When Leanna and Charlotte arrived at the studio, Zoe was snapping new promotional images of the products on the models. Due to online advertising, the traffic within the shop had doubled. Zoe had already been hiring people, but they were all in charge of the online platform, so the workers in the studio were already strained.
The busy girls saw Leanna and their eyes brightened.
Leanna walked to one side of the counter and told the queueing customers, "Come here."
With Leanna's help, the payment process became much quicker. Many people recognized her and quietly talked about her, commenting that she looked prettier in real life than in her photos. After the wave of customers had left, the shop became emptier and was no longer as busy as before.
One girl exclaimed, "Miss McKinney, you're finally back!"
Leanna smiled. "It must have been tiring for you all."
"Of course not. Miss Zoe gave us all a pay raise."
As they talked, Zoe returned from next door and hugged Leanna after seeing her. "Nana, I've missed you."
Leanna smiled as she patted Zoe's back. "I've only been gone for a month. Why are you acting like you haven't seen me in years?"
Zoe let go of Leanna, sighing while rubbing at her back. "It feels like a long time."
Leanna saw this and asked, "Are you not feeling well?"
"No. It's just that my waist hurts after standing for so long." Zoe looked at Charlotte, who was looking around curiously behind Leanna, and asked in a low voice, "Who's that?"
Leanna answered, "It's—it's a younger friend of mine. She will be helping out in the studio for now."
Leanna then called Charlotte over and asked another girl to take her around before entering the office inside the studio with Zoe. After the door had closed, Zoe asked in confusion, "How did you meet this friend of yours?"
Leanna rubbed her eyebrows. "It's…a long story."
Zoe looked intrigued at once. "Do elaborate."
"She's one of the Woodleys."
Zoe was stunned, clearly not expecting the answer. "Then how…oh! I know. The girl is in Jamesdon. Did Mr. Pearson bring her here just to be a hostage?"
"Not really." Leanna briefly described everything that had happened recently at Jamesdon as well as the connection between Aidan and the Woodley Family. After hearing that, Zoe was dumbfounded.
When Leanna and Charlotte arrived at the studio, Zoe was snapping new promotional images of the products on the models. Due to online advertising, the traffic within the shop had doubled. Zoe had already been hiring people, but they were all in charge of the online platform, so the workers in the studio were already strained.
It took a while before Zoe eventually spoke. "It's a lot to take in at once and I need some time to digest it."
Pausing momentarily, she asked, "So, Mr. Pearson's mother had been tricked into coming here to Jamesdon by his father and unknowingly became his mistress?"
Leanna nodded. "That's what happened."
Zoe began to complain. "F*ck. I thought Sienna Pearson was despicable enough. I didn't think… They truly are birds of a feather. Why are they all so disgusting? Aidan had to bear the shame of being an illegitimate child."
Leanna bowed her head, not knowing what to say for now.
Zoe went on, "Oh. Did you say that Justin Pearson's car accident was related to the Woodleys?"
"Yes."
"Then what does Aidan think about that? I remember him having a good relationship with Justin."
Leanna took a deep breath and looked out of the window. "I-I don't know."
Aidan behaved somewhat unusually on the night he returned from the Woodley residence but then he returned to normal after that, so she didn't know what he was thinking. She did not mention it anymore in case he became unhappy.
Zoe sighed and reassured her, "However, I think Aidan's thinking process is different from everyone's sometimes. He may not have taken it to heart, so you don't have to worry about it. It might get better with time."
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