The plane tree in the middle of the yard looked bigger than she recalled. But everything else matched Annette's recollection perfectly.
Marcus approached and took her arm. "Come, I'll take you to the rooftop. The view is even better up there."
She had hardly recovered from her memory when Marcus pulled her into the villa.
They entered the room and went up to the rooftop where there was a glass greenhouse.
Annette didn't know about the greenhouse at all, and of course, she couldn't have known anyway, because when she came in with Sharon as a kid, they always went through the back door and weren't even allowed to enter the main villa.
Back then, Sharon had the key to the back door, and Annette was curious about it.
Later, Sharon told Annette that she had worked there and forgotten to return the key.
"Annette, Bartz was such a magician. The villa he designed over twenty years ago still looks great, don't you think? I love the glass house and the view of the lake."
Annette came to her senses and nodded with a smile.
He was right.
Although it was winter, the flowers in the greenhouse were still blooming.
As they stood on the rooftop, they could see the lake not far away, which was utterly beautiful.
"Did Bartz design the villa?"
"Yes. Lucas once said that Bartz was even more outstanding than my father. Bartz was smart, open-minded, and had a free spirit. They said that he built the villa for his beloved girl. Everything here was designed according to her preferences."
Annette smiled and said, "Really? I guess someone from the Blood Moon Pack was affectionate after all."
"Annette, I beg to differ. Everyone from the Blood Moon Pack is like that."
Annette smiled but said nothing. She walked to the edge of the building and looked down at the courtyard.
The crown of the plane tree was already two stories high, and she could see it when she looked down.
Marcus walked over and followed her gaze. "The tree blocks the view, isn't it? When the flowers bloom in summer, you can enjoy them simply by sitting here. It's quite beautiful."
Annette said, "I imagine how beautiful it will be."
She looked at Marcus and asked, "Do you know the flower language of the plane tree flowers?"
Marcus shook his head and said, "You do?"
Annette nodded with a smile and said, "They represent first love and faithfulness."
"No way. How did you know that?"
Annette shook her head and said, "No. Plane tree flowers were Sharon's favorite. She told me about it."
"What a coincidence!" Marcus snapped his fingers. Then he said, "The love of Bartz's life loved plane tree flowers as well. Bartz planted the tree in the courtyard because of her."
"Is that so?" Annette smiled.
She sighed and wondered if Sharon had come to work here for the sake of this plane tree.
Marcus leaned against the fence and said seriously, "Bartz planted a plane tree for his beloved woman in the yard, and Connor planted a cherry blossom tree for you at your place. Are the men of the Blood Moon Pack destined to find women who appreciate flowers?"
Annette glared at him and said, "How did you know that cherry blossom tree was planted for me?"
"That's what I heard."
"What else did you hear?" Annette's attention was instantly drawn.
She thought, 'Did Connor tell others about what I did that day?'
"Why? It's no big deal."
"Just tell me."
"Should I have heard anything else?" Marcus was confused. "I saw a tree in the yard the other day, and it wasn't there before, so I asked Connor about it. Connor told me that you liked it, so he bought it back."
Annette then shifted her gaze away. She was feeling very embarrassed now.
"Something is fishy here," Marcus smiled at her.
She said as she walked away from the fence, "Nonsense. We've seen enough of the view here, so let's head back to school."
"No! I finally got out, and you want to take me back there?"
"So?" Annette glared at him. "I've never heard of a student instructor skipping class with students before."
"Can't you be the first?"
"What do you think?"
She was in a good mood after joking with Marcus.
She turned around and was about to go downstairs.
Marcus followed up. "Annette, you haven't commented on my new villa yet."
"It's nice," she said. "Are you going to renovate it?"
"Why should I? I'll just clean it up and move in. I'll invite you and Connor here after everything is done."
"Will you get rid of the plane tree?"
"No. Bartz planted it, so I'll keep it. Besides, I'm moving here right away. I may do so after graduation."
"Can I come over sometimes?"
"Sure thing. I'll ask Dwayne to give you a spare key later."
Annette patted his shoulder and said, "Thank you."
Marcus walked out the gate first.
Annette stood in front of the plane tree and looked up at it.
She thought, 'Sharon, it used to be a place where we could only sneak in, but today, I can walk in from the gate. When your beloved plane tree blooms, I will take many photos. And they are for you.'
"Annette?"
Annette turned to follow him out the door, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw the abandoned wooden horses piled up in the corner of the yard.
As she walked towards them, more images emerged in her mind. She was confused.
She thought, 'It's so strange.
Did my memory get confused?'
"Annette?"
Annette came to her senses and looked back at Marcus.
"I heard Connor say that Bartz never got married and didn't have any kids, right?"
Marcus looked at the abandoned items in the corner and said with a smile, "Yes. I had someone clear these out of the basement the other day when I first got the keys. I don't think they belong to Bartz. I suppose it was left by someone who worked here."
Marcus then asked, "Why are you so distracted today?"
"Nothing. Let's go," she shook her head, smiled at him, and left the villa with him.
After she finished work in the afternoon, she left school and saw Connor's car.
She walked over. Leonard got out of the car, opened the door for her, and said, "Luna Annette, please get in."
Annette nodded at Leonard and said, "Thank you."
After getting in the car, she looked at Connor and said, "Why do you come?"
"Why not?" Connor sounded unfriendly.
"I was just surprised because you didn't give me a heads-up."
"Do you think it's appropriate for you to run off at noon with Marcus? Did I send Marcus here to study or to hang out with you?"
Only then did Annette realize why he was acting like this.
"I didn't take him out to hang out. He took me to show off his new villa," Annette said innocently.
Connor glared at her.
"Connor, don't tell me that you're jealous. How am I supposed to interact with Marcus with you being like this? Do you need to see him as a rival in love? Which one of us that you don't trust? Me or him?"
"It doesn't matter if it is Marcus or any other guy. I don't like to see you hanging out with other men. If one day you hang out with your son all the time, I'll be jealous too."
Annette didn't bother to reason with him.
Connor kept going on and said, "I heard that you two were alone in there for over ten minutes. Why? Do you like that villa that much?"
"So?" Annette said. She tried to provoke him. "There's something I like in that yard. Can't I spend more time there?"
Connor sat up straight, intrigued. He asked, "What is it? I'll get it for you."
Annette glared at him and said, "I like the plane tree, but don't touch it. It's only beautiful where it is."