Emily smiled and nodded, placing the fruit basket on the bedside table. “It’s fine,” she said gently.
Richard’s enthusiastic “Sis!” really had a sibling-like warmth to it, and to her surprise, she didn’t find it off-putting.
Richard squirmed in protest against Wilfred’s firm grip, trying to free himself. However, one warning glance from his older brother was enough to make him sit still and behave.
Putting his phone away, Richard was just about to speak when Wilfred beat him to it.
“This is my younger brother, Richard,” Wilfred said, introducing him. “And this is Miss Yates—Emily Yates.”
Emily nodded politely in Richard’s direction.
*
Elsewhere, Helen had a day off from classes and was on a date with Zac at the movie theater. They were cuddled up, waiting for the show to start, when her phone buzzed with a message.
Glancing at the screen, her expression instantly soured. She frowned, muttered a curse under her breath, and shoved the bucket of popcorn into Zac’s ha
