Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

Emma’s expression softened at his question. “Yeah, they’ve been doing business abroad all this time. But if you want to meet them, I can make a phone call and ask them to come back.”

Theodore replied with a wave of his hand, “No, you don’t have to. They just came into my mind, that’s all. Your dad and I used to be drinking buddies back when we were younger, you know.”

They chatted happily, with Arthur chiming in from time to time.

Contrary to the three who were talking and laughing cheerfully, Callum and Elspeth were seemingly nonexistent. He bent his head and whispered in her ear, “Are you really not unhappy?”

Elspeth couldn’t describe how she felt. “No, I’m fine,” she replied, but her smile looked somewhat strained.

Seeing that she seemed a bit uncomfortable, Callum led her out of the hotel as soon as the gathering was over.

As they walked outside, Elspeth let out a wistful sigh.

“I can see the change in my dad’s attitude toward you, actually.”

She couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh at the man’s words. “Yeah, even you could see that, so how couldn’t I?”

Callum stopped to look at her. He said earnestly, “Still, you don’t have to be worried. There’s no way my dad would dislike you all of a sudden. He probably has a reason for doing so.”

Naturally, Elspeth knew full well about this. She decided to ask Theodore about it when they went home tonight.

As the couple strolled along the bridge, it suddenly began snowing.

Elspeth was stunned; she hadn’t paid attention to the calendar for a long time. Seems like Christmas is coming, she thought.

Before she snapped out of her trance, Callum surprised her with a bouquet of Lenten roses he produced from nowhere. Though not as delicate as roses, the flowers looked extraordinarily hardy.

steal these from someone else’s backyard?” She sounded disapproving, but inwardly, she loved these flowers very

things on both sides of the bridge.

looked back and saw there was indeed a flower stall where she had been standing. What was more, she’d been staring blankly in that stall’s direction just now. “Actually, I don’t like… Achoo!” She smiled in embarrassment before emitting a loud

Callum fixed her with a murderous stare. “Are you saying that

her senses, she nodded vigorously. “Yeah, I like them a

noticed that she was

tone that the weather turned chilly! Elspeth looked at her clothes—which weren’t really warm enough—before emitting

took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. “I’ll

of gratitude. “Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Winthrop, but

Callum crouched down and let her get

“Callum, I’ve heard that a couple can remain together in their old age once they’ve walked together in the

don’t know if a couple can remain together in their old age after walking in the snow, but I’m sure they’ll get hospitalized

displeased with the man’s

car. Seeing that Elspeth was back, he pretended to leave again, but she stopped him before he could do

replied with a forced smile, “I’m fine, Elspeth. Don’t think too much

instead of Elsie, thought Elspeth. Unable to get the truth out of him, she decided to look into it

study. No one knew what Theodore had said, but

that he wasn’t in a good mood, Elspeth asked, “What’s wrong

You should go to Azure Corporation early if there’s nothing

own company?” Elspeth was astounded. He was just fine yesterday; why is he beginning to

pressed his lips together without saying

just tell

I’ve got work to deal with at my office,”

going to the