---- Chapter 126 Tara looked over. The man pushing the gate open had a tall, upright figure and striking features. His eyes held a charm that teetered between righteousness and mischief, making them dangerously seductive. When Tara saw who it was, her hands clenched tightly around the notebook on the counter. What was someone so wealthy and powerful like Soren doing staying at a small guesthouse? Soren walked up to the front desk and looked at her over the counter.

"What's your most expensive room?" he asked. She hadn't heard his voice in so long that her thoughts scattered for a moment before she quickly replied, "The mountain-view room is 788 dollars a night." "T'll stay for a month first." Tara was just about to reply when she realized what he had just said. Her head snapped up. "A-A month?" Was he serious about staying that long? He could see all of Mount Helios' scenery in two days. Soren immediately paid by scanning the code.

"Yes" ---- Tara looked at the payment record he casually showed her, indicating the money had gone through. He then placed his ID on the counter so that it would be easier for her to deal with his registration. As stunned as she was, Tara had no choice but to start the check-in process with trembling fingers. Soren studied her the entire time, making it nearly impossible for her not to be nervous. Suddenly, he said, "I remember you." Tara's hand slipped on the mouse, and she barely steadied it.

"You probably think I look familiar. I used to work as a live-in housekeeper at Bayheaven Villa." Soren chuckled lightly. "You used to be pretty bold, and there wasn't anything you were afraid to do. Why are you like a startled little rabbit now?" Hearing that, she felt relieved . It seemed that was all he remembered. "T used up all my courage back then." Soren looked at her with a faint smile. "Do you havea boyfriend?" Under his gaze, Tara nodded hard. "Yes.

He's at work right now." ---- Soren simply smiled and said nothing. His gaze swept over her trembling fingers, which exposed how nervous she really was. She placed the key card on the counter and pushed it toward him. "The elevator is to your right." Soren glanced at the key card but didn't seem in any rush to head upstairs. Tara felt extremely uneasy under his stare. Though his gaze didn't burn as hot as before, it still carried an unreadable intensity.

Perhaps sensing her discomfort , Soren finally picked up the key card and strolled leisurely toward the elevator. It was only after some time had passed that Tara dared to peek toward the elevator. Soren's sudden appearance had thrown her peaceful state of mind into disarray once again. Normally, someone like him would stay in a high-end hotel near the scenic area, yet he hadn't.

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Instead, he came to a guesthouse he wouldn't have given a second glance at before and booked a room for a whole month. Tara looked out the window and saw his luxury car parked in the yard. The friend who had come with him that morning was no longer with him. ---- No wonder the man who had asked for directions earlier looked familiar. Back when Tara worked at the villa, there had been a party once. All the guests were rich young men and women, and that man had been one of them.

At noon, Soren came downstairs and happened to see her staring blankly out of the window. Her delicate profile made it hard to look away. In the short time since their meeting, he had already caught her zoning out twice. Was there really nothing for her to do on her phone? Seemingly sensing his presence, she turned her head. Her expression immediately became flustered and panicked, as if he was going to eat her.

Her reaction didn't just pique his interest, but it seemed like he had fallen for her at first sight. An all-consuming possessiveness rose within his chest, threatening to devour him whole. It was the first time Soren ever felt such a wild impulse toward someone, and he had no intention of holding it back. Tara met his gaze for a second before quickly lowering her head, pretending not to see him. She only looked up once he had left the guesthouse and driven off in his car.

Just thinking about having to stay calm and composed in front of a man she had once been intimately involved with ---- -a man who had relentlessly chased after her-was enough to rattle her. She might have been fine if she hadn't thought about it, but the moment she did, the anxiety hit her even harder. Thankfully , Earl messaged her using Judy's social media account, letting her know that his sister would come by to help tomorrow and thanking her for helping today.

Tara replied, reminding him to take good care of Judy. In the past eight months, the couple running the guesthouse had treated her well. They always set aside a portion for her whenever they made something tasty. During her first month here, a man with bad intentions tried to come after her, but Judy and Earl furiously drove him away. Even the couple who rented the cottage to her looked out for her. They started dropping by regularly after hearing about the incident from Earl and Judy.

They hada reputation around here, and within half a month, no one dared bother her again. Not long after, another car pulled into the yard. Tara was just about to cook some pasta when she heard a noise and thought it might be a new guest. Soren appeared at the door, tall and striking. His posture was relaxed yet effortlessly cool as he set down the ---- takeout bag in front of her. "T bought this back just for you. Have a taste to see if you like it." Tara immediately stood up.

She didn't know whether to accept or refuse, and her flurry of hand movements made Soren chuckle. "Relax. It's not like I'm giving you a bag of gold." "Thank you for bringing me lunch," Tara finally said, still not daring to meet his eyes. Soren smiled. Maybe out of consideration for her timidness and worried she would be uncomfortable eating with him there, he slowly walked to the elevator and went upstairs.