Marianne puts her hand around his neck as he lifts her up from her seat. She is feeling more positive and hopeful that he had talked to her in his normal voice. Also he is carrying her in his arms. ‘He can’t be hating me for he doesn’t mind holding me,’ she thought full of hope.  Unlike earlier when she was being carried in his arms, when she was lost in her thoughts for being too close to his body that she did not notice her surroundings, this time she is more alert. She pays more attention to her surroundings. She looks admiringly at the main library as they pass it. She also noticed that it has a higher level. She caught a glimpse of the pool table, an empty bar counter, and an old yellow game stand of Pac-man. ‘That must be the arcade area that Annie was talking about,’ thought Marianne. She also

Marianne has been feeling on edge as the light of the day is fading. This is the first time that she will be spending the night outside of her comfort zone. Her first time sleeping at her in-laws' house. Mary had shown her their room earlier. She was informed that it used to be Francois' room but because he has rarely used it, it was turned into a guest room. It has a double bed which had been making Marianne flustered for the coming of the night. She is used to sharing the bed with him in their massive bed which occupies about four to five people. Which is just perfect for her comfort and thoughts. It is too wide that they barely had any skinship, unless Marianne will move closer to Francois’ side. She has not thought that there might be a situation for something like this, otherwise she would have objected to sleeping out. Then when his Nana Pauline had said those words, it still rings in her

After speaking with John, Marianne goes back to join the others. The men in the suit have left and are moving towards their cars which they have parked a bit closer to the lake. Marianne wrinkles her nose with disgust, the sight of those cars are like an abomination to her surroundings. ‘It’s time I make some rules here!’ she thought.            “Lita, could you tell the guards in the second gate not to allow anyone to park near the lake. They can park outside for all I care,” she instructed her. Lita glances at her and looks at the distances of the castle to the second gate. It is about ten minutes walk away, and maybe seven minutes when waking on the grass but only when it is dry. Also, if Marianne  meant parking outside the first gate, then i

After the emotional reunion of mother and daughter, Florence turns to Marianne and John, and expresses her gratitude.            “You two must be her close friends. Thank you for being here for her,” she said.  Marianne and John smiled back at Florence. There was also a bit of awkwardness among the three friends, especially Leonna. Looking at Leonna’s nervousness, Marianne feels the same. For how will they explain to Florence that John is actually her daughter’s half-brother? That the man she had slept with that night was the friend of Adam Williams. That her childhood friend young Williams is not actually the father of her daughter, instead he is a member of the royal family. That her daughter has royal blood in her. 

    “Is that John’s car?” asked Marianne. She is seated next to the grand old chair that Francois’ used whenever he works on his desk. Marianne looks closely at the screen, she enlarges it and scrutinises its details. “It is John’s car! What is he doing so early in the morning here?” she said, looking at Lita. Lita looks at the screen and to Marianne. Then Marianne said “Oh John is one of Francois’ best friends. You probably know him. Have you heard of Dr John Reeds? He is quite famous. He wrote some books and he often appears on tele.” She sees Lita’s face that says ‘I’ve no idea who that is’ and she laughed.        &n