After entering the villa, Estelle Goodman took a moment to look around, noticing the layout was completely different from her own home.
"I love your house," she said to Cecilia Sterling, sitting down on the sofa and hugging a throw pillow.
Cecilia handed her a cup of coffee. "Then you should come over more often. My sister’s away shooting a film, so now it’s just me at home."
Estelle Goodman’s eyes lit up as she nodded, but then she remembered last night and couldn’t help but feel apologetic. "I’m sorry about yesterday, for leaving you there all by yourself."
"I already told you it’s fine. Why do you keep apologizing?" Cecilia sighed softly, looking at Estelle with concern. "What about you, though? Are you really okay?"
The light in Estelle’s eyes dimmed, and she pressed her thin lips together. She clearly wasn’t okay.
But it was understandable. The man she’d had a crush on for years had suddenly announced his engagement. ’How could she possibly get over it in a single night?’
"There’s nothing to be done about it." Estelle forced a smile and looked at Cecilia with a bitter grin. "He’s getting married. So, that’s that."
Cecilia’s heart ached for her. She moved closer and took her hand. "Since he’s getting married, let’s just try to let it go. I know you need time, and I’ll be here with you."
Estelle nodded. As the mood settled, she leaned over, wanting to rest her head on Cecilia’s shoulder. But just then, Cecilia abruptly stood up. "Oh, right! I have a gift for you!"
Estelle tumbled onto the sofa. Before she could complain, she saw Cecilia hurry upstairs and, a moment later, come running back down with a THUMP-THUMP-THUMP.
She opened her palm, revealing a single piece of paper.
"What’s this?"
Cecilia lifted her chin with an air of mystery. "Open it and see."
Estelle picked it up dubiously and slowly unfolded it. What met her eyes was a "Ghost Talisman"!
"Is... is this for warding off evil spirits?"
"Oh, come on!" Cecilia laughed. "It’s Gideon Hale’s autograph! What are you talking about, warding off evil spirits?"
"What?" Estelle covered her mouth in excitement. "For real? Gideon Hale’s autograph? Where... where did you get it?!"
Cecilia then told Estelle the story of how she’d run into Gideon Hale on the plane. Estelle burst out laughing, bending over forwards and backwards, and for a moment, she seemed to forget all her worries.
"Do you like him?" Cecilia asked, uncertain.
Estelle nodded repeatedly. "Of course! He’s handsome and a great actor. I’ve been a fan ever since he debuted."
"Good, as long as you like it. I’m glad I didn’t throw it away."
"Are you silly? Even if you don’t like him, you could have sold this autograph online for a lot of money."
"Then if you ever stop liking him someday, you can sell it."
"I’m never selling it! I’m going to take it home, frame it, and hang it on my wall!"
The two of them chatted and laughed for a while. Then, Cecilia glanced at the time and said to Estelle, "Why don’t you go home and get ready? We can grab a bite to eat, and then you can come with me to meet a couple of people this afternoon."
"Meet who?" Estelle asked out of curiosity.
Estelle had hidden when Timothy Rowe and Gavin Garrett appeared yesterday, so she definitely didn’t know about them. Cecilia couldn’t be bothered to explain, so she just said, "You’ll know when we get there."
Not wanting to stay at home alone, Estelle agreed without hesitation.
About an hour later, Cecilia got into a Maserati that was waiting at the gate.

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