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Novel Catalog
Chapter 19: He Won’t Trade Himself
Lindsay could barely believe what Kaitlin had told her. The notion that Cason had given the house to Ainsley, of all people, was beyond comprehension. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She paced the room, her voice rising with every word.
“Could it be that Ainsley has a lover at your school? Where is she? Keep an eye on her! Don’t let her get away—I’ll come over right away!” Lindsay demanded, her tone sharp and full of suspicion.
Kaitlin, equally agitated, responded with frustration. “What are you even saying, Mom? She’s gone! Why are you acting like this? She’s not even in the picture anymore!”
“Don’t be so naive!” Lindsay snapped. “Your brother gave her the house! That was supposed to be ours—a gift for his future wife! Ainsley doesn’t deserve it!” Her anger was palpable.
Kaitlin seethed. “Is he out of his mind? Why didn’t he give it to me? Instead, he gave it to her!” She was clearly furious with Cason’s decision. “Just wait, Mom. I’m going to find her. I’ll make sure she tells us exactly what happened!”
Ainsley, however, had no idea of the turmoil unfolding. After leaving the supermarket with a bag full of groceries, she headed home, only to find out that the evening wouldn’t be as peaceful as she had hoped. When she called Lainey over, she hadn’t expected Roman to be there, nor did she expect Manuel and his sister Serina to join them.
Ainsley opened the door to find Serina, a sweet and shy young girl, standing with Manuel—a tall, noble-looking man whose presence exuded authority and calm. Ainsley suddenly felt out of place, as if she didn’t belong in such company.
Roman, who had suggested this “celebration,” had another purpose in mind. “On my way here, I bumped into Mr. Gage and Ms. Gage,” Roman explained, smiling smoothly. “I thought it would be nice to make the gathering a bit livelier, so I invited them to join us. Is that alright with you, Ms. Easton?”
Ainsley, taken off guard, simply nodded, though she felt a slight unease.
The man who had introduced himself as Manuel smiled politely. “My name is Manuel,” he said, his eyes flicking to Ainsley with a subtle intensity.
Serina, with a warm and friendly demeanor, added, “Nice to meet you, Ms. Easton. I’m Serina.” Her voice was like music, pleasant and easy to listen to.
Ainsley, still processing the unexpected guests, invited them inside. “Please, come in,” she said, trying to be a good host despite the surprise. “Make yourselves comfortable. I’ll go start cooking.” However, before she could leave the room, Roman, with a grin, barged in with a bag of ingredients.
Ainsley opened her mouth to stop him, but Lainey quickly blocked Roman’s path. “Chef, we know you’re a great cook, but Aisy is the host today! How can we let a guest cook for us? We’ve already bought deli!” Lainey’s voice was lighthearted, and she clearly appreciated Roman’s skills from previous meals.
Roman, sensing the shift, looked to Manuel for approval. Manuel, known for his obsessive cleanliness, was typically wary of anything that wasn’t freshly prepared. To everyone’s surprise, he smiled and nodded, his eyes not leaving Ainsley. “Deli is fine,” he said simply, a hint of something unreadable in his gaze.
Roman stared in disbelief. He had never expected Manuel to agree to something like takeout, especially not with his high standards.
Soon, the table was set with deli platters, and everyone gathered around to eat. The atmosphere was surprisingly warm for such a gathering, the tension in the air easing as they all dug in.
Lainey, ever the conversationalist, raised her glass of fruit juice, her eyes glinting with curiosity. “Sir, thank you for taking Aisy to the hospital last time. I didn’t know you and Roman were friends. May I ask your name?”
Manuel smiled, his voice calm and even. “My name is Manuel.”
Lainey nearly choked on her juice. “Manuel?” she repeated, incredulous. “As in Mr. Gage of the Gage family from Seattle? The ruthless businessman?”
Her mind whirled, unable to reconcile the poised, polished man in front of her with the rumors she had heard about the infamous Mr. Gage. How did Ainsley know him?
Ainsley noticed the growing curiosity and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She didn’t know how to explain her connection to Manuel. Their relationship—if you could call it that—was still new and far from clear.
Serina, meanwhile, was watching Ainsley with wide, intrigued eyes. She had always known her brother to be distant when it came to women. This was the first time she’d ever seen him bring someone to their home.
“Ms. Easton must be a very good person,” Serina said softly, her voice bright and earnest. “Manuel has never had a female friend before. I think you’re the first.”
Ainsley hesitated, unsure how to respond. She didn’t see Manuel as a friend, and their encounters were too brief to label them as anything more. But she didn’t want to discredit Serina’s innocent assumption.
Instead, Ainsley nodded slightly, her tone cautious. “I just met Mr. Gage by chance.”
Serina smiled sweetly. “Then Ms. Easton must be very special,” she said, her tone full of innocent admiration.
Manuel, ever the quiet observer, slid a piece of food onto Serina’s plate before placing another piece onto Ainsley’s. “You should eat more, Ms. Easton,” he said softly.
His words, along with his actions, did not go unnoticed by the others at the table. Lainey’s eyes widened slightly, while Roman exchanged a quick glance with Serina. Everyone could sense that there was something more between Ainsley and Manuel than they had let on, but neither was ready to reveal the full extent of their connection.
The atmosphere, though initially awkward, became more relaxed as the meal continued. Yet beneath the surface, a quiet tension lingered—one that would soon bubble to the surface as secrets and emotions began to intertwine in unexpected ways.
