“Good evening, Miss Winter.”
George’s voice breaks the quiet of the evening as he looks up from trimming a bed of roses.
Winter’s gaze shifts toward him, surprised to see someone else out here.
She’d totally forgotten that the estate had a gardener.
She approaches, her footsteps soft on the gravel path as the vibrant garden glows in the fading light of evening.
“Good evening, George,” she greets him, glad that she at least remembers his name from their introduction yesterday.
“It’s so peaceful here,” she adds as she glances around.
George smiles, though his sharp eyes study her carefully.
“Aye, it is peaceful, especially at this hour,” he says, continuing to trim the roses but keeping his gaze on Winter.
“You’ve done an amazing job keeping the garden so beautiful. It must take a lot of work,” she says, admiring the surroundings briefly before setting her gaze back on him.
“It does, but it’s worth it,” George replies, wiping his brow as he sets the shears down.
“I’ve tended these flowers long before Mr. Bond owned this place.
Seen a lot of changes, a lot of faces come and go.
But the garden…” he adds with a hint of pride, “it stays constant.”
Winter feels a spark of curiosity at his words.
“You were here before Marcus bought the mansion?” she asks, intrigued.
“Aye,” George confirms with a nod.
“It belonged to another family before Mr. Bond.”
She tilts her head, still intrigued.
“That must’ve been strange, seeing so many changes after working here for so long,” she says.
George nods, looking back at her thoughtfully.
“A bit, yes. But nothing surprises me anymore,” he says with a weary chuckle.
Winter’s expression softens as memories of her father surface.
“You remind me of my dad. He loved plants, too. We had a small garden at home, and he spent a lot of time there. I always admired how he could grow things and make them flourish. But… that was a while ago,” she says wistfully.
George observes her closely, and Winter can almost see his mind churning before he says, “Sounds like he had a good hand with it. Do you know how your father met your mother?” he asks, his voice casual but probing.
Caught off guard, Winter frowns slightly as she considers his question.
She isn’t even sure why she is indulging him, but she guesses it is her curiosity pushing her to answer.
“I don’t think so,” she finally replies, then adds, “Why did you ask?” This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.
George’s expression doesn’t waver from his casual demeanor as he replies, “Nothing much. I was just curious. You remind me of someone I once knew. Could be my old mind playing tricks on me, though,” he adds thoughtfully.
Winter’s interest deepens.
“You think I look like someone you used to know?” she asks, intrigued by his words.
George nods slowly, his hands resting on the shears.
“Aye. There was someone—long ago—who used to visit the mansion. The resemblance is faint, but it’s there. That’s why I wondered about your father,” he explains.
Winter looks at him intently.
“Did you know his name?” she asks, hoping for more answers.
George shakes his head.
“No, Miss. Many people came and went without introductions. But if I remember something, I’ll let you know,” he assures her.
There is something in his tone—something unsaid—that leaves Winter wondering.
But before she can inquire more, she notices movement in the distance.
She looks up in time to see Drae walking quickly toward the back of the garden, his head down, as if avoiding notice.
Her interest is instantly piqued.
“Excuse me, George,” Winter says quickly, her eyes following Drae’s path.
“I think I’ll explore the garden a bit more. Thank you for the conversation. It was… interesting.”
George notices her attention shift but doesn’t comment.
Instead, he replies, “Take care, Miss Winter.”
But she is already walking away.
Drae moves swiftly, glancing at his watch.
It is 8 p.m., and he is running out of time.
If his father catches him sneaking out, there will be trouble.
But he doesn’t have a choice.
The man he is meeting is crucial, and Drae needs to make a good first impression.
His mother had taught him well how to sneak in and out of the mansion undetected.
Reaching a thick curtain of ivy, Drae carefully pulls at the vines, revealing a carved section of the wall.
With a quick glance around, he presses a hidden lock, and a small door opens.
The door creaks slightly, and after one last look behind him, he disappears into the shadows.
Winter blinks, surprised.
She hurries forward, her pulse quickening as she nears the ivy-covered wall where he vanished.
She scans the area, her eyes darting over the dense foliage, trying to figure out where he could have gone.
He couldn’t have just disappeared, could he?
she thinks, confused.
This is a secluded area, surrounded by walls.
So where did he go?
Just then, Evelyn’s voice calls from nearby.
“Miss Winter?”
Winter turns to see Evelyn approaching, the soft crunch of gravel announcing her arrival.
“Your mother’s calling for you. Dinner’s ready,” Evelyn says with a gentle smile.
She pauses, noting Winter’s distant expression.
“Are you alright? You seem… distracted,” she observes with a hint of concern.
Winter hesitates, debating whether to ask Evelyn about Drae’s sudden disappearance, but decides against it.
“I’m fine,” she replies, then adds, “I was just… thinking.”
Evelyn tilts her head slightly, curious.
“Thinking about what, dear?” she asks, studying Winter closely.
Winter bites her lip, considering whether to ask or not.
Finally, she decides there isn’t any harm in the question.
“Evelyn, is there… another path out of here? Like, a hidden door or passage?” she asks casually, though the weight of her curiosity is impossible to mask.
Evelyn’s brow furrows slightly, but she replies easily, “Of course not, Miss. There’s no other way out of the garden besides the main paths. Why do you ask? Were you lost?” she asks with a small smile.
Winter shakes her head.
“No, just curious,” she replies, brushing off the question.
Evelyn nods, accepting her answer.
“Alright, then. Let’s get you back inside. Dinner’s waiting,” she says, gently gesturing toward the mansion.
As they walk back to the mansion, Winter glances back at the ivy-covered wall where Drae disappeared and makes a decision.
She is coming back to investigate.
She isn’t letting this mystery go.