“Yes, it’s real.”
Stanford answered for the eighteenth time, answering the repetitive question.
Ernest didn’t stop Kieran, because he had another plan in mind. He wanted to make Kieran go home, make him go back to the Harris family.
Kieran thought that he was safe, but Ernest already ordered someone to trail him to the Harris family.
With the information he had and Kieran who was leading the way, it was only a matter of time until they found the Harris family.
Ernest had something to do. After he arrived at the Jenkin’s, he quickly went to the study room and made arrangements.
Since Kieran had escaped, they didn’t need to be at Jenkin’s place anymore. The Hawkins’s or the Fraser’s mansions were also good places to be. But surprisingly, no one suggested that they should leave.
Ernest thought was that this was a good time to let Stanford and Phoebe spend more time together and get closer.
And Stanford didn’t seem like he wanted to leave either.
Phoebe lived there and was the host of the party, there was no way that she could make her guests leave. Not to mention that she was ecstatic, she wanted to just stare at Stanford every second right now.
To prove that everything that happened wasn’t a dream.
Ernest was getting things done, Stanford and Collin went out for a bit. Only Florence and Phoebe were left, they were eating together.
Phoebe wasn’t really eating, she was talking the whole time. She was smiling so brightly and couldn’t hide her happiness.
But at the same time, she still felt that it was unrealistic, that she was dreaming.
“Flory, I still feel like I’m dreaming as if this isn’t real. An arrogant and presumptuous person like Stanford, why would he marry me just because he slept with me one time? Why would he promise to take care of me for the rest of my life?”
Florence looked at how happy Phoebe was, but at the same time, Phoebe was also uneasy. Florence shook her head with resignation.
She remembered that when she just got together with Ernest, she was also not confident and thought that it couldn’t be real.
After all, they were men that they were in love with for a very long time. In their heart, they were celestial beings that they wouldn’t be able to get together with.
But suddenly, they became their lovers.
Florence understood Phoebe’s feeling very well, she smiled as she talked.
“My brother is conservative, but he wouldn’t ask for the person’s hand in marriage just because they slept together.”
The smile on Phoebe’s face tensed up. The unease in her heart was magnifying, she was in distress.
Deep inside, she also thought the same. Even though Stanford was conservative, he didn’t have to be so extreme.
So, was what she experienced just now a fluke?
Was it just a nice dream?
Florence looked at how restless Phoebe looked, she laughed and continued talking.
“If what happened last night happened to another woman, I believe that my brother would have other ways to get around the problem. First, he would probably make one of his better bodyguards do the detoxification. After all, he always has capable men around him. Secondly, even if he slept with the person, he would use other ways to compensate them. Money and power would be his consideration. He didn’t need to put himself out there and offer the person to be his wife. After all, logically speaking it was just for the detoxification. It would be consensual where they both would gain some and lose some. Lastly, he might choose to marry the person. And there was only one explanation why would he do that, it was because the person was you.”
Phoebe was taken aback.
Because it was her?
Why?
She thought about the possibilities and her heart was pounding wildly. It was going to jump out of her chest anytime.
Her voice was strained, she couldn’t believe it, “But he hated me, he never liked me…”
“But what we as bystanders noticed, was that he liked you.”
Said Florence as she smiled, she sounded sure.
Phoebe still couldn’t believe her ears, she retorted, “You might be wrong.”
“Do you know why we rushed back to City N before the day of the banquet?” asked Florence.
Phoebe shook her head. She thought that they came back earlier to make sure that their plan to defeat Kieran was perfect. But now that Florence asked her like that, that had not to be the reason.
Florence said, “Because my brother heard that you planned to sacrifice yourself and become Kieran’s partner for the night. He made everyone cancel their break time and rushed back continuously so that we arrived here as soon as possible. Just because he didn’t want you to be Kieran’s partner.”
Phoebe was shocked, she didn’t know that this was the reason.
Thinking about it, she was the most convenient person to make Kieran talk at that time, but Stanford forcefully made her his partner instead. This way, he actually had to face Kieran head-on.
This could cost the Fraser’s the trade war as they were already unstable and on a rocky road to start with.
Even if this was part of their plan, it was still a trade war. Both sides would lose a lot.
And technically speaking, all these losses happened because of her.
Because Stanford was jealous.
Florence smiled and said.
“You know how my brother is, he doesn’t really care about anything worldly. Back then, other than his family, nobody else matters to him. But you’re an exception. He would subconsciously be wary of you, his emotions would change because of you. Every time Roan tried to match up you and Collin, he would be sour and would be extremely jealous.”
After observing so many situations, Florence couldn’t believe that Stanford didn’t like Phoebe.
And Phoebe couldn’t say anything to refute the situation anymore.
Combining all the details that she overlooked, she was soon convinced by Florence.
Her heart was pounding wildly again. Did, did Stanford really like her?
This grenade was even more explosive than the one just now when Stanford said that he would take responsibility towards her.
She thought that she only had the chance to be with him. She thought it would be a long journey until she made him fall in love with her.
“But, but why when I mentioned just now that only a marriage with love would be a happy one, he said he didn’t love me?”
They got to that stage already, he even said that he wanted to be with her. Stanford should be honest at that point.
Florence laughed after hearing her said that.
“My brother really doesn’t know.”
Phoebe was flabbergasted, she looked puzzled.
Florence continued explaining, “He never liked another woman, so he didn’t know what was love, nor knew about how loving someone felt like. He probably fell in love with you a long time ago and never noticed it himself.”
She paused briefly and smiled even brighter, “To put it simply, he doesn’t realize it yet.”
Everything he did and how he treated Phoebe, was something he did subconsciously.
Phoebe was astounded. After a while, she laughed heartily.
Her face was sparkling.
“Why, I didn’t know that I was that charming! If I knew that earlier, I would have said yes to his proposal just now!”
Florence was speechless.
She thought that Phoebe should be a little more reserved.