Crawford Manor would be like a battlefield if Allison was there. The old master would definitely be
willing toe over.
“No problem," replied Luca. There was another guest room upstairs. It was just that there was no
elevator in the vi. It might be slightly difficult for the old master to climb the stairs.
"Alright, I''ll bring them over first," said Luke.
"Okay." Luca nodded and followed him downstairs. After she watched them leave, she sat on the sofa.
After Luke took the kids away, Luca felt an emptiness in her heart.
Luca looked around the living room, only to realize that after she moved here, there had never been a
quiet moment. She could hear the noises of the kids ying around happily.
She could not get used to the sudden silence.
Luca picked up her phone and looked at her contacts.
Sue''s name showed up. Luca reckoned that she was probably busy preparing for the new year with
Jason.
Luca saw Nina''s phone number and made a call.
The phone rang twice, and it was put through. Nina greeted, "Good afternoon, Luca."
"Good afternoon. Have you eaten lunch?" Luca crossed her legs on the sofa. No one was here, so she
did not have to maintain her image. Besides, it wasfortable to sit like this.
"Yes. Why do you have free time to look for me? Aren''t you busy preparing for the new year?" Nina
asked happily.
"There''s nothing much to prepare. You know I''ve been living abroad previously. These traditional
festivals aren''t that important to me." Luca was being ironic.
Then, she said, "I was wondering if you were avable. Perhaps we can look for a restaurant, enjoy a
rxing afternoon tea together, and have a chat?"
Nina was startled for a moment, then she replied helplessly, "Luca, I''m sorry. I''m overseas now. I can''t
apany you."
"Did you go on a vacation with Mr. Mallory?" Luca was surprised. She had been busy for the past few
days and had not been paying attention to what was going on with Nina.
"Yes. He said that it''s boring to celebrate New Year''s back home. That''s why he took me on a
vacation," replied Nina. She was considered homeless since she had severed ties with Anna.
Hence, celebrating the new year this way seemed like a holiday for her.
Percy was not on good terms with the Mallory family either. That was why after his holidays started, he
took Nina on vacation to Europe.
"That''s wonderful. Enjoy your vacation. I''m hanging up." Luca quickly ended the call.
If Luca knew Nina and Percy were abroad, she would never have made the call.
That would make her look lonely.
Luca put her phone aside, then she picked up the remote control and turned on the TV.
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The TV was broadcasting the preparations for the channel''s New Year''s programs.
Luca recalled those years when she celebrated the new year with Luke. They would be at Crawford
Manor, watching the New Year''s Eve show on TV.
The family would be watching the show together tonight. As the TV live show counted down to the new
year, they would ring in the new year and wish each other a happy new year.
Luca smiled faintly. She was envious of them.
Her phone rang again.
Luca nced at it and realized it was Queenie who called. She was lost in thoughts for a few seconds
and eventually answered the call. "Happy New Year, Mrs. Norman."
"Happy New Year, Luca." Queenie''s gentle voice came from the other end of the line.
It warmed Luca''s heart.
"Mrs. Norman, what''s the matter?" Luca asked. Even though it was heartwarming, Luca knew that
Queenie must have something to tell her if she called her now.
However, she did not know if it was about Leia.
After Leia said those harsh and bitter things to her, Queenie should be too ashamed to ask for her
help...
"Luca, aren''t you alone? Mr. Norman and I would like to invite you toe over and celebrate the new
year together," Queenie invited.
"Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Norman. But I''m sorry, I won''t be going. Nevertheless, I wish you a
happy new year and good health," Luca wished her. They might be the simplest words, but they were
the most sincere words.
Luca wished her parents, Grandpa Rayne, and her Aunt Rayne good health and happiness.
"Do you have other ns?" Queenie was a little surprised. Jack and Queenie initially thought of inviting
her over to ring in the new year with them.
After all, the Norman family owed her a favor. Besides, they felt sorry for her as she was alone in
Imperial Capital.
"No. I just don''t have the habit of celebrating the new year, so." Luca exined.
"Oh, okay. That''s true. The Russians don''t really celebrate New Year''s Eve. I''m sorry, we didn''t take
that into ount," said Queenie. Jack and Queenie thought Luca would be d toe over.
They thought that even though she was a foreign friend, she would be interested in celebrating the new
year.
Besides, Luca was originally a citizen of A City. Even though she had been living abroad, there were a
few families of citizens from Imperial Capital who would celebrate the new year there.
They thought Luca would have been influenced by them too.
"It''s okay. It''s just that the new year celebration this time is just like a holiday from work to me. Besides,
I don''t know much about the new year and the festivities," exined Luca.
It was not that Luca did not understand these. She was just afraid that she would make too many
memories if she joined the celebration and would be reluctant to leave when she had to.
Queenie and Jack were rted to her. If she spent time and created more memories with them, it
would be more difficult for her when she left.
Every piece of memory was unique and precious to her. They were so precious that they bore a heavy
weight.
Queenie thought to herself that since Luca had rejected her, she should not be trying to persuade her
again. She should hang up the call. However, Queenie recalled the weather forecast she saw this
morning. She could not help but remind Luca, "Okay. I saw the weather forecast stating that it''ll be
colder than usual these few days. Remember to keep yourself warm if you''re going out."
"Okay, Mrs. Norman. Take care and keep yourself warm too," replied Luca. She suddenly felt a lump in
her throat.
"Mrs. Norman, someone is calling me. I''m sorry. I got to go," said Luca.
"Okay. Goodbye," replied Queenie.
After Luca hung up on Queenie''s call, she leaned on the sofa.
She did not want to celebrate the new year alone, but she rejected Queenie''s invitation.
"What am I thinking..." Luca mumbled to herself. She turned up the TV''s volume to make it seem like
there were others in the house.
She would feel not as lonely that way.
Crawford Manor.
Mr. Griffin gave Luke a call. When Luke answered the call, he asked in a low voice, "Young Master
Luke, where are you now?"
"I''m on the way back to Crawford Manor. What''s the matter?" Luke already had an idea about what
could be happening. Something must have happened in Crawford Manor if Mr. Griffin was calling him
now.
"Old Master Crawford is asking you to hurry up ande back." Mr. Griffin sounded helpless.
"My mom went to Crawford Manor, right?" Luke asked even though he knew.
"Yes. Madam Allison brought the woman along with her too, and she started picking fights once she
entered the house." said Mr. Griffin. Old Master Crawford walked into his study and closed the door
behind him once he saw Allison.
Nevertheless, Allison made a big fuss, taking away Old Master Crawford''s peace of mind.
Now, the only person who could stop Allison was Luke.
"I''m ten minutes away from Crawford Manor." Luke nced at the street sign and said to Mr. Griffin.