Inside the bathroom, Estelle momentarily forgot there was a light within. She pulled back the curtain and gazed at herself in the mirror, basking in the natural daylight streaming through the skylight. The reflection revealed a woman with fair skin and a rosy complexion. Though her hair was somewhat messy, she hadn’t changed much since her teenage years.
After a while, Estelle gradually regained her composure and examined her body, relieved to find that nothing untoward had occurred between her and Cristofer the previous night.
Feeling light-hearted, she turned on the tap and splashed cold water on her face to help wake herself up. She had important work to complete at the company today, the tasks that should have been done yesterday.
Out of the blue, there came a knock on the bathroom door. Startled, Estelle, who was deeply engrossed in washing her face, was caught off guard. This sudden surprise caused her to accidentally inhale some water, leading to a fit of coughing.
Concerned, Cristofer’s voice could be heard from outside the door, “Are you okay? Why are you coughing? Did I pass my cold to you?”
Estelle took a few deep breaths and reassured him, “I’m fine. I just… I just choked on the water.”
Estelle felt a bit embarrassed about admitting she choked on water while washing her face, so she hurriedly explained. However, when she saw the mouthwash cup in the bathroom, she was taken aback. It was odd to find her toiletries still prepared there. Two mouthwash cups were placed side by side, and the two toothbrushes inside them were intersected like a symbol of two lovers, momentarily leaving her in a daze.
Cristofer, on the other hand, didn’t read too much into her words. He coughed to clear his throat, then covered his mouth and uttered her, “Alright. I just wanted to make sure you know that nothing happened last night, so there’s no need to worry.”
Estelle, still blushing, gazed at herself in the mirror and replied, “Yeah, I understand.”
Hearing Estelle’s somewhat distant and emotionless response, Cristofer began to feel a bit uneasy. He paused for a moment and then tried to clarify from the doorway, “It’s true. When I woke up, I saw you sleeping in your tight suit by the bed. I was concerned that you might be uncomfortable, so I helped you take it off.”
Estelle quickly responded, “Okay.”
Cristofer continued, “I really didn’t want to keep any secrets from you. I just wanted you to get some rest. You’ve been looking so tired lately.”
Estelle let out a quiet sigh as she continued to wash her face, unsure of how to respond. She had initially planned to ignore him, but things hadn’t unfolded as she expected after a month had passed.
After a brief silence, Estelle began to comb her hair and, somewhat reluctantly, muttered through clenched teeth, “I guess I should thank you, then.”
Cristofer couldn’t quite gauge her feelings, so he replied softly, “I know you might not believe me right now, but please understand that I’m not the type of person who would take advantage of a woman when she’s unconscious.”
Awkwardly, they continued their conversation between the bathroom and the bedroom, unintentionally extending Estelle’s morning routine. When she eventually finished, it was time for her to head to work.
Estelle couldn’t spare more time to discuss the previous night’s events with Cristofer. Despite her lingering frustration, she opened the door and couldn’t bring herself to scold him upon seeing his pale complexion. With a wry smile, she said, “Let’s just put this behind us and not bring it up again, alright?”
Cristofer, feigning fragility, responded weakly, “Okay. Are you going to work now?” His eyes followed her as she entered the bedroom. Estelle had already retrieved her suit, smoothed it out, and put it on. Without turning back, she continued, “Yes, I am. Uncle Luke and Mrs. Moorsum are back, so you have someone to take care of you.”
As if a thought had suddenly struck her, she turned to look at Cristofer and added, “I’ll pick up the children in the afternoon. You just focus on resting today.”
Cristofer’s condition seemed to worsen upon hearing Estelle’s plans, and his eyes grew darker while his face became paler. Estelle couldn’t help but feel concerned.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her voice filled with worry.
Cristofer responded with a weak voice, “I’m alright, just a bit dizzy. I used to play basketball in the rain when I was young, but now I feel much less healthy. I guess I’m getting old.”
He thought to himself, ‘Just a few days ago, Mrs. Moorsum noticed I had white hair, and ever since I got sick, I’ve been feeling weaker. But look at you, Estelle. You still look stunning and vibrant. I’m worried that sooner or later, I won’t be able to keep up with you.’
Estelle stopped in her tracks, her expression thoughtful. After a brief pause, she suggested, bringing Cristofer back to the present, “Why don’t you lie down in bed now? I’ll have Uncle Luke come over. If he also thinks you’re in bad shape, we should consider going to the hospital.”
Cristofer responded gloomily, “Alright.”
Estelle hurriedly went downstairs, but there was no sign of Luke in the house, just as he had disappeared the day before. She then went to the kitchen to ask Mrs. Moorsum, “Has Uncle Luke gone out?”
Mrs. Moorsum, with a smile, replied and recounted the events of the previous night, “I didn’t disturb you and Mr. Hans because I noticed you were both asleep when we returned. You didn’t have dinner and went straight to bed. You must be hungry now, am I right?”
Estelle, feeling somewhat embarrassed, stammered, “Yes, a bit. Mrs. Moorsum, could you please make some ginger tea for Cristofer? He’s still coughing and hasn’t fully recovered from the cold.”
Without further questions about the previous night, Mrs. Moorsum immediately headed to the kitchen to prepare the ginger tea. While listening to the footsteps from upstairs, Estelle looked up and saw Cristofer descending the stairs. He was dressed in a nightgown and leaning on his walking stick. He stood in the hallway, coughing and swaying unsteadily.
Concerned, Estelle rushed to his side and said, “What are you doing? It’s dangerous! Why did you get up, Cristofer? Please go back to your room and lie down.”
With a smile and a nod, Cristofer waved his hand to signal that he wanted to give her the phone. “I wanted to give you your phone. Someone called you, but I was a bit slow, and they may have hung up.”