Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

Chapter 379

It was 11 o’clock in the morning.

The sun cast its brilliant light upon Sapphire City, scorching everything in its path, mirroring the fiery

heat that consumed.

Frank’s heart.

His car was parked at the entrance of the estate. Instead of entering, he dialed Ava’s number. He

rested his head against the car seat, gazing skyward at the expanse adorned with a sun ablaze in fiery

red.

Swiftly. Ava’s cheerful voice answered the call “Frank,” she said, “Are you awake?”

Her voice infused him with an unexplainable joy. Frank’s lips curved slightly as he responded, “Where

are you going today?”

Ava’s tone held a touch of despair. With Alex on vacation and unable to visit Athana, time was

constrained, and her words were tinged with resignation. “Reading at home and painting. There’s

nowhere to go, she replied dejectedly.

In reality, her disappointment stemmed from not having a companion. She believed engaging with

someone of vastly different perspectives would lead to mundane conversations. Coordinating activities

with them would also be draining; she opted not to squander her time

Misaligned viewpoints gave rise to a lack of common ground – that’s what it boiled down to. They

would never be on the same page.

Naturally, Frank discerned traces of disillusionment and languor in her words. “Come on out, he urged.



“Huh? What?” Ava, on the other end, queried in confusion.

Frank chuckled and said, “I am outside your residence. Get the driver to send you out. Let’s hang out

for a while today”

The young girl seemed perplexed. Silence lingered on the line momentarily, and then Ava regained her

bearings with a surprised tone. Her voice increased, and she asked, “Frank, are you outside? In

Sapphire City? When did you arrive?”

Ava asked questions, but Frank did not find it bothersome. Her words tickled his heart, leaving it as

light as a feather. He urged. “Step out, and I’ll explain.”

“Of course, I’m on my way. Stay on the line. I’ll put you on speaker. I’m dressed, and I will have to do

my makeup. Wait for me. Ava responded, her words flowing without intent to end the call.

Frank did not disconnect either, and he agreed, saying, “Sure.”

Ava hurried to the bathroom, beginning her makeup routine. Gazing at her reflection, she realized her

chosen attire was ideal for a date. Yet, facing a drawer overflowing with lipsticks, she wavered. She

murmured to herself, “Which color should I opt for? Peach pink, cherry pink, subtle orange, apricot, or

carrot?” 1

The abundance of lipstick choices ignited the struggle to decide.

Sometimes, an excess of options was not necessarily beneficial as it complicated the decision-making

process.

Frank resolved her dilemma, albeit unsure himself. “Subtle orange,’ he suggested.

“Alright, I’m fond of that shade too. Now, should I wear sandals or sneakers? I’m wearing a dress

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

today,” Ava pondered aloud.



“Sneakers. I’ll take you rock climbing and archery, Frank said.

Such cool and exciting activities were typical to Ava’s liking; they should captivate her. Her delight

already radiated through the phone.

“Give me a few more minutes. I’ll change into sportswear,” Ava replied, urgency colored her tone.

“Take your time,” he replied, unperturbed. The rest of his day belonged to her.

Roughly 15 minutes later, the estate’s gate swung open. A Bugatti emerged, coasting alongside

Frank’s car.

A figure disembarked, clad in a sleeveless black and white striped top, white high-waisted shorts, and a

beige decorative belt cinching her waist. Her cascading curly hair framed her face, and on her wrist

gleamed the bracelet he had gifted her, its sparkle dancing with each movement,

A beige baseball cap rested atop the head, providing shelter from the warm sun. On the feet, a pair of

small white shoes radiated youthful energy from head to toe.

Upon spotting her, Frank could not help but sigh inwardly. It appeared fitting for Hackett to classify him

as a “manther.”

Swiftly opening the car door and stepping out, Ava briskly walked into his embrace. Her hands found

rest at his waist, and she looked up at him with a joyful expression.

The surrounding bodyguards averted their gazes once more, adhering to an unspoken rule – if it was

not meant to be seen, they looked away. The driver of the Bugatti immediately turned the car around

and headed back to the estate.

Joy and unbridled surprise adorned Ava’s face, and she inquired, “How did you arrive?”



“Did I not promise to come see you? Frank replied.

“I was taken by surprise, Ava respondeil cheerily. She tiptoed and planted a kiss on Frank’s lips, not

once but twice. How could a man who had missed someone so deeply restrain himself from such

playful teasing?

Immediately, his hand cradled the back of her head, and the freshly applied lipstick immediately

transferred to his lips. A sweet fragrance lingered between their lips, and as they parted, their tongues

conveyed their mutual yearning. Time stood still as their desires intertwined.

Ava leaned softly against Frank’s chest as the kiss concluded, her breathing slightly heavier. She

asked. ‘Did you miss me?”

“Mm. Frank replied lovingly. Ava had become adept at deciphering this automatic response – “Mm”

meant “yes.

After discussing and determining a plan, the two established their itinerary: they would start with rock

climbing, followed by archery. They intended to explore a haunted house and engage in jet skiing

tomorrow.

At the Athana Hospital, Sherri had stopped Hackett from delivering special meals for his pregnant wife.

Her prolonged detachment from the organization made reintegration necessary. To allow Rose some

rest, Sherri arranged takeout for everyone.

Rose was in a good mood because she would travel the next day, and Frank would cover the

expenses. She could indulge herself. Holding her phone, she occupied Sherri’s office, awaiting the

arrival of the food.

With time on her hands, she began scrolling through her friends’ posts. In the process, she came

across Ava’s post. The photo depicted Ava rock climbing, gripping the ropes, and standing atop the



highest point. Her triumphant gesture radiated happiness.

Frank evidently captured the photo.

It seemed Frank had meticulously planned their trip to Sapphire City, which explained why he had gone

without her. As she thought about this. Rose sighed in resignation.

While waiting for the food, Natalie sifted through medical records. She glanced up, her suspicion

evident, and questioned, “What’s on your mind? You’ve been sighing”

Sherri, who was seated next to them, puckered her lips and said, “You are nursing a heartache, aren’t

you?”

In response, Rose propped her head and questioned, “Sherri, I have not even been in a relationship.

How can I have a broken heart? I don’t even know where my boyfriend is.”

“That was a prolonged sigh. Tell me, why is this beauty heartbroken? Natalie asked poetically.

Similarly, Rose embraced her role as an actress and dramatically replied, “Cranky Franky had

ruthlessly abandoned me. Spare me this discussion about heartaches.”

Witnessing this, Sherri was at a loss for words.

“Could you both communicate using the modern language? Cut out those fancy characters’ play. It is

rather absurd.” Sherri commented as she could not bear witnessing their theatrics.

The modern language was less poetic. Rose began sharing the reason behind her sigh. In a sad voice,

she said, “It’s just that Cranky Franky had promised to take me to Sapphire City tomorrow, yet he

sneaked away without me last night.



“When I woke up, he was already in bed at the Sapphire Hotel. You can see it for yourself in Ava’s post.

However, Cranky Franky felt remorse for his actions, so he got a ticket for me to go to Artroyland with

all expenses covered.”

Rose’s chin tilted proudly as she spoke, clearly fond of her brother’s straightforward and assertive

manner.

Mentally processing Rose’s words, Natalie reviewed their essence. Frank hai journeyed to Sapphire

City in search of Ava.

Considering the timeline, the couple had been apart for nearly a month and clearly needed this

reunton.

Seated nearby, Sherri’s primary concern was not Frank’s trip to Sapphire City but Rose’s impending

journey to Artroyland the next day. She promptly messaged her brother, Edward, [Edward, are you

traveling anywhere tomorrow?]

Edward promptly responded, 11 am not going anywhere.]

Sherri playfully tempted in response, [Don’t you want to travel? I’ve noticed you have been quite

exhausted lately. As your little sister, I am extending an invitation to you for a few days of vacation.)

A whiff of suspicion reached Edward, and he said, (Get straight to the point.]

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

Sherri persisted as she replied, This is the point. I think you need a break from your weariness. After I

became richer, 1

never truly treated you, my older brother. So, why not take a short trip this time? To Artroyland. I’ve

heard the beaches. there are breathtakingly beautiful, with numerous exciting places to visit. It’s an

exceptional travel destination. Since I cannot go due to my pregnancy, why not go on my behalf?]



These words could not penetrate Edward’s defenses, and he did buy them. He replied coldly. (You

might want to try a different tactic]

Sherri sighed as she pondered, “Why is he so hard to fool?’ After a brief moment of contemplation, she

tried an earnest approach once more and texted. The reality is that Rose is heading to Artroyland

tomorrow. I have noticed you are also on your own. Rose is single too. Traveling together is not a big

deal. It is more enjoyable when you travel with more people, and it is safer for a girl not to travel alone,

right, Edward?]

Edward could see through his sister’s matchmaking attempts and replied. [Mind your own business.]

Seeing her brother’s imperviousness, Sherri sighed again.

Rose turned towards her, inquiring, “What is bothering you now?”

Natalie observed before commenting. “To the uninformed, your sighs could be mistaken for youthful

impatience.”

Just then, the takeout arrived, Rose once again assumed the role of the household matriarch. How

could she let two pregnant women do all the work? She organized each dish, aware that Sherri favored

tangy flavors, while Natalie was not particular about her choices.

During the meal, Sherri persisted with her intentions. Casually concealing her motives, she said to

Rose, who was engrossed in her food, “Rose, could you send me your flight details to my phone later?”

Rose swallowed a bite and regarded Sherri cautiously, asking. “What do you need it for?”

Sherri attempted to sound convincing and replied, “Posting on social media, you know? If I’m not part

of the travel buzz this May Day, won’t it be embarrassing?”

Swallowing her food, Rose responded. Sure, you can even travel like that?”



Having been best friends and confidantes for many years. Natalie had long seen through Sherri’s act

and understood what. was transpiring. She replied, “If she wants to, she could globetrot this May Day.

Don’t doubt it. Let’s finish eating”

Rose said in response, oblivious to Sherri’s hidden agenda. Alright then, you two cannot really embark

on exciting journeys now, so I do the groundwork for you. I’ll compile a list of all the exciting spots, and

when you have some free time or a few months later, you can go. It’ll be more convenient for you then”

Finishing her meal swiftly, Natalie sent a message to Sherri’s phone. [Are you attempting to play

matchmaker?]

Sherri did not respond to the message but winked at Natalie, conveying her intentions.

Rose’s personality harmonized well with Edward’s more reserved demeanor, they complemented each

other. If they did. end up together, they could infuse his life with excitement. Rose had the potential to

bring immense joy and happiness; it would not be a bad outcome.

It might even be the best scenario if they became a couple.

Such were Natalie’s thoughts, and she wished for Edward’s well-being. Considering his age, he was

already 30, and his mother might be increasingly anxious. After all, Sherri already had two children.

