Chapter 475 Well Hidden
Lyndon made a phone call, and soon his people arrived with a car.
He instructed Anne to help Thora into the heavily tinted vehicle first.
Once the car door closed, not a trace of warmth remained in his demeanor—he might as well have descended from a glacier.
"I'll say this once: this ends here."
Gabriella panicked. "It's not what you think, Mr. Myles! I was just trying to build a good relationship with Anne, but I'm clumsy with words and said the wrong thing. Please forgive me this once? That comment wasn't directed at her..."
Lyndon's fox-like eyes turned glacial, their very angles sharp as blades. "You'd better not say another word."
Gabriella had so much more to say, but the words lodged in her throat like stones.
She knew Lyndon wasn't easily fooled.
Her only option was to lower her head, making herself appear pitiful—hoping to stir his protective instincts.
After all, powerful yet cold men like him were supposedly drawn to delicate, yielding women.
She had perfected this gentle, vulnerable act through countless hours of practice.
"Mr. Myles..."
But she hadn't expected to be cut off so ruthlessly after barely uttering words with a tearful tremor.
"We're not familiar enough for such informality."
Lyndon had no patience for irrelevant people.
He turned and got into the car, instructing his driver to leave.
Anne and Thora had witnessed the entire exchange.
Thora whispered to Anne, "If I were a man and saw a beautiful woman crying like that—so soft and fragile—my heart would definitely melt. Lyndon really has a heart of stone."
From the moment Anne met Lyndon, she'd found him rather gentle, though he rarely smiled and spoke little. She could sense his thoughtfulness and care toward her.
This was the first time she'd seen him like this.
Still, it was understandable. Given Lyndon's vast wealth and the aristocratic coldness he carried—clearly the product of a privileged upbringing—and considering what Elissa had said about his naturally distant emotions, such a man wouldn't be easily swayed by simple manipulations.
Thora said, "That girl was foolish too. If she's going to pursue someone, at least do her research first. Treating you as a romantic rival—how stupid. Besides, she's probably never had to chase a man before. Girls like her have too many admirers, and in trying to suppress her nature to appeal to someone like your brother, her tactics were hardly sophisticated."
She added, "I could see right through her, let alone Lyndon—a mature man who's encountered every type of schemer imaginable."
Anne agreed with everything Thora said, except for one point.
"To outsiders, Lyndon and I are just sworn siblings with no blood relation. So, for any girl who likes Lyndon, I'm basically seen as a rival."
Thora neither agreed nor disagreed.
But Gabriella had been too hasty.
She'd likely lost any future chance of getting close to Lyndon.
"I apologize," Lyndon said once Anne and Thora finished their quiet conversation. "Anne, I'm sorry she made you and your friend uncomfortable."
Anne quickly waved her hands. "She didn't really say anything hurtful."
She'd heard far worse comments over the years and had built up immunity.
Gabriella's mockery had been too shallow to affect her.
Besides, she'd been busy texting and hadn't caught everything clearly.
"If anything, we're the ones who interfered with your business."
"It's nothing," Lyndon replied.
In fact, he thought this was for the best.
Any woman he might marry in the future would need to get along well with Anne and Elissa, and she'd have to be genuinely gentle and understanding—someone who wouldn't upset either of them.
Otherwise, he'd rather remain unmarried and focus on caring for Anne and Elissa.
After all, they'd endured far too much suffering.
"Let me treat you to a special meal to make it up to you."
Anne felt a bit embarrassed.
Strictly speaking, they shared no blood relation.
She shouldn't insert herself between him and potential romantic interests.
"Lyndon, when you go on future dates, you should clarify what kind of sister I am to you, so they don't misunderstand."
Lyndon simply said, "It wasn't a date—just meeting a friend of my grandfather's daughter."
His words confirmed what she'd suspected.
Lyndon had arranged this meeting to politely deflect Thora's interest.
Anne didn't call him out on it, just nodded and checked Elissa's messages on her phone.
Elissa: [Your instincts were right]
Elissa: [Since that's the case, comfort Thora and encourage her to look at other handsome men]
Elissa: [Have fun, don't let this romance that never even started ruin her happiness]
Anne replied "okay" and showed Thora the screen.
Thora smiled at her, indicating she was fine.
In those days, the ones we loved seldom loved us back. Mutual affection was a rare and precious thing, and the world seemed full of broken hearts.
Seaside City.
The Larson family estate.
Willard strolled in leisurely, pulled out a chair, and sat at the dining table.
"Dad, Mom."
After a brief greeting, he picked up his fork and began eating.
Nia and Kieran exchanged glances.
The former ladled soup into a bowl, placed it before him, and asked, "You've quit your job and stopped managing Larson family affairs. What do you plan to do next?"
Willard sipped his soup and countered, "What would you like me to do?"
"Or rather, did you call me home for dinner today to tell me what not to do?"
Nia and Kieran rarely interfered in Willard's affairs.
Willard hadn't been raised by their side from childhood.
Their relationship was cordial enough, but lacked the intimacy and closeness of other families.
So when Anne had wanted them to talk sense into Willard, they really couldn't say much.
Besides, they couldn't have persuaded him anyway.
"Willard, you've never given the family cause for worry. Everyone calls you a genius—you arrange everything perfectly, you've had your own ideas since childhood, and once you decide something, no one can change your mind."
Nia proceeded carefully. "When we arranged your marriage to Ann, if you hadn't been willing, no one could have forced you. But since you agreed, it shows you have feelings for her. I don't understand why you ignored her for three years, even watching coldly when she faced difficulties."
Willard finished his soup and set the bowl down with measured control.
A meaningful smile played at his lips as he asked, "Do you really not know why I got the marriage certificate, and why I was cold to her for three years?"
Nia probably had some idea, but she truly hadn't understood Willard's actions completely.
"If it was to rebel against us... we never forced you to marry her. Things have come to this point—can you satisfy my curiosity?"
Willard leaned back in his chair, the light casting shadows that seemed to darken his features.
"Would I really use such childish tactics to oppose parental authority?"
"Then why did you..."
Willard's memory drifted to an afternoon some time ago.
Anne had been having tea with Nia in the garden.
Nia had asked whether she still liked him.
If she did, his family could arrange their marriage.
In that fragrant, bird-filled setting, Anne had said without warmth: "Looking back now, I was just young and impulsive then. I don't actually like him at all."
Kieran and Nia clearly sensed Willard's emotional shift.
His expression grew increasingly cold and distant.
Before they could speak, Willard stood up.
His voice had turned colder: "I'll handle things between her and me myself. You'd better not interfere."
Willard strode away, leaving Kieran and Nia staring at each other in bewilderment.
Silverlight City.
Cars couldn't enter the narrow alley.
They parked in a nearby lot.
Lyndon got out first, opened the door, and helped Anne down, his voice gentle: "I'm afraid you'll have to walk a bit. But once you taste the chef's cooking, you'll find it worth every step."
Anne wasn't that delicate—a little walking wouldn't hurt.
But she hadn't expected the alley to be so deep.
They walked all the way to its end before reaching their destination.
The weather was getting increasingly hot. She'd removed her light jacket and was drenched in sweat, nearly exhausted.
Checking the time, she realized they'd walked for an hour.
Thora was equally tired.
She was in worse shape than Anne, who at least had spent recent years traveling and had better stamina.
Fortunately, they'd eaten plenty of snacks that afternoon, or she truly couldn't have lasted until now.
Besides, she'd digested everything by now.
The breeze carried tantalizing aromas that made her mouth water.
"Let's hurry inside."
Lyndon led the way. The staff inside immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing him.
"Why didn't you let us know you were coming?"
Lyndon gestured toward Anne. "It was a last-minute decision to come and try this. We had other plans originally."
The man led Lyndon inside. Once seated, he asked, "The usual?"
Lyndon handed the menu to Anne. "Let her order."
The man asked no questions.
In dealing with the wealthy and powerful, the cardinal rule was to avoid excessive inquiry or commentary.
"Please, miss."
Anne quickly took the menu.
Looking at the poetically named dishes, she wasn't sure what to choose.
She selected items with pictures that looked appetizing.
Thora picked a few dishes with intriguing names.
"That's all." Anne returned the menu.
The man asked Lyndon, "What tea would you prefer today?"
Lyndon looked at Anne, who said, "I don't know much about tea. Anything is fine."
Lyndon instructed quietly, "Jasmine."
"Right away."
The man left the private room.
Only then did Anne survey their surroundings.
How to describe it?
Hidden deep in the alley, this place was like a sanctuary beyond the world.
A fairyland.
Mist drifted gently, water trickled melodiously.
Everything was elegantly antique.
"Without connections, a place like this would be impossible to discover," Anne mused, touching the nearby incense burner. "What a beautiful place."
"There are even pear blossoms in this weather."
Lyndon joined her by the window.
He plucked a pear blossom and tucked it behind her ear.
"The temperature here is maintained at spring levels, and the humidity suits pear tree growth. But to prevent the flowers from withering and fruiting, certain measures are employed."
Anne loved pear blossoms, though for no particular reason.
She'd simply found them beautiful and pure when she first saw them in the Larson family garden—as if they cleansed her very soul.
"Lyndon, you know so much."
Lyndon didn't mention that her mother had loved pear blossoms.
Her father had studied extensively to make her mother happy.
This boutique restaurant had originally been opened by her father for her mother.
It now operated under the Myles family name with professional management.
"If you like it, you can come often. You have a home in Silverlight City too."
Anne assumed he was being polite.
She never imagined that the "home" he meant was their shared one—the Myles residence.
Dishes arrived in succession.
The servers introduced each dish as they set it down.
Thora stared at a plate of cabbage with barely concealed skepticism.
Once the server left, she whispered to Anne, "This 'Triple Cream Medley' really lives up to its name."
"I thought it was just going to be a Caesar salad, you know, something simple."
Anne smiled. "If you want salad, there's some over there."
"But this 'Layered Mushroom Tart'—I'm honestly impressed."
Anne served her a slice. "Give it a try."
"A great chef can turn the simplest ingredients into something extraordinary."
Thora was already hungry. Since they'd ordered everything, she might as well dig in.
She took a bite—and her eyes widened in surprise.
So that's what they meant by 'layered'—it wasn't just about how it looked, but the flavors too.
One bite of the tart had three distinct layers, each with its own taste and texture.
And yet, together, they blended perfectly.
She quickly reached for the roasted cauliflower.
Sure enough, it wasn't just ordinary roasted veggies.
"This is incredible," Thora said, amazed. "That hour-long walk was totally worth it."
Anne took a bite and was equally amazed. "Delicious."
Lyndon's eyes sparkled with amusement as he served her more dishes. "Try everything. If you enjoy it, you can come regularly. It's family-owned, so the ingredients are clean and healthy."
Enraptured by the flavors, Anne didn't analyze his words too deeply.
She assumed he knew the restaurant's owner, hence the "family" reference.
Maple Valley.
Hope arrived with news for Elissa.
Francis had sent people to investigate the girl Lyndon had rescued.
After encountering some resistance, he'd sought Jerry's help.
There was nothing to hide from Jerry.
Once Jerry knew, Hope knew.
She'd come to ask about Lyndon anyway and could update Elissa about the girl.
"He's your cousin, but he's like a real brother to you. You two really do look alike."
Elissa explained, "Our fathers were twins, so we're bound to share some resemblance."
"But Anne doesn't really look like you—it's more of a feeling than actual features."
Elissa showed Hope a photograph. "These are my parents. Take a look."
Hope studied their mother's features and understood why Elissa and Anne didn't look more alike.
One favored their father, the other their mother.
Hope said, "Oh, let me tell you about the girl your cousin rescued. You'll never guess who that girl is."
Elissa leaned against her shoulder coquettishly. "Hope, don't tease me—just tell me directly."
Hope whispered a name in her ear.
Elissa was shocked. "Really?"
"Really," Hope replied. "I was just as stunned when I saw the file Jerry handed over. "She had changed her name and identity. If it hadn't been for Jerry, we might never have uncovered the truth.
The information had been highly classified and extremely well hidden. The crucial thing was, because she had been so deeply involved in her research, she had an accident and lost all those memories.
Thora's expression when looking at Lyndon flashed through Elissa's mind.
Her emotions churned.
Elissa asked, "Are there records of her receiving treatment?"
Hope replied, "No. After that accident, she disappeared. She stopped using both the false identity from her secret research and the name from when Lyndon rescued her."
She added, "If we hadn't investigated, with her new identity and lost memories, it would have been nearly impossible to identify her."
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