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Of all places, to run into Stanley here.
Who is the woman with him? Could it be Annie or somebody else?
Natalie couldn't figure out who it could be offhand and did not bother herself with that at the moment.
“Where are you guys? We'll come to you.”
“We're at the balcony of the dining hall. The couple whom Joyce had met are here too,” came Lina's reply.
“Stay right there, we'll be over in a bit.”
Natalie hung up and dropped her phone back into her purse. “Stanley is here,” she informed Shane. “There is a
woman with him. Joyce ran into them and cried. She might have had a misunderstanding.”
Shane knew that Joyce liked Stanley. Therefore, he was not at all surprised at this piece of news. “Let's go. Aren't
we going to meet them?” Shane offered Natalie his arm.
She stepped back in trepidation. “What are you doing? You're not going to carry me all the way over there, are
you?”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShane did not deign to answer her.
“Please, darling, there's no need.” Natalie was at a loss. “It's just a tiny abrasion on my heel, not a sprained ankle. I
can walk just fine now that you've treated it for me.”
She stood up to walk several paces in an attempt to convince him, to which he relented by letting his arm fall to his
side.
The couple exited the lounge and made their way to the balcony of the dining hall.
Natalie caught an unmistakable glimpse of Stanley from a distance as well as the female figure beside him.
She had blonde hair and was of a thin and slender build. One look at her was sufficient to conclude that she was a
beauty..
Natalie recognized her at once—it was Annie.
In an unexpected turn of events, Annie had managed to get this intimate with Stanley. It was not impossible for
them to have already been in a relationship, given how close they were standing together.
Pondering the matter gravely, Natalie walked over to them. “Stanley, it's been a long time.”
Stanley nodded at her pleasantly. “Long time no see, Nat. How have you been?” he asked, while pointedly ignoring
Shane who stood next to her.
Shane frowned slightly but opted not to say anything.
“Pretty good. How about you?” Natalie replied. She turned to Annie who stood beside Stanley. “Are you dating Ms.
Hill currently?”
Joyce, who had been within earshot hung her head at Natalie's remark. Lina hurriedly patted her shoulder in
consolation.
That exchange had not gone unnoticed by Stanley, though he did not seem to care much about Joyce's anguish.
“No, I'm not. But...” he trailed off as he adjusted his glasses.
Natalie and Joyce were about to rejoice at the news but Stanley's unfinished sentence wreaked havoc on their
nerves.
“But what?” urged Natalie, like a woman interrogating her partner.
If Shane had found out what she did for Joyce, he would put his foot down.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHe was her husband, after all.
“But Annie is an interesting girl. I would definitely consider dating her,” Stanley continued as he looked at her.
Annie looked as if she was about to swoon with delight. With a sudden vigorous motion, she grabbed Stanley by the
hand. “Dr. Quinn,” she cried. “You really think that I'm interesting and would date me?”
Stanley withdrew his hand, unfazed. “Let me think about it first. Perhaps I would.”
“Please, take all the time you need.” Annie was near tears with joy.
Joyce bit her bottom lip so hard that they were about to bleed.
The man who I have loved for so many years knew how I felt about him, yet he never picked me. Instead he had
hurt me at every turn, choosing to be with other women.
How much more humiliating can this get!
Joyce laughed bitterly to herself and with a defiant turn, left the balcony.
“Joyce!” Lina called after her, arm outstretched.
Natalie nodded at Lina. “Lina, go after Joyce.”
“Alright, I'm on it.” Lina knew what Natalie was driving at. Joyce may do something foolish to harm herself in that
state of mind. Lina was to intercept and comfort Joyce.
After Lina had left, the only people left on the balcony were Natalie, Shane, Stanley, and Annie.
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