"Mhm." Kane nodded, leading the way upstairs with the young man in tow.

Inside Beverley's mind, a stampede of frustration was taking place.

How exactly had this sly dog wormed into Kane's good graces? Kane was known for not warming up to strangers, so it was clear this toy boy had worked hard to charm both the mother and son.

A nagging worry crossed Beverley's mind that this interloper might be angling to usurp Leopold's place in the family.

"Hey Aurelia, this Peter seems pretty cozy with Stirling Mansion, huh? Almost like he's part of the Stirling family now." Aurelia offered a faint smile. "Isn't a personal bodyguard practically family? Jessica trusts him, and so do we." Beverley was puzzled. How had this cunning newcomer earned Jessica's trust? Could he have proven his loyalty by saving Leopold at scrucial moment? "Aurelia, tellthe truth. Do you ever feel lonely being on your own?" Aurelia shrugged nonchalantly. A domineering bodyguard insisted on sharing a bed with her so much that she felt oddly out of sorts when she slept alone, like something or someone was missing.

"I'm not alone. I have my kids with me. Why would I be lonely?" answered Aurelia.

"Kids aren't the sas a man, though. After all, a woman has needs." With stamina and skills to rave about, a guy like Peter could becquite addicting for any woman.

Aurelia choked on her response. "My needs are minimal. I'm indifferent to the presence of a man." Beverley was sure Aurelia was putting on a brave face. After all, funding a kept man wasn't something you could be open about.

"Has Arnold been busy lately?" "He's gearing up for a documentary shoot. He's off to the Arctic with a research team in a few days," Aurelia said with a distracted air.

"The Arctic?" Beverley massaged her forehead. "Arnold can never sit still, can he? Always jetting around the world." No wonder he always proclaimed himself a bachelor for life. What woman would want to keep the hfires burning while he was out traveling around the world? Aurelia smiled. "He's not just a photographer, and he's also an explorer. Only by venturing to untouched corners of the world can he capture images that astonish and educate us about our planet." "You look up to him so much. No wonder Arnold feels confident traveling far afield," Beverley teased with a giggle. "I heard you fell for Arnold at first sight. A free spirit like him is quite irresistible." Aurelia's thoughts drifted back to her naive college days seven years ago. She met a man who sent her dopamine levels through the roof on a trip.

Arnold was captivating and handsome, the epitof a man unbound by societal expectations, brimming with vitality and an artistic flair, fitting every romantic notion she'd ever had.

That heart-fluttering sensation was indeed love at first sight.

Together, they'd climb mountains, ride horses, and explore desolate canyons and jungles. What pure bliss.

With Leopold, such ease and comfort were rare. His innate intensity often left her feeling weighed down.

From the look on Aurelia's face, Beverley could tell her heart still belonged to Arnold.

And Leopold saw it, too. He stood at the top of the stairs, intuitively knowing she lost herself in thoughts of Arnold.

He knew she had never longed for him in the sway. After all, he always felt like an optional extra in her life.

"Aurelia, what's different for you with Arnold and that with Leopold?" Aurelia picked up a mug from the coffee table, sipping her coffee.

"They have very different personalities. Arnold is like a breeze in the valley, carefree and unrestrained, and no one can truly hold onto him. Being with him is easy-going and comfortable. He doesn't force you to do anything you dislike. Likewise, you can't pin him down." "And what about Leopold?" Beverley pressed.

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