Chapter 160

Being at Frost Estate felt wonderful. Amelia watched Suzanne with a warm smile before softly calling out, “Suzi, I have a question for you.”

Suzanne turned to her, slightly puzzled. “What is it, Grandma?”

Was she going to ask if Mandy had been mistreating her in the Yates family? Suzanne quickly considered how to respond without worrying her. But the next moment, she was caught off guard.

Amelia rested her head on one hand, gently fanning herself with the other, a teasing smile on her lips. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

Suzanne was stunning, and at her age, it wouldn’t be unusual for her to be in a relationship.

Suzanne froze for a moment. A boyfriend? Austin’s face flashed through her mind, but she quickly smiled and shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

She wasn’t ready to tell her grandparents about Austin yet. It was too soon, and she didn’t want to startle them. Besides, she wasn’t lying. She didn’t have a boyfriend; she had a husband.

And thinking back to Jenson… well, he was a result of her own foolishness. He had told her to keep their past a secret, and she had been naive enough to comply, not wanting to put him in a difficult position.

Amelia gently stroked Suzanne’s hand and said softly, “If you meet someone you like, don’t be afraid to open your heart. Don’t close yourself off too much. You’re at the right age, so you should allow yourself to experience love.”

Suzanne had always been too reserved, and Amelia worried she would remain emotionally closed off. She hoped to see Suzanne get married and start her own happy life. Suzanne felt a bit awkward but smiled. “I know, Grandma. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Hearing her response, Amelia nodded with a smile. This time, Suzie really did seem different from before. But it was a good change. The little girl had finally grown up. The rest of the day was filled with laughter and conversation.

After dinner, Suzanne prepared to leave, though Amelia tried to persuade her to stay at Frost Estate a while longer. However, thinking of Austin, she declined. Amelia had no choice but to pack up some food and remind her to visit often.

As Suzanne left, she would look back every few steps until she was finally out the door.

In Suzanne’s room, the sheer white curtains fluttered gently in the breeze. A bottle of fragrance sat atop a white oak cabinet, its fresh, delicate scent spreading through the air, filling the space with warmth and tranquility.

Suzanne stepped out of the bathroom, fresh from a shower. Her damp hair was wrapped in a towel. Sitting at her wooden vanity, she began her skincare routine.

Her eyes landed on the bouquet on her dressing table. The flowers were starting to wilt. She frowned slightly and made a mental note to replace them.

As she opened the lid of her face cream, it accidentally slipped from her fingers, landing on the soft, hairy carpet. She was just about to bend down to pick it up when Austin entered. He placed it back on the table before she could react.

Suzanne looked at him, surprised. “Weren’t you supposed to be working late tonight?”

When she left the house that morning, she had overheard Gabriel saying he was supposed to be working until at least two. She checked the clock on her phone; it wasn’t even 9:00 pm yet.

Austin’s lips curved slightly as he replied in a low voice, “I finished early.” As he spoke, he pulled out a bouquet of champagne roses from behind his back and held it out to her.

Suzanne gazed at the unexpected roses, try[ing] to appear stunned. Why had he suddenly bought her roses? She looked at him, puzzled.

A fleeting trace of awkwardness flashed in Austin’s eyes before he lightly tapped her side and said nonchalantly, “I passed by a flower shop on the way home.” He placed the roses on her dressing table before heading toward the walk-in closet. “It’s about time to replace the flowers on your table, so I picked these up.”