The True Heiress's Return

Walter's voice was distinct. Usually, it was indifferent and calm, like an endless, serene deep sea. When angry, it tightened, creating a commanding, towering presence that would send chills down anyone's spine.

But now, he lowered his voice, exuding a magnetic charm capable of captivating thousands of fans. He smoothly narrated the movie scenes. Shakira, with her head tucked under the fluffy blanket, listened to the occasional howl of the mountain winds outside. Despite the fierceness of the wind on the mountain, she felt an indescribable sense of security.

To be honest, she was quite surprised. She was just joking around, expecting him to refuse her request after throwing some mockery. Little did she know Walter would actually agree to her unreasonable request. Her gaze dropped slightly, the changing light from the projector casting shadows on her face, but her thoughts were already drifting elsewhere.

Walter stared intently at the screen. The movie was about a fifth of the way in, and the main characters were diving into their adventure. The atmosphere and scene were becoming more and more tense and exciting.

Suddenly, a strange shadow flickered behind the male lead. The unexpected and shocking scene sent chills down his spine. Even though he didn't believe in ghosts and such, he was truly scared. His voice paused for a second, and his fist clenched silently. Only heaven knew how many times he cursed Benji in his mind.

What kind of stupid idea did that fool come up with?' Walter took a deep breath, trying to continue his explanation. That's when he noticed Shakira had fallen silent.

Walter looked down and saw that Shakira had already fallen asleep. He sighed deeply in relief, and his tense nerves relaxed significantly. However, soon, Walter realized that he was actually afraid she might blame him. This realization made him even more frustrated. He thought, 'Am I really scared of her blame?"

"Hmm, why did you stop narrating..." Shakira mumbled suddenly, and Walter instinctively muttered a few more words. She sleepily leaned closer to him, nestling against his shoulder, and soon drifted back to sleep.

Walter secretly scorned his own instinctive reaction, feeling both frustrated and helpless towards Shakira.

"What a woman who always takes more than she's given," he muttered, feeling an urge to move his hands. He reached out, but this time, instead of reaching for Shakira's neck, he placed his large hand on her cheek.

He gently brushed his thumb across her cheek, feeling its soft warmth. His heart seemed to soften with it, and that strange tingle spread from his heart to every nerve.

It was as if Shakira were a potent drug to which he had become hopelessly addicted. Only for her did he experience such intense sensations. He couldn't control this pull, yet he yearned to drown in it even more. Utterly ensnared, he found himself completely in thrall to this all-consuming feeling.

Walter leaned in closer to her head so Shakira could rest comfortably on his shoulder. They leaned against each other like that and fell asleep with the sound of a horror movie playing in the background.

*****

As the sky brightened, the curtains in the suite were pulled wide open to face the sunrise. Meanwhile, Brian and his team took turns standing guard behind them.

When the light became clearer, the two people nestled together in the room could be seen sleeping peacefully. The bodyguard hesitated and then approached. "Brian, the sunrise is almost over. Should we wake Mr. Lopez and Ms. Nelson?" Brian looked over and waved his hand. "Mr. Lopez hasn't rested all night. Let's not disturb them. There'll be plenty of time. for them to watch the sunrise together." However, Brian couldn't resist taking a photo of them from a distance.

45

When the two of then woke up, the sun was already high in the sky, shining brightly. Due to the events of the past few days, the classmates had long gone down the mountain without taking Shakira and Xanthe with them.

Xanthe was worried that Sean would run into Shakira and Walter on their way out, so she made up an excuse and had Sean drive her home first. Naturally, Sean was not happy about this. He had followed Shakira all the way up the mountain and hadn't even met Shakira, so how could he just go back like that?

However, whenever he saw Xanthe, he couldn't help but glance at her lips, which reminded him of his first kiss. In the end, feeling utterly hopeless, Sean drove Xanthe back to Crescentville.

Sitting on the couch, Shakira rubbed her head while looking at the messages on her phone. She felt a bit dazed. Seeing her looking both sleepy and disappointed, Walter, who was feeling energetic, couldn't help but smile, feeling inexplicably pleased.

That feeling grew stronger when he saw the photo Brian had sent him. Even the glass and the early morning mist made it hard to see their faces clearly, he felt an indefinable warmth and comfort when he gazed at the photo.

After packing their luggage, they headed down the mountain back to Crescentville. Walter first asked Brian to drop Shakira off at Eastlake Valley Estate before they proceeded to the office.

After almost an entire day of on-and-off sleep, Shakira was now full of energy. She freshened up, changed into a new outfit, confirmed the meeting place with Matthew, and set out to grab a cab to the government building.

Today, the area outside the government building was extremely crowded, and everyone entering or leaving had to undergo thorough checks. The driver craned his neck for a better look and said, "Why's security so tight today? I saw people being sent back home from work. Do you want me to take you back, miss?" Shakira smiled, "Thanks, I can go in myself. Just drop me off here." With that, she paid and got out of the car by herself.

The driver stayed put, thinking she would be back soon. To his surprise, he watched her easily get past the strict security and enter the building. The guards didn't even question her-they just let her in.

The driver was astounded. He smacked his forehead as he murmured to himself, "How silly of me. Someone from Eastlake Valley Estate is certainly not like ordinary office workers. No wonder when she got into the car, I was immediately struck by her remarkable appearance and her extraordinary aura."

It was Shakira's first time here, so she asked the staff for directions to Conference Room 17. As soon as they looked at her, their gazes were filled with newfound respect.

"Just take the elevator straight up here. Please go in right ahead."Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

"Thank you."

Conference Room 17 was on the 17th floor, occupying the entire floor. After Shakira passed the final security check, the secretary knocked on the double-armored doors of the meeting room for her.

As soon as she entered the meeting room, everyone's attention was drawn to her. The large red round table was surrounded by people.

Several important individuals were in attendance, such as the director and executives of Clusia Hospital. Jasmin was present as well. The others were esteemed people who frequently appeared on television to make significant pronouncements.

Shakira approached confidently, giving a slight bow before sitting down in the empty seat next to Matthew. With a cheerful smile, Matthew formally introduced her to others, saying, "This is my student, Lonely Bird. And she is still on her way to making a name for herself." The crowd, initially puzzled, suddenly understood why, at the diplomatic summit, Matthew had praised a young girl who played the piano

Even if she was extremely talented at playing the piano, it seemed excessive for her to receive such adoration. Now, everyone understood. They could tell Matthew really spoiled this student!