“Rest early, Imogen. I’m going back first,” Shirley said.
“I’m so envious of you, Shirley! How amazing it will be if I can come and go from the Flintstone Residence just like
you,” Imogen blurted, thinking out loud. However, Shirley didn’t know how to console her. “Well, you’ll need Mr.
Flintstone’s permission for this.”
“If he needs more help in his residence, will you recommend me?”
Shirley nodded. “Sure, if this opportunity pops up, you’ll be the first I recommend.” Delighted, Imogen hugged her
arm. “Shirley, you’re my best friend. I’m so lucky to be your friend.”
Patting her softly, Shirley repeated, “Rest early, okay?”
Imogen watched Shirley from the back as she left, and an unscrupulous smile tinged the edge of her lips. She knew
Shirley’s personality, so she first got her to deny liking Zacharias, and then, immediately afterward, she admitted
her affection for him. Given the nature of their relationship, Shirley shouldn’t fall for Zacharias in the future.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtEven if she did, she would have an extra concern in her mind because it was akin to stealing the man she carried a
torch for years.
This was truly an underhand tactic, and, considering Shirley’s personality and the years of friendship they shared,
Imogen was pretty sure that Shirley wouldn’t date a man she had a crush on.
While on the drive back to the Flintstone Residence, Shirley thought over the things Imogen just told her. The fact
that Imogen told her about this out of the blue surprised her.
Nevertheless, she wasn’t surprised that Imogen had fallen for Zacharias because the women around this man were
smitten with him, just like Corrine from before, as well as Jesslyn. This man had what it took to have a woman fall in
love with him at first sight, so she couldn’t blame Imogen for falling for him.
When Shirley was back at the Flintstone Residence and entered the living room, she thought that Zacharias was
already in bed, but when she opened the door, she found him on the couch as though he was specially waiting for
her to return.
“Why are you still awake?” she asked.
“I’m waiting for you,” he answered honestly.
“Why are you waiting for me?” she asked instead. “I’m waiting for you to return because I have a gift for you.” He
gazed at her tenderly.
Shirley saw a box in front of him, and it was the one that Freddie sent over this morning, which she remembered
was his birthday present.
“Come here and take a seat,” he invited, patting the couch. Although she went over, she didn’t sit as instructed.
“It’s getting late. You should go to bed.”
Despite what she said, he opened the gift box, and there were two watches lying quietly inside -one for men and
another for women. Zacharias picked up the men’s watch and put it on himself, and then he passed the women’s
watch to Shirley. “I’m giving you the female watch.”
Blinking, Shirley couldn’t accept the gift that came so suddenly. Moreover, just from one glance, she could tell that
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmit was pricey. “No, I can’t accept it.” Her first thought was to reject the gift.
Even though he had already expected her to reject it, he insisted on giving it to her. “It’s not like you have to wear it
now. You can wear it in your free time later.”
“This gift is too expensive. Keep it for your future girlfriend,” she suggested. With a burning passion in his eyes, he
gazed at her and smirked. “That’s exactly what I’m doing now.”
Dumbstruck, she jerked her head up at him. “Pardon?”
He reached out and held her wrist. Slipping the watch through her palm, he put on the watch for her. “Miss Lloyd,
I’ve decided to court you.”
It took Shirley a full second to realize that she was wearing the watch. Hastily, she wanted to take it off and return it
to him, but he pulled her into his arms and whispered into her ear in a husky voice, “Do you know what I wished
for?”
Shirley’s body stiffened. “Let me go.”
“My wish was for you to be mine,” he muttered. Blood rushed to her head all of a sudden, and she blurted, “Don’t
tell it to me, or it won’t come true.”
He chuckled. “Are you concerned that my wish won’t come true?”
Helplessly, she said composedly, “Zacharias, I don’t plan to be your girlfriend.”