Chapter 157
“Stuart’s birthday?” she asked.
“Yeah, every year on Mr. Hetfield’s birthday, all the prominent figures of Rosefrost Hollow gather. I’ve heard it’s quite the event. I’d love to see it myself…”
The older sister quietly tugged at her sibling’s shirt to get her to stop talking so much.
Hearing about Stuart’s birthday, Morwenna turned and walked away.
When Morwenna left, the younger twin asked puzzled, “Why did you stop me? Didn’t you say last time that this lady is special and we should treat her nicely?”
The older twin sighed, “I told you to read the lines. Didn’t you see she didn’t know about Mr. Hetfield’s birthday? If Mr. Hetfield wanted her to know, would he need us to tell her?”
The younger sister was stunned, “But I already mentioned it. What do we do now?”
“Just drop it!”
Morwenna felt uneasy as she left.
No one had told her about Stuart’s birthday. Then again, no one was obliged to tell her.
She claimed to love Stuart, yet hadn’t taken the time to understand him, not even knowing his birthday.
Morwenna felt her affection was superficial.
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What did she really like about Stuart?
Perhaps she liked Stuart’s occasional gentleness, his timely help and his handsome face.
Her affection seemed conditional, not for Stuart as a person.
Suddenly, Morwenna felt guilty, thinking she hadn’t done enough.
Raised in a simple and down–to–earth community, she tended to look inward for faults by instinct, not out of self–pity or weakness but habit, considering others first, used to taking the short end of the stick.
So at this moment, she focused on her shortcomings.
It’s Stuart’s birthday and she gotta rush to get his present sorted.
Morwenna wandered the streets for a long while.
Things Stuart normally used were out of her price range. And Stuart wouldn’t want what she could afford.
Eventually, in a gift shop, Morwenna spotted a glass jar filled with colorful capsules. Each could be opened, containing a blank slip of paper for writing heartfelt wishes.
Her eyes lit up and she bought it, believing the sincerity mattered most.
Back at Hetfield’s Homestead, Norbert had just woken from his nap and saw Morwenna returning, asking in surprise, “Wenna, what are you doing here? Isn’t today Stuart’s birthday? Haven’t you gone yet?”
Norbert thought Morwenna knew, even imagined she’d be at the party, considering how well things seemed between her and Stuart lately.
Slightly apologetic, Morwenna replied, “I came back to change and handle something. I’ll head over later.”
Seeing her in old clothes, Norbert nodded understandingly, “Well, do you have enough pretty dresses, Wenna? I’ll arrange for someone to tailor some nice ones for you.”
“Nah, seriously, I’m all set. Got plenty of them:
Indeed, she had many dresses, some bought by Stuart, others prepared by Norbert when she moved back to the mansion.
Back in her rural home, Morwenna had only a few outfits for all seasons, sometimes too cold in winter, reluctant to buy warm clothes, relying on her health to get by. She wasn’t used to wearing so many beautiful dresses.
She always felt like she was here to repay a debt, but since arriving, it seemed she owed more and more.
Morwenna went upstairs, changed into clean clothes, then took out the slips of paper from the capsules and began to write. ‘Happy Birthday, Stuart.
‘Wishing you peace, joy, and success!
‘May all your dreams come true, and you live a life of health and happiness.’
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Chapter 157
With a hundred notes, Morwenna thought carefully about each one, deliberating her wish before writing.
It felt as if each wish could come true.
She finally finished up two hours later.
She rolled them up, placed them back in the capsules, filled the glass jar, and tied it with a colorful ribbon, fashioning a bow.