Chapter 281 Not Your ce

    “Sloane…” Lucas’s voice was low,ced with restrained emotion.

    But Sloane yawnedzily. “Forget it. I’m tired. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

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    Lucas watched her figure retreat up the stairs. He looked down at his now-empty arms, frowning in frustration.

    She was twenty-two. Not a child. So what was he still hesitating for?

    The next morning, Sloane slept until sunlight gently woke her. She sat up and immediately checked her own pulse. The moment her fingers confirmed the weak, unsteady rhythm, she let out a sigh.

    “I’ll never get used to this kind of body.”

    She changed into the clothes the housekeeper hadid out, and as she stepped out of her room, a sugary voice drifted up faintly from downstairs.

    “Ma’am, my grandmother always said you were her dearest friend. Now that she’s gone, I feel it’s my duty to visit you often.”

    It was Ginnie, sweet-talking with practiced ease.

    Madam Tessa’s voice came next-kind, but distant. “Ginnie, it’s very thoughtful of you.”

    Ginnieughed lightly, her toneced with coyness. “Madam Tessa, I see you as my own grandmother.”

    Sloane stood at the top of the stairs, calmly listening to the exchange. Then she descended slowly, her voice soft but steady, unmistakably present.

    “Good morning, Madam.”

    The moment Madam Tessa heard Sloane’s voice, her face lit up with genuine affection. “Sloane, you’re awake? Come, have some breakfast. Molly made congee just for you-it’s gentle on the stomach.”

    Sloane walked over with a warm smile. “Thank you, Madam. Thank you, Molly.”

    Ginnie turned her head, and the moment she saw Sloane, her face stiffened. She forced a look of surprise. “Ms. Sloane, you didn’t go homest night?”

    Sloane met her gaze, saw the veiled challenge in her eyes, and answered with a perfectly calm, lightly amused smile. “Who are you again?”

    Ginnie hade early precisely because she heard Sloane was staying at the Hawthorne residence. And now the woman dared pretend not to even know her?

    Madam Tessa nced sideways at Ginnie and casually exined, “This is Ginnie, daughter of the Lyte family.”

    Sloane nodded with a touch of polite distance. “Ah. Ms. Ginnie. Nice to meet you.”

    Ginnie’s smile faltered. She barely kept herposure. “Ms. Sloane, you must be quite forgetful. We met

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    Chapter 281 Not Your ce

    justst night.”

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    Sloane’s lips curled faintly. “Did we? I’m terrible with faces-especially ones that don’t really matter.”

    Ginnie’s face flushed an ugly shade of red. Her fingers curled into tight fists at her sides.

    Just then, Lucas came downstairs. The moment he saw how little Sloane was wearing, his brows knitted. He walked quickly to her side, his tone filled with concern. “Why are you dressed so lightly?”

    He took a coat from a housekeeper nearby and gently draped it over her shoulders-smoothly, almost intimately.

    Sloane nced up at him, the corner of her mouth lifting. “I wasn’t cold.”

    Lucas’s eyes were serious. “You’re not fully recovered. Don’t take any chances.”

    Off to the side, Ginnie’s face grew even darker as she watched the quiet exchange between them. The way Lucas looked at Sloane, the way he spoke to her-it burned.

    She forced a smile and said stiffly, “Lucas, today’s press event is important. We should probably head out

    soon.”

    Lucas looked over at her, eyes calm and unreadable. “Ms. Ginnie, there’s really no need for you toe along. I still remember the way to the venue.”

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