Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
Elspeth did care about Gilbert, which included his love life. He was a close friend and they had braved dangers together after all.
“I won’t be able to check up on you for the time being. I need to make a trip to Sunholde.”
Elspeth exhaled in relief as she replied understandingly,
“Sure. I got it. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
Gilbert sounded a little hesitant.
“Well, you understand, right, Elspeth? It’s not because I’m concerned…”
Naturally, Elspeth knew what he meant and chuckled before side-stepping the subject.
“Hurry up and get on with whatever it is you’re doing. I’ve got something to do so I’m hanging up now.”
She quickly ended the call.
Meanwhile, Gilbert fell into a daze as he stood there with his phone still in hand.
A few women came over and caressed his back.
“Let’s have a drink, Mr. Payne.”
“Oh, Mr. Payne!”
“Scram!”
Gilbert, who had been smirking devilishly just moments ago, instantly blew his top as his temper flared up.
The women beside him fled in fright.
Only Harper knew why Gilbert was suddenly incensed…
…
Elspeth spent three torturous days living with Arthur.
Why was it torturous for her?
This guy’s routine is too ridiculous!
Waking up at 5.00AM to go on a run around the villa? What’s more, he keeps shouting the whole time!
Although Arthur’s voice was pleasant to the ears, it was still too hard for her to accept this habit of his.
On the fourth morning, Elspeth heard the stomping sounds outside again, and finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. She dragged herself downstairs, still in her pajamas and with a messy head of hair.
When she saw Arthur leisurely making breakfast, she pointed at him and demanded,
“Arthur Winthrop! Can you stop disrupting my sleep?”
Arthur flipped the steak in the pan and smiled nonchalantly.
“I’m just keeping to a normal, healthy routine. Don’t tell me there are people still in bed at 8.00AM.”
His mocking pushed Elspeth over the edge as she immediately lunged over to get physical with him.
“Cut it out. Stop making a fuss.”
Arthur grabbed her hand. A smile seemed to flash in his eyes as he looked down.
“I need to do something later.”
“What is it?”
Elspeth glared at him.
“I’ll be going over to the Jonesons to pick up your mother.”
“Really? You’re going over to Joneson Residence today?”
Elspeth was so excited that she grabbed Arthur’s hand. All along, she thought she would have to wait for much longer as she didn’t think Arthur would agree to do so this quickly.
“That’s right. If I don’t go, someone might end up destroying my house.”
Arthur glanced down at their clasped hands and carefully withdrew his. His tone and manner seemed disdainful.
“Who are you calling a nuisance?”
Elspeth fished a cherry tomato out of the salad bowl and tossed it into her mouth in a huff. However, since he was willing to help her rescue her mother, she forgave him, albeit reluctantly.
“Do you need me to head over to Joneson Residence with you today?”
Arthur set down his spatula and eyed her as she fiddled inside the salad bowl with her bare hand.
“You? Are you even considering going over with me?”
he remarked distastefully.
“Aren’t you afraid that you’ll get caught and be locked up again?”
“Hah!”
Elspeth stuffed the final mouthful of salad into her mouth. After recalling Michael’s refusal to stop coming after her, she gave up on the idea.
“You’d better go by yourself, then.”
Arthur grilled the last steak and cracked some black pepper over the top before serving it up on the dining table.
“Go and get the fried eggs from the kitchen. We can have breakfast first.”
Elspeth was a little nonplussed to hear Arthur instructing her so casually. I’m not your maid, so why must I listen to you?
She stubbornly turned away and pretended she didn’t hear him.
“Hurry up and bring it over, or else, you won’t be getting breakfast.”
“Can’t you do it…”
Elspeth gritted her teeth. She was going to protest, but she remembered that her mother would be coming over soon, and if she didn’t have breakfast, her mother would be worried and upset, so she begrudgingly brought the eggs over from the kitchen.
Arthur placed one of the fried eggs on Elspeth’s plate and said,
“What a good girl. Here’s a fried egg as your reward.”
“Why are you talking to me like that, Arthur?”
Elspeth was confused as she eyed the fried egg. His attitude toward me has taken a 180-degree turn!
For the past few days, even though she kept doing things that would rile him up, he didn’t get mad at her.
In the past, he would’ve gotten someone to teach her a lesson by now, but this time, he didn’t do anything to her no matter how unreasonable she was.
How… strange!
“What’s the matter? Do you not like the way I talk to you now?”
Arthur raised his fork and took an elegant bite of his steak before flashing her a faint smile.
“Nope. We’re not that close either, so don’t act as if we know each other so well.”