The True Heiress's Return

Chapter 178

With his eyes closed, Walter's senses were attuned to only hearing and touch at the moment. He could clearly

hear the sound of leather creasing as the person next to him leaned closer. And when Shakira spoke, her breath

lightly brushed past his car, giving him a ticklish feeling. His heart fluttered slightly. After a while, he opened his

eyes, which held a deep darkness, mysterious and hard to read. He turned to look at her, his gaze like a pool,

hinting at hidden depths within him.

"| followed you here, does that upset you?"

Shakira was taken aback, and her heart inexplicably skipped a beat. Walter's gaze was too intense; she

instinctively sensed danger and turned her head away. "Why would it? It's just surprising, that's all."

She exhaled and chuckled, "But it's nice to get out for a bit. Mr. Lopez, you're either at hor at the office. It's

great to cout and enjoy sfresh air!"

Walter scoffed, "The Eastlake Valley Estate is bigger than this mountain."

Shakira's heart was pounding. She knew Walter was always sarcastic; it was just his way. But why did she feel

like he chere just for her?

When the thought emerged, Shakira felt like she was losing her mind! She quickly steadied her breathing to calm

down, but her mind was in a whirl. She instinctively changed the topic in a casual tone. "I thought you'd agree to

Berry's request immediately." The moment the words left her mouth, Shakira regretted it. She'd just got herself

from one trap into another! As expected she heard Walter chuckle.

The leather seat was soft and springy. As Walter leaned in and rested his hand behind her, Shakira involuntarily

slid a bit closer to him, her shoulder brushing against Walter's chest. It felt like she was enveloped in his arms,

his warmth pressing close to her. They looked intimate.

Shakira's mind and heart were both all over the place!

"So, did you turn it down because of Berry?"

Shakira felt that her heart was about to leap out of her throat. She almost bit her own tongue. "Of course not!"

She then added, "I'm not refusing because of Berry, but because it is not worth it for someone like them."

Walter let out a soft chuckle, his usually cool voice carrying an unexpected trace of fondness. "I knew it. You're

not the type to take crap from anyone."

"Did you see everything?"

"I saw it all, clear as day."

me?" Once again, it was clear he had followed her all the way here. Shakira's heart raced faster, and she

breathed more heavily. Driven by an indescribable emotion, she asked again, "So you saw them picking on me

and cover just to support Amused by her shy gesture, Walter playfully ruffled her hair with his large hand.

"es."

Shakira could hear the sound of her heartbeat thumping, and she couldn't quite comprehend why she was

behaving so strangely today. She thought, 'Is it his unexpected appearance and his seemingly simple act of

taking my side that causedto act like this?' She then dispelled the idea. She felt she was strange today, and

Walter was too. His repeated candid admissions of preference for her and his intense stare that said a thousand

words when it fell on her, seemed to be laden with deep feeling.

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08:15 Sat, Nov 2

Chapter 178

The convoy reached the parking area at the mountaintop. Shakira suddenly woke up to the sound of Xanthe

chatting outside. "We're here! I'm getting out first!" she exclaimed as she swung the door open and jumped out,

not waiting for Walter's reply. +6

She ran away from Walter's arms like a little fox, but Walter wasn't upset. He thought about Shakira's reaction a

moment ago and mused that sometimes, Beniji's irritating ideas actually cin handy.

The wind at the mountaintop was strong. After a while, the warmth in Shakira's cheeks cooled down, and she felt

much calmer.

It had been ages since someone treated her so kindly. The unexpected warmth of the moment had left her more

than a little flustered. After all, no one other than Walter had ever gotten this close, almost in an intimate way.

"Forget it, forget it, don't overthink it."

"Huh? Shakira, what are you thinking about?" Xanthe cover, overhearing the odd remark.

Shakira let out a deep breath, her expression returning to calm as she took the hot coffee from Xanthe's hand.

"Nothing." "Haha, it's the unforgettable couple | ship-sweeter than a first love!" Xanthe grinned widely. Shakira

nearly choked on her coffee. "Unforgettable?"

"Yeah, the combination of the master and the maid, isn't it good?"

Shakira looked at her intently. "Shipping everything will only get you in trouble."

Rseyda Mountain was one of the popular camping and check-in spots among nearby city folks. Even though that

day wasn't a holiday, there were quite a few visitors.

However, due to that day's weather, most visitors decided to hike the mountain. Since the park staff didn't have

tto clear the mountain roads, those who drove up got stuck halfway. By the tYvette and her group got up

the mountain, it was two hours later. This camping trip was funded by the class budget. After Shakira and Xanthe

confirmed their identities with the park staff, they set up their tents in the reserved spot. By the tYvette and

her group arrived, Shakira and Xanthe were cooking sinstant noodles. Compared to Shakira and Xanthe's

laid-back state, Yvette and her group, who had been struggling for so long, were exhausted and disheveled. They

didn't even have the energy to bother with setting up tents and just collapsed on the wooden planks. Even

Yvette and Berry, who had taken a sports car just to show off, weren't in much better shape.

"Ugh, I'm filthy, and my shoes are full of mud." Yvette was used to her pampered lifestyle and couldn't lie down

all messy. "Berry, let's go clean up."

Berry glanced towards Walter, hesitating. "I'm so tired. Yvette, why don't you

0 ahead?"

Seeing through her little schemes, Yvette sneered and turned to leave.

Berry walked towards Walter but was stopped a few steps away by bodyguards.

Berry was almost in tears. "Mr. Lopez, it's me."

Walter glanced sideways at her. Berry's tears started falling immediately. She sobbed, feeling extremely

wronged, "I stood there for over two hours and even helped with the luggage. Now I'm all dirty, boo hoo. I've

never suffered like this before..." Walter frowned. His sharp eyes fixed on her, and he said in a meaningful tone,

"What you've gone through today is nothin