Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

Chapter 21

The light streamed through the window, casting its brilliant glow upon Sherri’s eyes, too intense to bear. She winced and squinted. Her head felt as though it were encased in a dense cloud of cotton, causing her great discomfort.

Extending her arms in a languid stretch, she arched her back lazily, emitting a hearty yawn, and opened her eyes, only to be struck with the scene in front of her.

“Oh, shit…” she thought. “Where am I now?”

The surroundings and the furnishings of the room were unfamiliar. It was clearly not her own room.

Her mind reeled in confusion.

“Could it be possible that last night I have been taken away by a strange man, and then…”

Thinking of this, Sherri immediately threw back the covers to inspect the lower half of her body. After ensuring there was nothing wrong and finding her clothes unchanged from the day before, she breathed a sight of relief!

Involuntarily, she instinctively patted her chest.

She attempted to make a sound, but her cheeks were so sore that articulating even a single word proved difficult.

Surveying her surroundings, her gaze collided with an array of vibrant balloons, triggering a fuzzy recollection that played out hazily in her mind. She shook her head and slowly recalled a night of drunken madness. And she even kept blowing balloons all night!

“Oh my, this was not true!” Sherri couldn’t believe it. She yearned to disappear from this world!

While soothing her aching, swollen cheeks, she contemplated her next

move.

Sherri was well aware of her proclivity for drunken madness. To dissuade her from getting drunk outside and being obstreperous at home, Edward had purposely captured her intoxicated state on video as a stern warning

(Zapter 2:

Every time she contemplated indulging, she would watch the playback of

that video first.

Upon viewing it, any desire to drink dissipated, replaced only by an overpowering sense of shame that made her want to crawl into a hole.

and never come out.

Anyway, the most important thing was to get out of here first.

Swiftly rising from the bed, she tidied her attire and prepared to make her stealthy escape. Just as she tiptoed toward the front door, a voice of deep and low magnetism from the living room halted her in her tracks. “Is this how you conduct yourself, Miss Landor? Sneaking away without uttering a word of gratitude?”

regained her composure and feigned serenity. Straightening her stiff back, she gracefully turned. around, came back to the living room, and said to Hackett with a smile plastered on her face, “What a fortuitous

a flicker of mischief concealed beneath his gaze. “Encounter? This is my home.”

could I get so drunk that I followed

thank you for taking care of me last night, Mr. Blackwell. I must return

was certain that her drunken escapades from the

perfect image had been damaged, and she only wanted to make at swift

the door. However, Hackett couldn’t let her go that easily. After all, she had caused enough disturbance for him last night, and the lingering ache from last evening

this time. And

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Chapter 21

antics. She knew exactly what she looked like

Let’s discuss something else. What happened last night was my fault… I crossed the line. I was just indulging in a bit of alcohol. Can we just put it behind us? Just tell me what to do to let you keep it a

frame, Hackett scrutinized her with his eyes. “Well, Miss Landor, you’re a smart woman. It appears you are well aware of your drunken antics. Very well, let’s first talk about the cost of the 500 balloons I bought for you. Since I’ve bought those balloons especially for you, I have to increase the price a bit. As for the expenses incurred from taking care of you last night, we’ll settle those separately.”

balloons?” Sherri’s voice rose abruptly, and a sharp pain flushed her cheeks, reminding her once again of the foolishness she

requested 500 of them last night, Miss Landor. Sherri was rendered speechless. No wonder her lips

to ask for 500 balloons last night? Could it be that this scoundrel was

what Hackett said, but it was true that she would

you’re lucky I stopped your before you blew up 500 balloons. Otherwise, you may have facial paralysis today. But it still surprised me that you actually blew up 250 balloons in total. Thanks to my big house, you were able to get enough room to put them all. Hackett’s face was calm and collected, even though

the balloons, but unexpectedly, once Sherri saw the balloons,

the end, not only had she blown up 250 balloons, but he also had to tie up 250

Chapter 21

could hardly believe that he had actually stayed up all night with her, tying up balloons until his hands went numb.

eyes and took a bite of her lip before saying, “Alright, how much?

generous, Miss Landor. Could I text you on WhatsApp? It’ll be easier for us to

a typical playboy, and she didn’t want to have any further contact with him and planned to blacklist him. after the

She opened WhatsApp and saved

WhatsApp, Hackett didn’t tell her the price. Instead, he said with a smile, “Actually, there’s

you have something to say, say it. Don’t beat around the bush.” Sherri’s cheeks were so sour that she didn’t want to talk anymore.

“Give me Natalie’s WhatsApp number, and I’ll keep it a secret. I guarantee that what happened last night will only

even think of that. Change the terms, or you can state

someone who is short on money to you?”

for him, the son of the real estate tycoon in Athana, to play around

a million dollars were nothing to them.

last night, Miss Landor. That was really a

apart like a wolf, but Hackett had got something on her, and she could only manage to hold back

Chapter 21

guilt while giving

I’ve given you her contact information, whether she adds you as a friend on WhatsApp or not, it’s not my

“I can’t trust you. What if you deliberately do not let her pass my friend