?You don''t belong here; not yet. I can tell. It has nothing to do with the family youe from, don''t misunderstand me. You look at us as if we''re dangerous,? Joy was saying. ?It''s kind of funny, but you will get used to everything by your man''s side. Especially because he''s appearing in public more often since you two are together.?


    ?We''re not dangerous,? Fiona said. ?We might look mean, but we''re not too bad all things considered.?


    ?I wasn''t thinking...?


    ?Oh, you were,? she chuckled. ?I can read it on your face.?


    ?I''m sorry if I gave this impression.?


    ?It''s normal. It doesn''t happen every day to meet new people, and everyone does say you''re kind of shy.?


    ?E-everyone?? Lara repeated, getting anxious. So, not only the tabloids but even the people she met would talk about her?


    ?I talked with Matthew, and he said you''re pleasant to talk with.?


    ?Matthew??


    ?Matthew Heartmore. You might not remember; he''s a great businessman. He has no ill intention in this world, though. He''s the kindest person I know.?


    ?Oh, Mr Heartmore! Of course, I remember. We exchanged a few words the second time Nate and I went on a date in public. He''s the first person who actually talked to me.?


    ?See? He''s kind.?


    ?But I didn''t think I gave him the impression of being shy.? On the contrary, she had been even bolder than she thought possible.


    ?He''s also good at reading through people. So, if he says you''re a good person, I believe him,? Fiona eximed. ?Also, I''m surprised your mother doesn''t insist to have you apany her to any party. I would do it if you were my daughter.?


    ?We''re the same age,? Lara said. ?I couldn''t be your daughter.?


    Fiona burst outughing, amused.


    ?I''m quite sure I''m older. Quite a few years.?


    In fact, the four women must have been close to thirty or maybe a year or two over that. But telling Fiona she looked younger, Lara had won her heart.


    ?But seriously, your mother has told me a lot of things about you,? Fiona added. ?She loves you very much.?


    Lara''s forehead twitched, but she tried to hide her emotions with a shy smirk. However, she was transparent to those seasoned socialites. They could read every her action with much precision, and they found her interesting and fresh.


    ?My mother?? Lara murmured. ?During one simr event??


    ?Oh, no. She visited her husband at work. They''re building a facility for my father, and I happened to be there when she was. We chatted a little.?


    ?Facility?? Lara murmured. Onlyter, she realised she sounded like a woman who didn''t know what her family''s job was.


    When she had left, her father had apany dealing with fabrics. He would supply clothes industries. There were talks about expanding to other sectors, but they weren''t building anything at that time.


    It must have been something they startedter.


    ?Yes. My father wants a new building in the garden. Like, a summer vi. Don''t ask me more; I struggle at understanding his ideas sometimes. Two houses in the same ce, for real!?


    ?Ah, he must have some good reasons,? Lara said, still shocked. If her mother attended that kind of event, their job must have been good.


    She wasn''t unhappy for their well-being and financial stability. She simply didn''t care, as long as they kept themselves far from Nate.


    ?One house for summer and one for winter,? she added with a smile, trying to change the topic. But she had been read like an open book.


    ?You don''t get along with your parents, do you?? Anna inquired.


    Lara shrugged, slight panic filling her lungs.


    ?We lost contact,? she cut it short. ?There were some disagreements, so we don''t talk as much anymore.?


    Her face made all four the women realise they had been swindled by Mrs yton''s polite face.


    Anna and Sarah had a little doubt about Lara, but Joy was convinced by her reaction. Something had happened long ago, and it couldn''t be Lara''s fault.


    As for Fiona, she felt ashamed for being tricked by an old woman. She was a veteran of social events, dealing with lots of people and different kinds of tricksters. How could she miss the small obvious signals Grace yton had given?


    First of all, she had never said daughter. She had used Lara''s name.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    It had sounded odd, but she couldn''t imagine there was a reason for it.


    But... What kind of disagreements would make a child get far from their parents? Was it something Lara had done or the opposite?


    ?Oh, well, now we know,? Fiona sighed. ?Sorry if I brought up something you don''t want to talk about.?


    ?It''s fine. How could you imagine it?? Lara said.


    ?If you''d like to talk about it, we''re here. I mean, I doubt you would trouble your man with it. Girl friends are the best to talk it out and continue living.?


    ?I''m fine now, for real. It''s something far away in the past. And I''ve told everything to Nate. He knows it, and he listened to me with so much patience.?


    ?Oh, how romantic! Isn''t he the perfect man?? Anna said, returning vigil. She wanted to hear more juicy details, not boring family drama.


    How was Nate Woods in private? Would he be as detached as in public? Or was he the type of man who changedpletely when alone with his woman?


    ?He''s sweet,? Lara said, light blushing covering her whole face. It was the first time she said something like that to another person.


    But how could it not be obvious? Nate was the sweetest person in the world.


    ?Tell us more, please! We''re dying to hear about another version of his! In public, he''s as cold as to be boring. How could you even catch his attention? We thought he hated women, you know??


    ?I don''t know,? Lara chuckled. ?It just happened. We met and liked each other out of instinct.?


    No truer words had ever been said.