breath only then did she tralize what kind of dream she had just had.
Tara had no experience with router. She had not even held hands with the opposite sex, let alone done anything more intimate.
the contract period and
she wondered if she needed to get herself a boyfriend but ultimately decided to forget about it. Her cent priority was getting through th avoiding these mule leads.
Then, she could safely avoid the fate of the villainess in the story.
