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Chapter 42
After a couple of laps around the field, Charlotte and Sean slowed to a stop.
by still off riding
Mia, lan, and Lena were nowhere to be seen. They were probably
Only Vivian was left at the paddock
ed up with a sweet smile.
As they approached, Vivian walked up
“Wow, Charlotte, you looked so cool out there. Can I leam to ride from you?”
Charlotte was caught off guard.
ཅ ན ་ རྒྱུ ཇ ན
Didn’t she just say earlier she only wanted Sean to teach her?
“There’s a trainer over there,” Charlotte replied politely. “I can go ask him to give you a lesson.”
Vivian pouted, her tone soft and deliberately cutesy.
“But trainers are so intimidating and I don’t even know him. I’m afraid he’ll yell at me. You’re so nice, Charlotte. I bet you wouldn’t yell at me, right?”
Charlotte wasn’t used to strangers acting sweet with her. She glanced at Sean, hoping to gauge what he thought.
He tumed to her at the same moment and asked gently,
“Lottle, would you mind teaching her?”
He was clearly leaving the decision to her.
Charlotte hesitated for a second.
Vivian was, after all, Sean’s sister–and likely her future sister–in–low. Sure, their first meeting had been a bit awkward, but Vivian had apologized, and she seemed friendly enough now
Charlotte wasn’t the type to assume the worst of someone, especially another wom
woman.
“Sure,” she said with a smile. “I can proper riding class.”
show
you some b
you basics today so you get a feel for it. After that, maybe your brother can enroll you in a
“Really?” Vivian beamed. “Thank you so
so much, Charlotte!”
She sure was laying it on thick with the “Charlotte” this and “Charlotte” that
a moment, Charlotte wondered if she had been overthinking things. Vivian didn’t seem hostile after all
For al
“You’re welcome,” Charlotte said with a polite smile.
Vivian studied her quietly.
Charlotte Riley. Her brother’s fiancée.
She was supposed to call her “sister–in–law.”
But those words stuck in her throat and she couldn’t say them, not even as a formality.
She didn’t want to believe Sean would ever belong to another woman.
Sean tumed to Charlotte, his voice warm.
“Thanks for doing this, Lottle.”
Then he faced Vivian. The softness in his gaze vanished, replaced by his usual cool Indifference.
“Listen to her,” he said with quiet authority. “Whatever Lottie tells you to do, you do it. And be careful”
“Yes, Sean.” Vivian’s voice was sweet, all innocence again.
“Come on,” Charlotte said, leading the horse forward.
Vivian followed.
1/2
“Okay, you’re going to mount from the left,” Charlotte explained patiently. “Left foot in the
She steadied Vivian by the waist, helping her onto the saddle.
“Careful”
Vivian wasn’t wearing riding gear, but her athletic outfit worked just fine for a beginner.
Once Vivian was seated on the horse, Charlotte took the reins and began walking slowly alongside.
was calm and steady, her steps slow and gentle.
Snowbell, guided by her owner,
“Doing okay up there?” Charlotte looked up and asked.
With her back to Sean, Vivian didn’t bother pretending anymore.
The smile from earlier had vanished, her expression now cool and distant
“I’m fine,” she replied flatly, her voice devoid of warmth..
Charlotte didn’t seem fazed by the shift in attitude. If anything, she let it roll right off her.
