Declan smirked, looking at her red face. He wished to take a bite on her cheek. However, he strode away, leaving Yasmin alone to deal with the overwhelming flow of hormones.
He made his way to the dining hall, not paying attention to Tina, who was standing in his way.
"Declan…" Tina rushed over to him and grabbed his hand. "Please stop ignoring me. "Talk to me for a minute." Her eyes were pleading.
Declan cocked his head, casting her a sidelong glance. He quirked his lips, pulling his hand back. "I was not ignoring you. Dinner has been served, if you remember. I don't like eating cold food."
"Okay. Let's go eat first. We can talk later." She smiled coquettishly, linking her arm with his.
Yasmin's heart dropped to her stomach. "Declan…" She took quick steps towards him. "I remember the answer to your question." She tugged on his arm and pulled him towards her, freeing him from Tina's grip.
Declan was pleased with her possessiveness. That was what he wanted to see in her. He pushed his one eyebrow upwards, feigning astonishment. "And what is it?"
Yasmin blinked, not knowing what to say. She only wanted to keep him away from Tina. Was he not aware of it? Shouldn't he go quietly with her to eat?
Yasmin managed to grin through her displeasure. If he had been this eager to play, she would play.
"I can give that answer only in the bedroom," she murmured, leaning slightly towards him.
She made sure that Tina heard her words loud and clear. When she saw her envious look, she sneered inwardly.
"I see. Then we should leave quickly." He dragged her to the dining hall.
Tina glared at them, her fists trembling on the sides.
The chatter filled the air.
Sean happily invited everyone to attend Tina's birthday party. "I have no idea when my little sister has grown up. It seems like only yesterday that she was a little girl, playing with Declan." He purposely mentioned Declan here. "She is now turning 25 in two days."
"I know how busy you are," Tina said as she took her seat next to Declan. "But please make time to come to my birthday party." She smiled as she placed her hand on his.
"Of course." Declan returned her smile but drew his hand back. "I will come with my wife." He leaned back in his seat and put his arm on the back of Yasmin's chair.
"We will all come to celebrate your birthday," Gerald cheerfully assured her.
Tina smiled, but she couldn't get rid of the nagging pain in her heart. She was in distress, looking at his indifference towards her. She was doing everything she could to get his attention, but he kept ignoring her. On top of that, Yasmin clung to him constantly.
She was losing her temper. When she saw Sean's meaningful look, she held herself back.
They started eating once Helena joined them.
Yasmin was not happy with Declan's response. She had no desire to attend Tina's party. She wanted him to turn her down. But he readily agreed to attend the party as if he couldn't wait to wish her birthday.
Did he still have feelings for Tina?
This question again stirred her up. Her uneasiness intensified when she sensed someone's steady gaze on her. When she lifted her head, she met Earl's charcoal black eyes.
Earl immediately looked away from her the way he did before.
Yasmin squinted at him.
Earl didn't appear to be cold and gloomy this time. His body language revealed his nervousness.
It made Yasmin suspect that he was hiding something about Natasha. If their conversation a couple of hours ago had not been interrupted, she would have found out what he had to say about her.
The worry about her sister made her lose her appetite. She kept stirring the vegetable soup in a trance.
"Should we go back if you don't like the food?" Declan murmured, leaning laterally towards her.
Yasmin came back to reality with a start. She almost jumped off her seat as she gazed back at him. His face was so close to hers that she could feel his breath on her skin.
"Um, I-I like it." She made every effort not to stutter. "I will finish eating." She began drinking the soup right away, her heart jumping wildly.
Declan smiled. He enjoyed watching her flushed cheeks. The more he teased her, the more she blushed. And it made him happier.
He had never expected a woman to bring him such joy. He started to like being around her.
After dinner, Gerald called Declan and Sean to the study while the rest were gossiping in the hall.
Yasmin was not interested in discussing how they would celebrate Tina's birthday. She got to her feet and went to the foyer, which led to the backyard. She walked over there.
In the middle of the backyard, there was an open patio with a concrete path through the short-trimmed grass. Several chairs were positioned around a coffee table. A white building could be seen a few yards away on the right.
Yasmin walked up to the patio and sat on a chair. She enjoyed the cold breeze hitting her face. She watched the building, wondering what was in it.
"That is servant quarter." A male voice rang out, drawing her attention.
Her pupils constricted as she saw Earl approaching. "How do you know what I am thinking?" she asked in astonishment.
"Your face is expressive… just like your sister's," he murmured as he took his seat on a chair next to her.
Yasmin gave him a long look before saying, "Your face is expressive, too. I can tell that you know something about my sister. Where is she? What are you hiding?"
Earl held her gaze for a moment before looking into the distance. He appeared to be lost in his thoughts. "I met Natasha at a party and…" He took his time saying the remaining words, "She was worried about the financial problems of the company. She wanted to help her father. We were about to sign a contract." He looked back at her and added, "This deal could have helped the company to repay the debts, but before that, Mr. Brandon signed a deal with Wilson and Co."
"Oh…" Yasmin couldn't think of anything to say. She knew nothing about the company. She had no idea why her father had not signed the contract with Earl.
"Do you know her boyfriend?" she asked.
"No…" Earl leaned back on the chair, his hands on the armrests and his gaze up into the sky. "You sound like you don't know much about your sister. I thought you would know about her boyfriend." There was a tinge of disappointment in his cold and flat tone.
"Natasha is introverted. But still, we were close. I have no recollection of her dating anyone. That was what surprised me when she ran away from the wedding venue. Everyone, including my parents, said that she had eloped with her boyfriend." Yasmin shook her head slowly. "But I don't think so. I believe she is in trouble. Something must have prompted her to take that step. She is not the type to abandon her family in times of crisis."
Earl looked into her eyes. There was no disappointment in him this time. A glimmer of excitement crossed his expressionless face.
"Help me find her." Yasmin grabbed his forearm all of a sudden, her gaze pleading.
"Earl, what are you doing here?" Amber's crips voice startled them.