---- Chapter 98 It was late at night. Tara had always been a good sleeper, and tonight was no different . The moment her head hit the pillow, she drifted off. However, the dream she had wasn't a pleasant one. She stood at the edge of an unfamiliar swimming pool, dressed in a swimsuit. Without warning, a hand shot up from the water and grabbed her ankle. Startled, she lost her balance and plunged in. The sensation of drowning was far too real -her lungs burned, and panic surged.

Just as she began to choke, a man emerged from the water and pulled her up. Tara instinctively clung to him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. As she caught her breath, she looked up-and met Lance's familiar , captivating gaze. Lance? Again? Why did he keep appearing in her dreams? "Are you scared?" he asked. She nodded without hesitation, and in response, he pressed a kiss to her lips and carried her out of the pool.

It wasn't until they were on solid ground that Tara ---- realized how tightly she was pressed against him. He laid her gently on a lounger, then grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her shoulders before walking away. They were the only ones in the villa. Tara was bewildered at how unfamiliar the villa was to her but how surreal everything in her dream felt. Tara woke with a jolt, her heart pounding. Flushed with embarrassment , she yanked the blanket over her head. Seriously , brain?

Why was she dreaming stuff like that? By now, she didn't even question how real her dreams felt. They always did. Amoment later, Tara glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost 7:00 am. Stretching , Tara got out of bed. Today, she'd be working with Hailey and the two new housekeepers to prepare the meals. After clocking in, she crossed paths with Hailey, who looked like she had something on her mind. A moment of hesitation passed before Hailey called out.

Tara paused, turning slightly to listen. This time, Hailey wasn't going to cause trouble, though. She approached Tara and said, "You were right about what you said that day. Thanks." ---- Her voice was awkward and a little self-conscious , but her words were sincere. For two days, Hailey had replayed Tara's advice in her mind. Stella's sudden dismissal had served as a wake-up call. Tara was taken aback. She hadn't expected Hailey to change her tune so quickly.

"You don't have to thank me.I did nothing ," Tara told her. Hailey said, "I'm sorry for what I said about you before." Some people had the self-awareness to realize their mistakes on their own. Others needed someone to point them out. Hailey clearly fell into the latter group. Tara didn't doubt her sincerity, so she didn't dwell on it." It's fine," she said simply. After Tara left, Hailey finally managed to relax a little. Jonah, Soren, Lance, and Shawn took their seats at the dining table.

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Before they dug into the food, they discussed how to split the lyrics for their new song. Tara was the last to arrive -but not without reason. The chef had specially prepared her a more iron-rich breakfast to help with her recent dizziness. The food was piping hot, and she had to eat it slowly to avoid burning her throat. ---- She was just planning to take her food back to her room. when she stepped into the dining room and noticed all four men looking her way.

Tara quickly turned her gaze away and made sure not to meet anyone else's eyes. She had intended to stand behind Shawn's chair, but one of the new housekeepers was already stationed there. The only spot left was behind Lance. Though he didn't look at her, Tara could still feel a subtle tension as she stepped behind him. She reminded herself not to overthink. Lance wouldn't act out of line in front of everyone. And true enough, he didn't. Breakfast passed without incident.

Tara relaxed, convinced she had just been being paranoid. Lance wouldn't be affectionate with her in front of so many others. When the meal ended, she helped push the chairs back into place. Hailey and the new housekeepers went off to eat, and just then, Betty approached her in a rush. Noticing that Tara was alone, Betty quickly pulled the former aside. Betty's eyes were wide with astonishment. " Tara!

You won't believe this -Hailey apologized to me!" ---- At first, she thought Hailey was playing some trick, but the apology had seemed heartfelt. Tara nodded. "She spoke to me, too." Still reeling , Betty asked, "She did? What did she say to you?" "She apologized and thanked me for what I said the other day." Betty mumbled to herself in disbelief at how much Hailey had changed.

Tara commented, "I think she's sincere." If the senior staff could stop picking fights, the new housekeepers would naturally follow their example. Maybe, just maybe, peace was finally settling in. For Tara, a long-awaited calm seemed to have descended, suggesting that things had finally settled down here. Elsewhere , Betty was experiencing a surreal moment, as Hailey, who had been directing sarcastic comments her way, had actually apologized that morning. Tara patted her on the shoulder.

"No one's going to give you trouble anymore." Grinning , Betty hooked her arm through Tara's. "Tara, you're the best!" ---- Accepting the compliment with a smile, Tara looked forward to the next three months and wished for a smooth and uneventful continuation of her time there. Tara was the first to enter the dining room that evening, ahead of Lance, Soren, Shawn, and Jonah. Much to her displeasure , the only available spot was situated behind Lance.