More Than A Favor

Chapter 96

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“Really? But who could it be?” Tessa asked, her voice tinged with genuine curiosity. “Your parents have been gone for years, and their old friends have long since moved on. They’ve never even mentioned your parents‘ names in ages. Why would anyone suddenly show up to pay respects?”

Her words struck a nerve.

The idea that people “move on” hit me harder than I expected. I hadn’t noticed their absence in conversations before, but Tessa’s blunt reminder left me feeling unsettled.

“Maybe someone made a mistake, Elaine?” Tessa suggested, trying to offer a logical explanation.

I glanced at the tombstone, its photo and name clear and unmistakable. How could anyone confuse this grave with another? Her words felt like something you’d tell a child to dismiss their worries.

“Maybe,” I agreed, not wanting to continue the conversation.

But I knew it wasn’t a mistake. It wasn’t the Mercer family, nor could it have been Mom and Dad’s old friends.

That bouquet of daisies was suspicious, and I intended to get to the bottom of it.

“Elaine, don’t overthink it. I’ll ask Ethan later if he knows anything or if anyone might have done this,” Tessa reassured me.

“Alright,” I replied.

Before hanging up, she reminded me again to make sure I attended Ethan’s birthday celebration.

Later, I took a photo of the bouquet and posted it on Instagram with the caption: “Whose remembrance could this be?”

Shortly after, Nora called me. I was surprised she had time to check social media in the middle of her busy day.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

After explaining the situation, I murmured, “I just can’t figure out who it could be. It’s so strange.”

Nora, however, had shifted her focus. “Are you seriously going to the Mercer estate? Isn’t that like walking straight into a trap?”

“Not going isn’t really an option,” I admitted. “But at the same time, I’m nervous about what Logan might try to pull.”

“Then you need someone with you,” she said firmly. “A man. Even if things go south, at least you’ll have someone by your side, and it might finally make Logan and the Mercer family back off.” After a pause, she asked, “Has Ashton contacted you?”

“He turned me down,” I said with a sigh.

her about Ashton’s insistence on being a

not give him a real chance? Who knows–you might actually

not in the right place

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< Chapter 96

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with me, he’d want my full commitment. Playing around with

to understand and didn’t push the issue further. Instead, she voiced her

with you? Even if it doesn’t change

few seconds of thought, I replied, “No, I still need to find

to Ashton already. It’s the

cut her off. “Do you know any other men? Set me up with someone. I’ll even pay if I

Nora said,

argued. “No strings attached, no messy aftermath.”

plan seemed flawless to me.

“I know a few guys, but they’re

what?” I

a blind date,” she said. “There’s this trending matchmaker service online. You could look for someone publicly, and it might even save you the trouble of

but it intrigued me.

a café to meet my blind date. I was halfway through my

my relief, he wasn’t the stereotypical middle–aged man with a beer belly or a receding hairline. He was well–dressed in a crisp, sky–blue shirt,

“catfished,” his tardiness had

real relationship. I just needed someone to play the part–professiona lly and for

I’m late,” he said politely as he took a

straight to the point. “I’m not here

for a moment. “Rent a boyfriend?”

want a real relationship right now, but I

worried I might have offended him. To ease the tension, I quickly added, “Of course,

must be pretty well–off,” he remarked, his tone laced with curiosity.

focus on money irked me slightly. “We can negotiate

asked, his expression unreadable.

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