Chapter 333: ANNOUNCEMENT
Hey everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to share something personal with you all. Over the past month, I haven’t been able to update because I collapsed and was later diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Every time I tried to sit down and write, the medications and side effects made it really hard to focus or stay consistent.
It’s been a rough patch, but I’m finally feeling a little better now. I’ll be easing back into writing and updates gradually, not rushing things, but doing my best to get back into rhythm.
Thank you so much for your patience, and constant support. Your messages and love for the story mean more to me than words can express. Please also remember to take care of your own health, mental and physical, because that’s what truly keeps us going.
With love,
Aurora
...
"Are you sure about him?" The moment the door closed, Ruby spoke up.
Ella turned to look at her, "Hmm?"
Ruby quirked a brow.
Ella rubbed the back of her neck.
"The Hill Family is complicated but the King Family is no better."
Ella fell into contemplation when she heard that.
"See this room?" Ella suddenly pointed her chin at her surroundings.
Ruby examined the pastel themed elegant room.
"This room belonged to Adrian first. But Grandma redecorated it for me."
Ruby was stunned for a moment.
Ella fell silent.
In fact, earlier when they were downstairs, she had noticed that.
Although Adrian’s grandparents were acting the same as before, their attitude towards her had changed a bit.
Previously, she was introduced to them as Adrian’s girlfriend and they seemed quite welcoming towards her.
But now, they were a bit distant, even though it wasn’t obvious. And Ella understood it.
Being Adrian’s girlfriend meant he might or might not marry her. Maybe he was just dating her and with time, he would settle with someone else.
Or, even if he married her, they would be the ones to know it first. So, they could handle the situation better.
However, now that they know Adrian and her were a married couple, they probably felt like they were kept in the dark the entire time. And it made it difficult for them to accept the truth.
Ella just had not expected Ruby to notice it, given that the old couple did not make it obvious.
"So, it is like this..." Hearing Ella’s explanation, Ruby sighed, "What would you do now?"
Ella shrugged, "Win them over?"
Ruby quirked a brow, "How?"
Ella cupped her face, "With my charms," She batted her lashes.
Ruby: "_"
...
’Woof’
Ella’s footsteps came to a halt when she heard the familiar sound.
When she turned around, she spotted Riri being held in Lilith’s arms.
"This is the training grounds of the King Family, Miss Yu. Perhaps the maids did not inform you about it when they escorted you here," Lilith approached her.
The outfits that Old Madam King talked about were more like riding outfits and Ella had more or less guessed they would be coming to a place like this.
Her gaze shifted to the puppy who was struggling in Lilith’s arms.
Lilith smiled, "I once gifted such a dog to the Old Madam. Unfortunately, it disappeared suddenly. Looking at this one, I cannot help but observe the resemblance. Miss Yu, you didn’t steal what’s mine, did you?"
Ella arched a brow and gently picked Riri from Lilith’s arms. And all at once, Riri calmed down and nestled in her arms, "If he was yours, he wouldn’t come to me."
Both the women smiled at each other, but the smell of gunpowder lingered in the air.
"Miss Yu, even if it went to you, it won’t necessarily stay with you," As Lilith spoke, she turned around.
Ella also averted her gaze and looked ahead.
At a little distance, she spotted Kade, Ruby, Ronan and Luca. It seemed like Kade, the chirpy bird had managed to make Ruby familiar with everyone because she seemed completely fine standing there.
On the other side, Adrian was standing with his grandparents, holding Lala in his hands. The kitten looked bored and lazy as she looked around.
The old couple’s face looked a bit solemn as they talked to Adrian.
Perhaps feeling her gaze on him, Adrian turned around. And as their eyes met, his lips curled up slightly.
He turned to his grandparents, said something that made them scrunch their faces, and then he walked towards her.
"Miss Quinn, when you really have someone in your life, you won’t have to constantly worry that they would not stay with you," Ella stroked Riri and stepped away from Lilith, missing the way her eyes dimmed.
However, Ella had just taken a few steps when Lilith called out, "Miss Yu, later on, my friend is also coming over to join us. I would love to introduce her to you."
Ella’s footsteps halted for a moment, "I’d love to meet Miss Quinn’s friend."
At this moment, Adrian reached Ella.
Ella quickly did a small twirl in front of him, "How does this riding suit look on me?"
Adrian’s eyes twinkled, "You are beautiful."
"It was about the outfit, not me," Ella pouted a bit.
"Whatever you wear becomes beautiful."
’Thump’
Ah, this sweet-talker!
Riri and Lala struggled in both the people’s hold, eager to jump.
Adrian and Ella placed them down on the grass and two sprinted away to a nearby shade to play.
"Don’t worry. There are people over there."
Ella nodded. As they walked side by side, she looked at him, "What do they use this training grounds for?"
"They train men."
"_"
Well, Ella felt like she could have used some common sense for the answer. But it couldn’t be helped that her brain got a little jiggly around this man.
"Ahem... So, the private guards and teams are all trained here. Then, why is nobody here today?"
"The place has been cleared out."
"_" Common sense, Ella. Common sense!
"But then, isn’t this kind of a forbidden place then?" Ella stopped walking.
"Not everyone is allowed here," Adrian answered all her queries, without looking impatient in the slightest.
Ella fell silent for a moment before she said, "Ruby is here today..."
"Ruby is your friend."
"So, going by that, Miss Quinn’ friend is also allowed to be here?"
Adrian stopped walking. It was only then that Ella realized that they had stopped in front of a sleek black horse.
There were a row of horses that Ella hadn’t realized had been brought here at some point.
"If she has the permission. Yes."
It took Ella a moment to understand that Adrian was responding to her.
She nodded thoughtfully. So, Lilith has probably already asked for permission from Adrian’s grandparents to bring her friend over.
"Ace," Lilith walked over to them along with the others, "We are all gathered here today... You, me, Kade, Ronan and my cousin..."
As she spoke, she hooked her arm around Luca’s, who in turn, smiled at Ella gently with a nod.
Ella nodded back.
"So why don’t we have a race? Like old times," Lilith finished, looking around for everyone’s take on her opinion.
"I can’t!" Kade raised his hands, "I have already promised Ruby to teach her how to ride."
Lilith looked over.
Kade shrugged, "It’s not everyday I get to teach something to a university topper so count me out!"
Ronan’s eyes narrowed subtly.
Lilith sighed, "I am sure the others..."
"will agree," Ronan stepped forward to stand beside her, a hand tucked in his pocket as he looked at Adrian.
Ruby glanced at their backs with an indifferent gaze.
"What about you, Ace?" Luca was the one who spoke up.
Adrian turned to look at Ella.
But just as he opened his mouth to speak, Lilith cut in, "Miss Yu has probably never gone riding before. So, he wouldn’t be safe for her..." She pointed at the majestic black horse beside them.
"On the other hand, she can start by learning like a beginner for a better hand at it. I have made some arrangements," At Lilith’s signal, a woman walked over with a delicate looking white horse, "The trainer can help Miss Yu get accustomed to it first."
Standing next to the fine black horse, the white one looked no less than a pony.
Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly when he saw the horse. But within a few moments, his expression returned to normal.
However, Ella happened to gaze at him so she did not miss the subtle change in him.
"Truly a beginner’s horse, huh?" Ronan chuckled.
Luca sighed, "But my cousin has put thoughts into it to make Miss Yu comfortable."
"Or, Miss Yu, are you not willing?" Lilith turned to Ella with an elegant smile, "If so, then we can only..."
"I am willing, of course," Ella smiled as she stepped forward towards the white horse, "It looks pretty gentle to me."
Ronan scoffed, "Are you really starting with that? Even kids won’t go for that at their first attempt?"
Ella rolled her eyes, "As a kid, I would do anything to ride a white horse. I mean, it looks no less than a unicorn."
Ronan: "_" Unicorn?!
Ella was about to take another step forward when slender fingers wrapped around her wrist, holding her in place.