“Miss Powell, I’m afraid you’ll have to come in person for this,” Tobias said.
“What do you mean?” Elisa asked, furrowing her brow slightly.
Tobias explained, “Mimi hasn’t left the Royal Garden since your death. Whenever someone tries to take her out, she scratches them. Mr. Burns and I dare not handle her easily. So, you’ll need to come in person. Otherwise, it’s… Tomorrow, I can arrange for the driver to pick you up at a scheduled time.”
When Elisa heard “Mimi,” her heart ached. Was that foolish cat, the one who had attempted to save her in the fire, doing okay? It refused to leave the villa. Was it because it kept thinking about the last words she spoke before she died, telling it to wait for her to come and get it?
“No need, I’ll go there myself. 9:30 in the morning,” Elisa said before hanging up the phone.
After a five-minute call, with her hair damp and clinging to her skin, Elisa found a hairdryer in the cabinet. The months of June and July were the hottest. Elisa dried her hair while using a fan, but the hairdryer only had a hot air setting, trapping the heat in her hair.
She looked at the lights outside the window, feeling restless. Perhaps it was because she would have to see Hamish again tomorrow.
That night, Elisa couldn’t sleep. She looked at the money in her account and began planning what to do next. First, she needed to find a partner to start a company. Once she had a foundation, she could then acquire the financial company behind her.
Elisa hadn’t signed the termination contract yet because of the hassle of the subsequent work. The contract for “Revenge and Love” was signed by the company. If she left now, she probably wouldn’t have a chance to be in that show, and it might even lead to a lawsuit, which would delay the progress of the production. But if she stayed, the company would continue to pressure her.
So, the best solution was for her to acquire the shares and become the largest shareholder and boss, so she wouldn’t have to worry about these things.
…
The next day, after breakfast, Elisa called a ride-hailing car to go to the Royal Garden. Three and a half years after her death, it hadn’t changed at all. The fire seemed like it had just happened yesterday.
She looked at the villa that had imprisoned her for nearly two years, especially the bedroom on the first floor with the French windows. Even though it had been so long, the burnt area had been renovated, but she could still see the bloodstains and dust that hadn’t been cleaned. Her toes curled, and she inexplicably tasted a burning sensation.
Physical wounds may heal, but can wounds that severely damage the soul heal as well? The answer was no. Even after all these years, even after she had a new body, the pain she had suffered was a torment she had personally experienced, a pain that would ache at the slightest recollection.
She couldn’t forgive Hamish because the suffering she endured in her past life was too severe. She was afraid of experiencing it again.
The deer that had been racing in her heart had long since died.
…
Elisa took a deep breath and walked towards the villa. Even though it was in Chiwood, this area of the Royal Garden was much cooler, with the geographical environment facing north and south.
Elisa walked with her head down, sensing an unusual gaze. Elisa reflexively looked up and saw a familiar figure.
Hamish, with deep and piercing eyes, was standing at the entrance. He was wearing a white shirt Elisa liked, with a purple wisteria shading behind him, although unfortunately, the wisteria season had just passed.
Elisa approached him slowly. Her vision was so sharp that she could see her reflection in his eyes.
Hamish bit his lip and after a long pause, he said, “This place hasn’t changed at all…” His eyes were filled with deep nostalgia, as if trying to recall the past, stirring up some “beautiful” memories for Elisa.
In fact, this place had also brought some joy to Elisa. During the days she lost her memory, Hamish pretended to be kind to her, and Mrs. Rugger treated her as if she were her own daughter. Even though they had no children, they had a cat.
Hamish looked very pale, and his voice trembled with weakness. “I’m sorry, Elisa… I cough…” Before he could finish his sentence, he began to cough. His chest ached. Even though it was the hottest time of the year, he felt cold, as if he had been thrown into an ice cellar in the middle of winter. His whole body was covered in athin layer of frost. He clenched his fists tightly, but felt no sensation.
The place he had kept reserved held only torment and fear for Elisa.
For her, this place was like pouring salt on an open wound.
“I’m sorry, Elisa… I cough…” Before he could finish, he began to cough, feeling a pain in his chest. He felt so cold – was it because he had been standing here waiting for Elisa since before dawn, without sleeping the entire night?
There was a metallic taste in his mouth. Hamish clenched his teeth and swallowed the blood in his mouth. But the itching in his throat grew more intense, and he covered his mouth, coughing quietly.
Elisa paid no attention to him, showing disdain for Hamish’s apology. These three words had become all too common from Hamish’s mouth, and they no longer held any surprise for her.
“Where’s Mimi?” Elisa asked.
Struggling to suppress his cough, Hamish covered his mouth, his voice hoarse and difficult. “I’ll take you inside.”
Elisa deliberately distanced herself from him, walking behind him, and she felt as though Hamish had become thinner.
Three years ago, Hamish always stood tall and proud, exuding an air of disdain. But now, his back seemed bent. Furthermore, he seemed to be swaying as he walked, as if he were enduring something.
Elisa had no time to observe him; her thoughts were solely occupied by Mimi, who had been waiting for her here.
She entered the villa and looked around but saw no sign of the cat.
“Call her,” Hamish said.
Elisa called out cautiously into the empty house, “Mimi.”
Her gaze finally fell on the small figure emerging from the bedroom where she had died three years ago.
It struggled to walk, its body unsteady. Once a cat that nestled in her arms and purred as she groomed it, it was now almost bald from losing its fur.
One ear was missing, and its tail was only half the length it used to be. Yet to Elisa, it was still the most beautiful ragdoll cat.
Mimi stood hesitantly at the doorway, wanting to approach but also afraid to. Cats have strong pride; it dreamed of seeing Elisa, yet it also feared that she would find it ugly and dirty.
Elisa had thought that she wouldn’t develop many emotions in her lifetime. But at that moment, seeing Mimi, emotions that had been sealed away erupted like a flood bursting through a dam.
Her heart ached, like it had been hit with mustard, making her nose sting, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Worried about frightening Mimi, she slowly reached out her hand towards Mimi, saying, “Come here, Mimi.”
Mimi, with its tail drooping, unsteadily approached Elisa and sat down about half a meter away from her. It looked up at her, its throat damaged from the fire, able to produce sound but barely audible. It dared not make a sound, its eyes fixed on Elisa without blinking.
Mimi’s eyes were blue, like beautiful crystals, dilated and shining, reflecting Elisa’s figure.
Although it couldn’t make a sound, its gaze told Elisa that it had been waiting for her for a long time, hoping that Elisa would pet it.
Trembling, Elisa reached out and gently stroked Mimi’s head.
Mimi instinctively tried to nuzzle her hand, but then froze, remembering that its ears had been burned.
Elisa’s heart ached. Mimi was the most spirited cat she had ever seen. She carefully picked it up and hugged it, kissing its head.
“Mimi, I’ve come to take you,” she said.
At that moment, the cat wept. Tears flowed from its watery eyes, wetting its fur.
After waiting for three years, Elisa had finally come to pick up Mimi.