Chapter 141: Young Miss Is Waiting For You
That he looked up and saw Thea walking towards him.
Meanwhile, Melanie was about to alert Thea that she was heading in the wrong direction, but before she could say a word, Lydia caught her eye and smiled. Lydia subtly indicated to Melanie not to speak, using a gentle gesture to silence her. Melanie understood the cue and remained quiet, watching with interest as Thea approached Ryder.
Ryder was taken aback, unsure of how to react, but before he could take a step back, Thea’s hands closed around his, holding him in place. "Caught you, Melanie or Lydia!" Thea exclaimed, her face lighting up with a smile as she held Ryder’s hands in place. She was convinced that she had successfully tracked down one of the twins.
Ryder’s eyes widened in surprise as Thea’s grip on his hands tightened. He tried to process what was happening, but before he could respond, Thea’s attention shifted to his hands. "Why is your hand different?" she wondered aloud, her brow furrowed in curiosity.
As Thea’s words hung in the air, her hands began to gently caress Ryder’s shoulders, her fingers tracing the curves of his arms with a soft, exploratory touch. Ryder felt a jolt of surprise, his mind struggling to process the unexpected intimacy. He was momentarily frozen, unsure of how to react, as Thea’s gentle caress seemed to hold him in place, rendering him temporarily immobile.
Thea’s hands continued to explore Ryder’s arms, prompting her to wonder, "When did the twin sisters develop such a strong figure?" Her hands instinctively reached up to remove the black cloth which covered her eyes.
The cloth fell away, revealing Ryder’s face. Finding the person in front of her,she was stunned into silence. Her gaze locked onto Ryder’s, and her expression transformed from one of gentle curiosity to utter astonishment. The revelation was clearly unexpected, and Thea’s eyes seemed to bore into Ryder’s.
"Sister Thea, you’ve caught the wrong one." Emerson said with a giggle.
Thea’s face turned bright red.She took a step back, her voice faltering as she asked, "W-what...are you doing here?"
"All of you, get inside..now.." Ryder said, his gaze sweeping over his cousins. "You’ve played enough."
He then turned his attention to the hand still holding his sleeve, his eyes locking onto Thea’s. "Thea..." he said, his voice low and gentle.
Thea murmured a soft "Hmm..." in response, seemingly lost in thought.
Ryder’s gaze intensified, his eyes never leaving hers. "Your hand..." he said, his voice trailing off as he eyed her intently.
Thea’s gaze snapped back to his, and she suddenly seemed to realize what was happening. "Oh..." she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought you were..." Her words trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished, as she slowly released her grip on his sleeve.
"Let’s go..." Emerson said, taking Thea’s hand and guiding her towards the mansion. Ryder followed closely behind.
As they walked, Lydia nudged Melanie with her elbow, whispering softly, "Have you seen how stunned Brother Ryder became?"
Melanie turned to her, a questioning look on her face. "What do you mean?"
Lydia’s smile grew wider, but she simply shook her head, saying, "Forget it." She trailed behind the others, entering the mansion with a quiet laugh, leaving Melanie to wonder about the cryptic comment.
The five of them stepped into the living room, where Elder Edward, Rosie, Brenda, and Elizabeth were already gathered. As they entered, Elder Edward’s eyes met theirs, and a warm smile spread across his face. "Did you have fun?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine interest and a hint of curiosity, as he leaned forward slightly in his seat, awaiting their response.
"Yes, Grandpa. We all enjoyed a lot playing hide and seek in the garden." Emerson replied, smiling warmly at her grandfather, Elder Edward.
Thea’s phone suddenly rang, interrupting the moment. She apologized and excused herself, glancing at the screen to see Charlotte’s name.
"Hello?"
"Thea, are you free now? If so, can you please come to my house now?"
"Yes, but what happened?" she asked.
But Charlotte was evasive. "I’ll tell you after you arrive." she said, before hanging up the phone call without another word.
Thea stood there for a moment, her phone still pressed to her ear.
After Thea slipped her phone into her pocket, Elder Edward’s eyes met hers,"Your Grandma called?"
Thea shook her head, clarifying, "No, Grandpa. My friend, Charlotte, asked me to visit her home."
Emerson’s face fell, "Sister Thea, are you already leaving?"
Thea’s face softened, and she turned to Emerson. "I am so sorry, Emerson.I have to go."
"As you are already leaving, I want to give you a goodbye kiss." Emerson said, her voice filled with a sweet innocence.
Thea’s expression softened, and she nodded in agreement. "Okay."
Emerson’s small arms reached out, and she exclaimed, "Up, up!" Thea lifted her into a warm embrace, and Emerson wrapped her arms around Thea’s neck, planting a soft and loving kiss on her cheek.
Thea’s eyes shone with affection as she looked at Emerson. "I would miss you," she said, her voice filled with a deep fondness.
With that, Thea leaned in and bestowed a series of sweet kisses on Emerson’s cheeks, her lips brushing against the little girl’s soft skin. The kisses were gentle and loving, filled with a deep affection, and Emerson’s face lit up with delight. She felt cherished and loved, and she hugged Thea tightly, holding onto the warm and fuzzy feeling that filled her heart.
The tender moment was a testament to the special bond between Thea and Emerson, a bond that would remain strong even when they were apart.
Thea’s eyes sparkled as she turned to Lydia and Melanie, enveloping them in a warm hug. "Lydia and Melanie.." she said, holding them close for a moment.
As she released them, Elizabeth offered, "Ryder why don’t you go and drop her at her friend’s house."
But Thea declined, considering Ryder’s long day of travel from his business trip. "Aunt, there’s no need." she said, her voice filled with appreciation for her willingness to help.
Thea made her way to Aunt Brenda, giving her a loving hug.With a sense of gratitude and love, Thea took her leave, departing from the gathering to head to her friend’s house.
Thea stepped off the bus and made her way to Charlotte’s grand mansion, standing before the impressive main entrance. She rang the bell, and after a brief moment, the door swung open to reveal a dignified servant.
"Miss Thea, young Miss Charlotte is waiting for you in her room," the servant announced, stepping aside to allow Thea to enter.
Thea’s eyes scanned the foyer as she asked, "Hmm, where is Grandma?"
The servant replied, "Madam is taking a rest in her room."
Thea ascended the grand staircase, her footsteps quiet on the plush carpet. She reached the top and made her way to her best friend’s room, pushing open the door to reveal a spacious and elegantly decorated space. However, as she stepped inside, she was met with an unexpected emptiness.
Thea’s eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of Charlotte, but she was nowhere to be found. Her gaze swept across the bed, the ornate dresser, and the cozy reading nook, but there was no trace of her friend.
"Where did she go?" Thea wondered.
She had been told that Charlotte was waiting for her in her room, but it seemed that her friend had other plans. Thea’s eyes lingered on the room.
The sound of running water caught Thea’s attention, and she realized that Charlotte must be in the bathroom. She decided to wait for her friend to finish, and made herself comfortable on the elegant sofa in the corner of the room.
As she sat down, Thea let out a gentle sigh and settled into the plush cushions. She closed her eyes, listening to the gentle patter of the water, and waited patiently for Charlotte to emerge from the bathroom.
As the bathroom door swung open, Thea’s eyes met with a surprise that made her heart skip a beat. Charlotte stood in the doorway, clad in only a small towel that barely covered her body. Thea’s eyes widened in shock, and she felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she took in the sight.
"Charlotte, wear your clothes!" Thea exclaimed, her voice a mixture of embarrassment and alarm.
