In the afternoon, Hamish arranged for Lila’s accommodation in advance and sent someone to pick her up from the airport.
Lila would meet Elisa morning and night in Chiwood. Hamish began to feel uneasy. He was afraid things would once again slip out of his control.
As soon as Elisa woke up, he told her that Lila would be coming that afternoon.
Elisa paused for a moment, the name “Lila” sounded familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before. “Who is Lila?” she asked.
Seeing her lack of response, Hamish’s tense heart relaxed slightly. “I forgot you have amnesia. Lila is my goddaughter, adopted by my mother.”
“So, she’s your sister?”
“Sort of,” Hamish replied.
Elisa didn’t dwell on the matter. “Come to think of it, you’ve never really told me much about your family. What about your parents? How long has it been since you went home?”
“The last time I went back was three years ago.”
“Three years?” Elisa furrowed her brow almost imperceptibly. “What’s the situation with your family?”
“In the Burns family, things are still unsettled. Old Burns is still alive, and everyone is vying for the head position. My parents died because of these power struggles.”
In the face of interests, so-called friendships and family ties seemed insignificant.
“I rarely go back, and I don’t intend to take you back. Will you blame me for that, Elisa?”
Elisa thought for a moment, then shook her head seriously. “No, you have your reasons. Besides, I’m living with you, not with those family members of yours.”
If Hamish had kept all of this from her, she might have harbored some resentment, but not now. Trust is essential between spouses, and she believes Hamish has her best interests at heart.
The Burns family is likely far more complicated than she had imagined.
Elisa’s hands, even with rehabilitation, couldn’t fully recover. They were semi-disabled, and she relied on others for even the most basic tasks like washing her face, brushing her teeth, and getting dressed. Even fastening a bra required Hamish’s help. It made her blush deeply every time, but gradually she got used to it, and the initial awkwardness faded away.
Living with Hamish was very comfortable. He took care of her as if she were a precious treasure. Every day, whether he was busy or not, he would wake up before her, prepare breakfast, heat water, and when she woke up, the toothpaste was ready, and he would gently wash her face.
He had excellent taste, and the clothes he picked out for her every day always suited her preferences perfectly. There was truly nothing to fault.
Today, Hamish had put together a set of clothes for Elisa: a shirt with a vest. The shirt had many buttons, which her hands couldn’t handle, so she had to rely on the man in front of her to help. Hamish buttoned her up from the bottom, and the match with the cashmere sweater was fresh and sweet.
“Could you braid my hair?” Elisa was already used to asking him to do her hair.
Hamish agreed, leading her to the dressing table and, without showing the slightest impatience, expertly braided her hair into a twist, then chose a crystal hairpin to fasten it.
“My sister will be arriving at Chiwood in the afternoon. I’ll have a bedroom prepared for her when we get back.”
“Don’t worry about the room; she won’t be staying with us. I’ve already arranged a house for her,” Hamish said.
Elisa asked, “So she’s not coming over?”
“No,” Hamish replied in a tone as flat as if he were discussing the weather.
Observing him, Elisa spoke softly, “What kind of brother doesn’t meet his sister? Do you treat her like this?”
Hamish nodded, his black eyes void of warmth. “We aren’t blood-related, so there’s no sibling bond.”
Elisa fell silent.
From Hamish’s distant attitude, she could sense that he wasn’t very close to Lila. Hamish didn’t say anything further, and so she didn’t ask.
At half past eight in the morning, Hamish led Elisa downstairs for breakfast.
The hired staff had already arrived; two maids were responsible for cooking and cleaning, along with a housekeeper, all of them over forty years old.
Elisa was momentarily stunned when she saw the strangers in the living room. Following her pace, Hamish stopped and said, “The one on the left is Mrs. Rugger, the one in the middle is Mr. Clegg, and the one on the right is Mrs. Protich. I hired them because I’m worried about not being able to take care of you when I’m at work. If you need anything, you can always ask Mr. Clegg.”
Elisa nodded, thinking that if only her hands were okay, she could manage on her own, and then they wouldn’t need hired help.
Deep down, Elisa was inherently lonely and used to being independent. She didn’t like having hired help at home, but her current condition made Hamish worry.
Seeing her lower her head, Hamish reached out and touched the back of her neck. “What’s wrong? Not used to it?”
“Um, a little,” Elisa replied.
Hamish didn’t know how to comfort her, so he simply said, “You’ll get used to it.”
People must adapt to their environment, not the other way around. Elisa responded with a quiet “Um” and followed Hamish downstairs.
Breakfast was prepared by the two maids that morning. Because of Elisa’s hands, she could only eat with a spoon and a fork. She kept her head down, her lashes half covering her eyes like a small fan.
After the meal, Hamish accompanied Elisa for a stroll nearby. Chiwood’s economic development was better than Bankshire’s, with skyscrapers and top-brand stores everywhere.
Women always have inexhaustible energy when shopping. Before they knew it, it was already noon. Hamish took a phone call, and the housekeeper asked if he was returning for lunch.
“I’ll be back,” Hamish replied, keeping his gaze on Elisa. He noticed that her shoelaces had come undone, and naturally knelt down, tilting his head to hold the phone with his shoulder, quickly tying her laces while continuing the conversation. Once he finished tying them, the call was also over.
Elisa felt as though her heart had been gently squeezed. Her emotions were entwined with his actions. She placed her hand over her heart; there was a slight ache, not very apparent, but it lingered there, unable to dissipate.
This feeling had come so suddenly; it was as if she was tasting Hamish’s affection for the first time.
“Let’s go back for lunch,” Hamish said, putting down his phone and reaching out to take her hand.
Elisa looked at his outstretched hand, and for some reason, she stepped back, avoiding it.
His hand hung awkwardly in the air for a moment before he realized and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Elisa didn’t know herself. It was a sudden aversion, making her think she was falling ill again.
“You didn’t even ask for my opinion before telling the housekeeper that we were going back,” she said.
Hamish breathed a sigh of relief. “Is that why you’re upset?” He leaned in slightly, his voice gentle, his breath lightly brushing against Elisa’s face.
Elisa remained silent, but her actions indicated her anger.
Those who are loved always have a sense of security. Hamish hooked his arm around her waist. “You need to go back and take your medicine. Next time we go out, remember to bring your medication, then we won’t have to go back.”
Elisa had a lot of medication, several types just for her stomach. Each time she took them, it was a handful, and skipping any of them was not an option.