“Elisa, seriously, why don’t you come to my office and keep me company? It’s not that I’m easily jealous, it’s just that you spend so little time with me. Look, when Caleb comes, he spends more time talking to you than I do,” Hamish pleaded.
Elisa glanced at him askew, rolled her eyes, and turned her face away. “Hamish, do you remember the agreement you wrote before?”
At the mention of this, Hamish sat up straight, looking serious.
Hamish’s possessiveness was overwhelming. Not only did he feel jealous around other men, but he would even get envious if Elisa paid too much attention to a cat. In the bottom drawer of the bedside table lay a notebook filled with promises written by Hamish.
“I shouldn’t get angry or doubt my wife when she eats with other men. I shouldn’t throw a cat out just because my wife is petting it. I shouldn’t tear up a magazine just because my wife is staring at a male celebrity in it and say I want to ban him. I pledge that I, Hamish, will never become a jealous husband. I will not be petty or sour all the time. I will grant my wife freedom, respect her, protect her, trust her, love and cherish her for the rest of my life. I, Hamish, will conduct myself generously and gracefully. If I ever relapse, I’ll be nothing but a dog.”
When Hamish thought about the last part, his expression stiffened momentarily. He had never written a pledge like this before, and the last part was something Elisa had forced him to include. If Elisa didn’t remind him, he would have almost forgotten about the existence of such a pledge.
It wasn’t that he didn’t care, but he was preoccupied with so many things every day. When he wasn’t busy with work, he was on guard against anyone who might try to interfere. Even though Elisa was confined to the house all day, apart from the household staff, she was practically invisible.
He didn’t restrict Elisa from going online, but every time he returned home from work, he couldn’t resist checking her phone.
As Elisa prepared to leave, Hamish sat on the sofa and suddenly pulled her into his arms. Then, pressing his face against her slender back, he uttered in a hoarse and strained voice, “Woof, woof… I’m a dog.”
Elisa felt a bit resentful of his domineering nature, but upon hearing him mimic a dog’s bark, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Hamish’s embrace was strong, like a shackle around her waist. She attempted to stand up, but it seemed impossible, as if a boulder was holding her down. When she turned her head, all she could see was the top of Hamish’s head, unable to glimpse his face. She felt embarrassed and buried her face in her back as a result.
“Hamish, you really do act like a dog,” Elisa said, feeling both exasperated and amused. She truly believed that Hamish was behaving just like a dog.
Eventually, Hamish got his wish and carried Elisa to bed, showering her with endless kisses.
……
It had been almost three months since Elisa came to Chiwood. Besides occasional stomach pains, life was relatively ordinary. She began to consider returning to work, but with her condition, what could she possibly do? She stared at her unsightly fingertips, unable to lift or grasp anything. Even typing on a keyboard was a challenge for her. Going to work in such a state would render her useless.
Frowning, at eleven in the morning, Elisa took out her phone and sent Hamish a text message, reminding him to have his lunch, just as she did every day.
After waiting for ten minutes with no response, she decided to call him. The call connected, and after a wait of five or six seconds, the other end was picked up.
“Mrs. Burns?”
“Is this Tobias?”
“Yes, it’s Tobias. Mrs. Burns, Mr. Burns is currently in an urgent meeting, and his phone is temporarily with me. If you have any urgent matters, you can tell me, and I’ll relay the message to Mr. Burns later.”
Elisa hurriedly said, “It’s nothing urgent. I just wanted to remind him to have his lunch.”
Tobias chuckled, “Mrs. Burns, reminding Mr. Burns to eat over the phone won’t work. You have to come here in person. I put his lunch on his desk every day, and he still forgets to eat.”
“Is he very busy lately?” Elisa felt that although Hamish hadn’t been working late like before and came home punctually to accompany her, she noticed that he looked noticeably more fatigued and had lost some weight in the past month. Hamishhad never mentioned anything about work-related stress, and she didn’t understand, so she hadn’t asked.
“He’s quite busy. Like today, this meeting has been going on since the morning, and it’s been three hours already.”
“In that case, won’t he forget to eat again?”
“Exactly, that’s why I said you should come here.”
Elisa suddenly had an idea. After thanking Tobias, she hung up the phone.
Mrs. Rugger was bustling about in the kitchen, preparing three dishes and a soup. The meal was almost ready; it only lacked one dish. Elisa could already smell the tantalizing aroma.
“Mrs. Rugger.”
Mrs. Rugger turned back with a pot holder in her right hand. “Yes, I’m here.”
“Do we have a thermal container at home?”
“A thermal container? I think we have one. I’ll ask Mrs. Protich to look for it. Mrs. Burns, do you want to take the food out somewhere?”
“No, I want to pack it for Hamish to take to his office.”
Mrs. Rugger gave a meaningful smile. This couple was so sweet. Without another word, she separated the food into another container.
Mrs. Protich found a four-layered thermal container with compartments for soup, rice, and dishes, with a separate layer to prevent mixing of flavors.
Elisa’s hands trembled as Mrs. Rugger packed the food, and she took charge of filling the soup container.
Mrs. Rugger closed the lid of the thermal container. “Madam, are you going to take the food to Mr. Burns, or will you eat your lunch first before going?”
“I know.” Her family was well aware of her severe stomach condition. She was monitored closely during all three meals every day.
Elisa went to have her lunch, and Mrs. Rugger packed the medication she needed to take at noon into a bag along with her meal.
People with stomach issues often ate small meals throughout the day to avoid feeling full, which could cause pain. The housekeeper knew Elisa was going to Burns Group, so she called the driver to wait for her at the door and personally escorted her to the car with the packed meal.
When Elisa arrived at Burns Group, it was just past twelve. She got out of the car, carrying the thermal container, and looked up at the towering building.
The sky was clear and the sun was intense, causing her eyes to ache. She started to feel nervous, hesitating for a while under the sun before taking a deep breath and entering.
The automatic door opened, and the receptionist glanced at her, asking in a reasonably polite manner whom she was looking for.
“I’m here to see your Mr. Burns,” Elisa replied.
The receptionist’s expression changed slightly. “Do you have an appointment?”
“No.”
“I’m sorry, miss, but you need an appointment to see Mr. Burns. I can’t let you in without one.” The receptionist cast a deliberate glance at the thermal container Elisa was holding, her eyebrows furrowing slightly, her expression briefly revealing impatience.
Elisa had encountered all kinds of people during her six months here. This woman seemed to think that someone like herself, coming to see Mr. Burns without an appointment and carrying a thermal container, was trying to attract attention. Such tactics were common almost every week.
Hamish, young and successful, was the epitome of wealth and charm in the company, a fantasy for all the unmarried women in the office, and the receptionist was no exception.
She gave Elisa a once-over, looking her up and down. The woman who had come today was different from the usual provocative women who often tried to lure Hamish. Those women usually dressed provocatively, even in temperatures as low as ten degrees, they would wear sleeveless tops.
Elisa, on the other hand, dressed conservatively because she dared not wear skirts or short sleeves due to the scars on her body. She wore a long shirt and jeans, covering herself completely.
The receptionist couldn’t determine the brand of her clothes, but from her timid demeanor, she seemed like a delicate flower.
The receptionist sneered inwardly, her eyes filled with disdain.
Elisa was puzzled by the receptionist’s attitude. She had only spoken a few words, not even ten in total. Why did the receptionist look at her with such contempt? What was she imagining?
“I’ll give him a call.” Elisa said, setting down the thermal container and taking out her phone from her bag.
But before she could press the button, the receptionist at the front desk started to ‘urge’ her to leave, “Miss, would you like to make a call or go outside to make it? I need to receive clients here.”
Elisa glanced around. There was clearly a waiting area, yet the receptionist insisted she go outside. What was going on?
Elisa was not naive. From the tone of the receptionist to her expression and every move, it was evident that she was being regarded as a woman with ill intentions.
Helplessly, Elisa had to stand by the door and call Hamish.
…
The receptionist who had just attended to Elisa watched her leave, her eyes becoming increasingly mocking.
“Beatrix, why did you let her wait outside? What if Mr. Burns really knows her?”
“How’s that possible? Didn’t you see the insulated lunch box she was carrying? Who doesn’t know that Mr. Burns’ lunch is always prepared by Tobias? She clearly has ulterior motives, doesn’t she?”
Another receptionist shook her head, “But I also think you shouldn’t have driven her out. There’s clearly a waiting area here, and besides, she just said she needed to make a call, didn’t she? You should at least let her make the call before asking her to leave, right?”
“Are you naive? That call is obviously just an excuse. She’ll pretend to make a call, then if she can’t get through, she’ll ask us to call, and then try to lure Mr. Burns out.”
“Can Mr. Burns be so easily deceived?”
“Anyway, I’ve already driven her out; if she gets through on the phone, she can come in,” Beatrix said, rolling her eyes.
Just then, the elevator made a “ding-” sound. Beatrix was momentarily stunned. Before she could react, she saw Tobias hurrying out of the elevator.
“Tobias, are you going to take Mr. Burns his meal?” Tobias was known in the company for his good temper, always smiling at everyone. Upon hearing Beatrix’s question, he shook his head, “I’m here to pick someone up.”
Tobias was Hamish’s assistant. Who could he be personally coming downstairs to pick up?
Beatrix’s expression subtly changed. After exchanging a glance with the receptionist beside her, she looked on in disbelief.
Because the only person who came at this time was the woman outside carrying a lunch box. It couldn’t possibly be her, could it?
Beatrix reassured herself. Even if it was her, she was insignificant. Those who came to the Burns Group were here to discuss business. Who would bring a lunch box to discuss business? Most likely, it was a maid from Mr. Burns’ home bringing him lunch.
However, the next words from Tobias left everyone present dumbfounded.
“Mrs. Burns, why are you standing outside?”
Beatrix turned pale. Mrs. Burns? Did that mean what she thought it did? Was this the CEO’s wife, the mysterious Mrs. Burns from his home?