Chapter 142
Norbert had never expected he’d have to lift a finger again.
For decades, no one dared to boss him around.
Morwenna blinked her large eyes with a playful smirk. “You don’t know how to do it, Norbert? Need me to show you?”
Norbert crouched down and began pulling weeds. “I know how…”
Monvenna wasn’t really looking for Norbert to do anything specific; she just felt that seeing him sitting there alone, engulfed in silence, was too melancholic. It reminded her of the stillness that comes with age. She hoped to inject some liveliness and joy into his days.
Together, Morwenna and Norbert were busy at work.
Norbert felt genuinely better, leaning in to whisper, “Wenna, how are things going with Stuart? Have you caught his eye yet?”
At the mention of Stuart, a joyful smile crept up Morwenna’s face, “Not yet, but I think there’s hope. He ate the dinner I made him and even bought me some new clothes and a phone. But he’s so wealthy, Norbert, do you think I might be out of his league?”
“You’re absolutely his match, Wenna! And if you need money, I’ve got plenty. It’s all yours.”
“I don’t want your money, that’s not what I mean. I’ll work hard and earn my own once I graduate. Oh! Norbert, you’ve pulled out my baby spinach, those aren’t weeds…”
“Oh dear, I didn’t see them…”
Nearby, Orson watched enviously; he too wanted to join in.
He was left out of the last slingshot game, and now he was being excluded from gardening.
He had been diligently ensuring Norbert didn’t indulge in any liquor!
Caught in his thoughts, Orson was suddenly whisked away by Oswald. He couldn’t let the young lad disturb Norbert’s rare moment of happiness.
The quiet old house seemed to come alive with Morwenna’s
presence.
After their busy spell, Morwenna helped Norbert back to his room and prepared a foot bath for him.
Her tone was incredibly soft and soothing. “A little activity and a foot soak should help you sleep better tonight.”
Norbert watched as she tested the water temperature.
Morwenna continued, gently suggesting, “Norbert, try not to worry about too many things. Let the young ones handle the busy work. The doctor said you need to focus on resting…”
Morwenna rambled on, her voice filled with care.
In her heart, Norbert was her priority, even more so than Stuart, whom she fancied.
She came to adore Norbert before she did Stuart.
Once Norbert was done with his foot bath, Morwenna emptied the basin and watched him drift off to sleep before she turned off the light and left the room.
She carried her newly bought clothes upstairs.
Finding that Stuart wasn’t in his room–likely still in his study–was no surprise. His schedule was erratic: sleeping late into the morning and often working till late at night.
Just a few days ago, she had been visiting Keira in the hospital every night at nine, and Stuart never returned before then.
Today, perhaps because of her, he had come home early, though he probably still had work to catch up on.
Morwenna planned to hang her new clothes in the wardrobe.
Entering the walk–in closet, she opened the wardrobe and paused, slightly stunned.
Ever since Stuart moved back in, the wardrobe was almost entirely dominated by his belongings.
Her own clothes occupied just a small section in the corner.
In that moment, something in Morwenna stirred, her cheeks flushing as she blinked her clear eyes. Then, decisively, she began hanging her clothes next to Stuart’s–his on the left, hers on the right.