?Chapter 1031:


    In the very center, someone stood inside thergest pavilion.


    Yvonne’s curiosity pulled her toward it. She crossed a small bridge, with Margie following closely behind.


    Her eyes drifted again to the pavilion in the middle. And just like that, she knew. It had to be Norton and Shelly.


    Yvonne didn’t mean to, but she stepped closer, drawn in by the scene. Shelly reached for the pot and poured coffee into a cup for Norton. Yvonne immediately looked away. She didn’t want to see any more.


    “Margie, let’s check out the other areas,” she said, her voice tight as she tugged Margie along. She wouldn’t give them another second.


    Yesterday, Norton had pushed her, but ultimately stopped his actions. She had hoped he was different now, that he understood that forcing her would lead them nowhere. But it seemed he’d already had his fill elsewhere.


    If Shelly was what he wanted, then why had he kept bothering her? Yvonne moved faster, nearly breaking into a jog.


    “Yvonne, wait up!” Margie’s voice called from behind, but it didn’t slow her down.


    Yvonne didn’t stop until she stood at the edge of a rockery. Letting go of Margie’s hand, she said, “I just want a closer look at these.” She focused on the rockery, her eyes fixed as if she were studying its details. But inside, her mind churned. Why was Norton still messing with her? It felt foolish now—she’d nearly fallen for him all over again.


    She leaned back and tilted her face toward the sky, letting the wind brush past her cheeks. A few strands of hair floated free. After a moment, she exhaled slowly and pressed a smile onto her face.


    Whatever Norton wanted didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was her work. In fact, she was relieved. If she had asked him for help earlier, he probably would have made some snide remark.


    She turned to check on Margie, who was a few steps away, busy with her camera, caught up in the view and totally unaware of anything else.


    Yvonne’s eyes flicked back toward the main pavilion. Norton had stood up. He wasing their way.


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    Without thinking, she dropped low and ducked behind arge rock.


    He walked right past, not even noticing her. Shelly stayed behind, peeking through a narrow gap between the stones. Yvonne saw him continue without a nce in her direction. His pace didn’t slow. He was clearly not turning back. Once he disappeared from sight, Yvonne stepped out from her hiding spot. She took a breath, then turned to Margie with a bright voice. “Let’s take some pictures together!”


    Shelly stared down at the coffee cup she’d just filled, her eyes tight with quiet defiance. She followed Norton with her gaze as he walked away, the frustration burning hotter by the second. The more she thought about what had happened, the more her bitterness toward Yvonne grew.


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