Isabella didn't suspect anything. However, Lara had overheard her father mention the name "Ned," which immediately aroused her suspicion, so she quietly followed him out of the dining room.
Though she had ultimately lost her chance to become a Harrington daughter-in-law, her love for Ned had not diminished at all over the past four years—in fact, it had burned even more fiercely in her heart.
"What are you doing?" Isabella called out to her daughter.
"Oh, I forgot something. I'm afraid I'll forget it before class, so I'm going up to get it now," Lara replied with an excuse, then hurried upstairs.
Once upstairs, she tiptoed to the study door and gently opened it just a crack…
"How did you know she's back? Who told you?"
"It was Ned. He suddenly told me last night."
"Why would he mention it to you?"
"I don't know—"
"Could Ned already know?" Hidden outside the door, Lara heard clearly—her father had indeed said "Ned."
"Know what?"
