Chapter 457

As their gazes met, the air felt heavy. Shelmaine was the first to look away. Her heart beat erratically, thumping against her chest as if it might burst free at any moment. "What are you looking at?" Samuel glanced over. Looking uneasy, she replied softly, "Nothing." Noticing her reaction, he followed her gaze and immediately understood as he saw Julien and Josie. As they walked over, Julien was the first to greet them. "It's been a while." "Quite the coincidence," Samuel replied. Josie hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should address Samuel. Just then, he turned to her and asked, "Is this your daughter?" "Yes, Samuel." Her words came out awkwardly, devoid of the closeness they once shared. After everything that had happened, she couldn't freely treat Samuel as a brother anymore. In comparison, her actual brother was more important now. Samuel asked, "What's her name?" "Cassandra Phelps. You can call her Cassie." "Lovely name." "Thank you, Samuel." As their convers