Chapter 143
When Monvenna wasn’t in the mood for closeness, she kept her distance.
Previously, her life with Stuart had clear boundaries.
Now, Monvenna had started putting her clothes next to Stuart’s in the closet.
After their nightly routines, her towel and toothbrush found their new home next to Stuart’s on the bathroom counter.
She felt a tiny thrill in slowly blending into Stuart’s life.
Monvenna had planned to wait up for Stuart that night.
But being someone who thrived on routine, without any pressing tasks, she tended to turn in early.
By nine, she was curled up under the covers, fast asleep.
When Stuart finally finished his work and walked into the bedroom, he found Morwenna all snuggled up and sleeping soundly.
The room was filled with a comforting, sleepy aura.
His irritation from the day dissolved quickly.
Then he frowned, feeling perhaps too deeply affected by her presence.
When someone or something affects you deeply, you can become vulnerable.
The girl was just a sleep aid, he thought; he shouldn’t rely on her too much.
Morwenna, half–asleep, murmured without opening her eyes, “Goodnight, sir.”
Stuart squinted at Morwenna, his gaze not as gentle as she perceived but almost coldly scrutinizing..
Morwenna turned over.
Her blanket slipped, lifting her nightshirt slightly to reveal a stretch of pale stomach.
It was like a little rabbit exposing its belly to a predator, vulnerable to a deadly bite.
The girl seemed utterly unguarded around him.
Finally, Stuart looked away and murmured in a low tone, “Goodnight.”
The next day.
Morwenna was up before dawn at five, an hour earlier than usual.
She headed straight to the kitchen to start cooking the glutinous rice. After soaking the rice overnight, she cooked them until tender, let them cool, and then cleaned and crushed the malt in, mixing it all up. She then covered the mixture with cling film and set it in a warm spot to ferment.
After preparing everything, Morwenna left for work.
Today was Sunday, and there was no tutoring to do, only her morning shift at the fish market.
She enjoyed her work, even finding pleasure in filleting fish.
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After a busy morning and fish deliveries, she wondered whether Stuart was at home or at the office. She wasn’t sure if she’d see him when she got back.
As she was taking off her apron, her phone rang, showing an unfamiliar number.
Morwenna, still getting used to her new phone, took a few rings to answer.
A somewhat familiar voice came through: “Ms. Winslet, this is Claude’s butler. I have a matter to discuss with you.”
Morwenna tensed, fearing there was a problem with her job, worried that Claude might not want a tutor anymore.
If she lost her tutoring job, she didn’t know how long it would take to repay Stuart. The children in the village still needed new books and supplies.
“What’s the matter?” she asked nervously.
The butler’s typically formal tone softened a bit. “The young master mentioned he doesn’t want to take a break this weekend and would like to have a tutoring session. I know it’s an unusual request, and we would double the usual fee for the inconvenience. I hope you’ll consider it, Ms. Winslet.”
Morwenna’s anxiety turned to surprise.
“There’s no need to think it over, I agree. And you don’t need to increase the fee; I’m already well compensated.”
14:38
Chapter 143
Working on weekends wasn’t an inconvenience–it was a blessing.
Morwenna was all about earning, eager to take any extra shifts she could get.