“Mom, are you feeling better now? Do you want to go to the hospital for a checkup?” I carried a bowl of soup to the bed and cooled it down before passing it to Isabelle.
“There’s no need for that. It’s just a mild illness.” Frowning, Isabelle shook her head and took a sip of the soup.
“Do you want to try a candied fruit?” I handed some snacks to her.
Isabelle waved her hand at me. Then, she held her breath and drank all the soup. She retched as soon as she turned around. The soup tasted terrible, but it was good for health. I patted her back lightly before wiping her face with a warm towel.
A moment later, Mom finally recollected herself. She lay down on the bed, saying nothing. Her face was ghastly pale, and her gaze turned blank as she stared at the ceiling in a daze. After pondering for a second, I asked softly, “Mom, are you having a fight with Dad? Can you tell me what happened?”
“It’s just a mild conflict,” Mom answered my question calmly, but her expression turned even grimmer.
“Are you sure? Mom, I’m your daughter. You can tell me everything. Are you hiding something from me? Tell me, please? I can help you.” I pushed her arm lightly.
Isabelle turned around and stared at me. Her gaze was calm, and she did not even blink. She shook her head after some time and said, “Nothing. I’m feeling a little tired. You go on with your thing. I need to take some rest before attending an important social event tonight.”
“What? You still plan to go out when you’re already sick? Can’t you skip it? I can attend the event for you if it’s really that important.” I tried to stop her.
“No. I have to go. I have to attend it personally.” Isabelle flashed me a warm smile. “Thank you. I know you’re trying to help me, but I’ll be fine once I get some sleep.”
I finished cooking and placed all the food on the dining table. There were plenty of dishes, but all of them tasted ordinary. I had not been cooking for some time, so my culinary skills had dropped. After moving to the Lane residence, I had lost almost all of my skills since I did not have to do anything on my own.
It tasted awful when I took a bite of the caramelized pork, so I thought of ordering some takeaways for Christopher. Right then, I heard someone unlocking the door. Immediately, I opened the door and threw myself into Christopher’s arms.
Christopher was terrified when he saw me appearing in the doorway out of the blue. He spread his arms wide and pulled me closer upon seeing me. “Why didn’t you tell me that you’re here? I would have come back earlier if I knew you were waiting for me.”
I shook my head and buried my face in his chest. My heart gradually calmed down as I smelled the faint scent of sandalwood and tobacco on his body. “It’s okay. Work is more important. I can come back anytime. Just give me a call whenever you miss me.”
“I can’t do that.” Christopher carried me up as he kicked the door close. Spinning around with me in his arms, he chuckled. “You’re the most important to me.”
“I’ve never seen myself as such a big shot,” I mumbled with an upset look. I was still in a bad mood.
“You’re my precious darling, so I have to come back earlier for you.” Christopher planted a kiss on the tip of my nose. “I want to stay with you when you miss me. Otherwise, you’re going to zone out on your own.”
“Let’s eat. I made all the dishes on my own, but they don’t taste really good.” I handed him a set of cutlery. However, he stopped eating after taking a bite of the caramelized pork. “Is it really bad? Should I order some delivery then? I haven’t been cooking for so long that I’m going to become a useless woman.”
“No. It tastes as good as before.” Christopher pulled me over to the seat beside him. “Don’t worry. You still have me, even if you turn into a useless woman. I’m determined to be a good husband. I can learn everything, except giving birth.”
