Estelle’s memory of some parts of this house had dimmed. But Aurora, who had lived here for decades, was familiar with everything.
As Aurora witnessed the house gradually returning to its former state, a wave of emotion swept over her, leaving her on the verge of tears. She found herself speechless, unable to express her feelings for a brief moment.
“Mom, why are you so silent? Is there anything wrong?” Estelle asked.
Shaking her head, Aurora forced a smile and tried her best to restrain herself from crying. “No. I… I can’t help thinking about your father when I see everything in this house. I even feel as if he is still with us.”
Hearing this, Estelle couldn’t help but feel sad and took Aurora’s hand in her firm warm clasp to comfort her.
At this time, Ron said, “Miss Hudson, there is one thing that my boss asked me to confirm with you before we work on it.”
“What is it?” Estelle said.
“A previous servant called Mrs. Moorsum planted a big banyan tree in the center of the garden before, but Melody uprooted the tree. Do we need to plant a new one?”
Estelle paused, lost in thought.
She had met Cristofer secretly countless times under the tree in the past.
Knowing that Estelle always jumped out of the window to see Cristofer, Mrs. Moorsum was worried that Estelle would get hurt. Therefore, she always helped Estelle sneak out of the villa when Cristofer came at night.
Estelle then would run to the big banyan tree to see Cristofer, who waited for her there.
She liked to watch the stars, so the two of them always climbed to the top of the tree and sat side by side to watch the stars. Sometimes they would watch the star for almost all night.
It could be said that the banyan tree was also full of the memory of Estelle’s youthful days.
Taking a deep breath, Estelle answered Ron with a faint smile. “No. Just plant plenty of sunflowers there.”
“Got it.” Ron nodded.
Estelle suddenly recalled something and addressed Ron, saying, “Ron, I have a favor to ask of you.”
Ron seemed to anticipate her request and replied directly, “Mr. Mysterious wanted me to assure you that you need not worry about the children. He will personally take care of them. As he prefers not to appear publicly, I will pick up Yohan after school. Yvonne will be well taken care of by Mrs. Moorsum. If Old Mr. Hans wishes to see the children over the weekend, I will drive them to the Hans’ Residence to ensure their safety.”
“He is truly considerate,” Estelle remarked, appreciating Mr. Mysterious’s thoughtfulness.
Ron nodded vigorously and said, “Miss Hudson, Mr. Mysterious’ love for you is true. You don’t need to doubt it.”
“I… I have never doubted it.”
“Then I hope you will always trust him in the future no matter what happens,” Ron commented.
“Ron, I feel that your words mean more than you said. Is something going to happen, so you said such words to make me mentally prepared?” Estelle asked and frowned slightly, “Does what you said have anything to do with what Mr. Mysterious is doing? Will what he is doing now make me suspect him?”
Shaking his head, Ron answered, “No matter what he does, he has his own reason. Although some things he does may seem to be unreasonable, he does them for your own good. You will understand everything in the future.”
“So, he still can’t tell me about everything now, right?”
“Sort of. But you will know them soon.”
“I understand,” Estelle nodded in comprehension. “It’s no wonder he has been appearing anxious and concerned lately. In truth, what he has accomplished for me is more than enough. He helped me reclaim the house, restore it, and even planted sunflowers in the garden as a tribute to my mother. He has fulfilled nearly all of my wishes. Now, my sole focus is on regaining control of the company. Although my mother has become the legal owner, York still holds a significant portion of shares. For the time being, I must avoid falling out with him.”
“According to Mr. Mysterious, York is relatively manageable, but Melody and Gretchen pose a greater challenge due to their lack of empathy and cruelty. Considering that Mrs. Hudson is a gentle person, their presence here could subject her to mistreatment. That’s why I’ve come today to evict them. Miss Hudson, please rest assured. You can concentrate on handling the company matters while I take care of this situation,” Ron assured Estelle.
Hearing this, Estelle breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Please tell Mr. Mysterious that I really appreciate all that he has done for me.”
“You’d better tell him in person when he comes tonight,” Ron chuckled.
At this time, Aurora, who had calmed down, happened to hear his words.
“He… Will he come here tonight? It’s not safe to drive at night. Besides, he needs a good rest after a busy day at work. Please tell him that he can come here when he is free in the daytime another day,” Aurora suggested.
Hearing this, Estelle couldn’t help smiling and thought, ‘If he wants, he can be vigorous 24/7.’
She had been used to the life when Mr. Mysterious appeared at night.
During the daytime, Mr. Mysterious embodied an omnipotent superhero, always coming to Estelle’s help when she needed him the most. To her, his messages were similar to life-saving straws, offering hope and support in times of distress. If she were a drowning person, he was the one who extended a lifeline to her.
And at night, Mr. Mysterious was a lonely and vulnerable man who was longing to be loved. He would keep her company and gently hold her in his arms while sleeping.
Estelle expressed, “My mother was right. This house is located quite a distance from the city, and it would take him a lot of time to make the journey here. Ron, please tell him he doesn’t need to come tonight.”
In response, Ron simply smiled at her without uttering a word, acknowledging her request.
After a while, Ron said with a gentle smile, “Mrs. Hudson, Miss Hudson, you may have a rest first. I’ll go back and report to my boss on the progress here.”
“Drive safely. Thank you for your hard work today,” Aurora said.
“It’s my pleasure.”
****
After bidding farewell to Ron, Estelle, and Aurora returned to the villa.
Soon after, the servants approached them, wearing joyful expressions as they greeted the two.
With excitement in her eyes, Harriet reached out to hold Aurora’s hand and inquired, “Mrs. Hudson, I heard that you were unwell previously. Are you feeling better now?”
“I’ve almost recovered,” Aurora said, happy to see Harriet.