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?”

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 encounter,

flicker of mischief concealed beneath his gaze.

drunk that I followed this

for taking care of me last night, Mr. Blackwell. I must return to work now. See you next time!” She longed to escape from this embarrassing

that her drunken escapades from the previous night had

had been damaged, and she only wanted to make at

made her way toward 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 was still fresh in his

afternoon, Miss Landor. You’re not scheduled at this time. And last night, Miss Landor, you were quite drunk…” Hackett exposed her

10:22

Chapter 21

immediately halted, not wanting him to describe her drunken antics. She knew exactly what she looked like when she got drunk since her brother had described that

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?

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

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

them last night, Miss Landor. Sherri was rendered speechless. No wonder her lips trembled with each word

balloons last night? Could it be that this scoundrel was making a

about what Hackett said, but it was true that she would

moment and said, “But… 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

tricks on Sherri to vent his anger, so he had forced Frank to buy the balloons, but unexpectedly, once Sherri saw the balloons, she would focus on blowing them up and

him to help her tie up the balloons, and in the end, not only had she blown up 250 balloons, but he also had to tie up 250 balloons. His hands were now still a little shaky, and

Chapter 21

could hardly believe that he had actually stayed up all night with her,

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

you on WhatsApp? It’ll be easier for

ignored his words. Hackett was a typical playboy, and she didn’t want to have any further contact with him and planned

She opened WhatsApp and saved

he said with a

it. Don’t beat around the bush.” Sherri’s cheeks were so sour that she didn’t

WhatsApp number, and I’ll keep it a secret. I guarantee that what happened last night will only be a secret between you and me,

even think of that. Change the terms,

like someone who is short on

she gave to Hackett was not even enough for him, the son of the real estate tycoon in Athana, to play around with girls.

money like water. Even a million dollars were nothing to them. She shouldn’t

“I recorded everything that happened last night, Miss Landor. That was

him and tear him apart like a wolf, but Hackett had got something on her, and she could only manage

Chapter 21

sorry,” Sherri thought with guilt while giving Natalie’s. WhatsApp number to

a friend on WhatsApp or not, it’s not my responsibility. But you must keep your

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