With that, she turned and walked out of the bedroom. She had spent a long time standing in the memorial hall earlier and returned without resting, causing her legs to feel numb. As she reached the door, her legs gave way momentarily, and she stumbled but quickly regained her balance, grateful that her shoes had low heels.
Cristofer was startled when he saw her almost fall, and his instinct was to stand up and assist her, nearly toppling from his wheelchair in the process. It wasn’t until a dull ache shot through his legs that he realized his actions and settled back into the wheelchair.
Inwardly, he reminded himself, ‘Cristofer, you’ve broken up with Estelle. Whatever happens to her now is no longer your concern.’
Just when Cristofer thought he wouldn’t have to see Estelle again, she returned and stood before him. She held her pajamas over her right arm and carried some skincare products in her left hand as she casually walked into the master bedroom’s bathroom.
Cristofer was momentarily stunned by her presence but quickly maneuvered his wheelchair closer to the bathroom. Confused, he asked, “What are you doing? Didn’t you hear what I said earlier?”
“I’m going to take a shower,” Estelle replied calmly. “I heard you, but I didn’t promise to obey you.” With that, she turned on the water and began her shower, needing to wash away the fatigue from her busy day and wanting to avoid further conversation.
Hearing the sound of running water, Cristofer, both helpless and speechless, retreated to his study to compose himself and planned to return to the bedroom after Estelle had finished. After working for a while, he assumed Estelle had left and returned to his room. To his surprise, he found Estelle seated at the vanity, applying a facial mask.
Cristofer felt a tightness in his chest as he gazed at her and took several deep breaths. His resolve had weakened, and his anger was difficult to sustain. He sighed deeply and asked in a hoarse voice, “What do you want?”
Estelle was still going through her skincare routine and replied, “I still have work to do. You can go to bed early.”
“You don’t have to work here anymore. You’re fired,” Cristofer frowned.
Anticipating this response, Estelle had a ready answer, stating firmly, “I haven’t completed the termination process, so I’m still the nanny of the Hans family. I’ll continue to work here.”
Her response left Cristofer without a solid argument, and he sighed deeply, offering a bitter smile.
Seeing Cristofer fall into silence, Estelle thanked him as she packed her things, saying, “Thank you for what you did that night.”
Pretending not to understand, Cristofer asked, “Which night are you talking about? What did I do?”
Estelle saw through his act and got straight to the point, saying, “Your modification on the design drawing is great.”
Cristofer hadn’t anticipated that she would expose him. Feeling embarrassed, he turned to look at the curtains and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Since you still have work to do, please leave my room and don’t disturb me.”
“Okay. Good night,” Estelle replied and then exited the room, closing the door behind her.
After sitting quietly for a while with his back to the door, Cristofer sighed and recalled the events of the night he had modified the design drawings.
He had always been a light sleeper, and that night, even though Estelle had left the room quietly, she had still woken him up. He couldn’t sleep without her by his side, so he stayed up, waiting for her to return. When she finally came back in the morning, he immediately lay down and pretended to be asleep, not wanting her to know how much he still cared about her.
Cristofer couldn’t explain why he could only sleep well when Estelle was beside him. When Estelle returned that night, he could sense her careful and quiet movements to avoid waking him up. As soon as she lay down beside him, his mood improved, and he found inner peace.
Once he felt that Estelle had fallen asleep with her even breathing, Cristofer struggled to get up and went to the study to continue his work.
Estelle’s design talent was undeniable, and her jewelry designs could be considered advanced works of art. However, due to her lack of experience in business, some of her designs were more artistic than commercially viable. After making some minor modifications, Cristofer transformed her designs into satisfactory masterpieces.
Cristofer couldn’t help but think, ‘If only those unpleasant things hadn’t happened. Unfortunately, what’s done is done.’ He glanced at his pale and weary reflection in the dresser’s mirror. His recent conversation with Estelle had drained him of courage and strength, leaving him mentally and physically exhausted like never before.
****
Meanwhile, in the study, Estelle stared at her computer screen with a concerned expression. The customer had approved her design and paid the advance, signaling that production was the next step. She needed to make minor design adjustments and create a detailed production plan to minimize the rejection rate.
Estelle excelled at design but struggled with planning and critical decisions. Even though this was just an ordinary project, she found it somewhat challenging. She remembered Cristofer mentioning that he could handle dozens of projects in a day.
‘No wonder they call Cristofer the legend of the business world. This project should be a breeze for him. If only I could get some advice from him. But I can’t disturb him now; he’s angry with me. He’s probably already in bed. I’ll have to manage on my own,’ Estelle thought, sighing. She was determined to complete the project perfectly, as it was the result of both their efforts.
Late into the night, the light in the study continued to shine. In the master bedroom, Cristofer tried to sleep as if nothing had happened but found himself unable to. He tossed and turned restlessly in bed. After much contemplation, he finally decided to get up and go to the study room. He noticed a faint light escaping from beneath the door and gently knocked, but there was no response.
He waited patiently for a while, growing increasingly concerned about Estelle. Instead of knocking again, he carefully pushed the door open and entered the study. There, he discovered Estelle sleeping peacefully at her desk, her head resting on one arm while her hand held the computer mouse.
Cristofer couldn’t help but smile with a hint of self-mockery as he looked at Estelle. He thought to himself, “Indeed, everything has its conqueror.” The study had a carpeted floor, and Cristofer’s wheelchair made almost no sound as he slowly approached Estelle. His eyes filled with tenderness as he watched her. He couldn’t help but think, ‘It’s a cold night. How can you wear so little? Aren’t you afraid of catching a cold, Estelle?’