“What?” Emily was stunned.
Wilfred lowered his gaze, a soft smile masking the sadness in his eyes. “I apologize if I was too forward.”
“Haley is a renowned artist. Someone with my reputation couldn’t possibly take over her work,” Emily replied with a self-deprecating smile.
Wilfred didn’t press the matter further.
After finishing their tour of the studio, they descended the staircase. Emily figured it was time for her to take her leave. The sound of her low heels on the wooden steps echoed, “click, clack”.
Wilfred broke the silence with a casual question, “The first time I saw you was at the Yates family banquet. Are you a relative of the Yates family?”
Emily shook her head, keeping her eyes on the steps. “No, we just happen to share the same last name.”
He nodded, then asked more directly, “The man from the Smith family who was with you that day—is he your boyfriend?”
Caught off guard, Emily froze for a moment. “Could he be interested in me?” she wondered briefly befor
