Eva let out a long sigh as she noticed the exhaustion on her daughter’s delicate face.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have burdened you like this,” she expressed her guilt.
Deep down, Eva knew she shouldn’t constantly instill a fear of men in her daughter. Eventually, Rosalind would find love and get married. But her own fears held her back, fearing that her daughter would make the same mistakes she did and end up hurt.
“Mom, please don’t blame yourself. The doctor said that once your surgery is successful, you might be able to walk again! Then you can make dumplings for me, just like before. I’ve been craving them,” Rosalind reassured her with a hopeful smile.
“Alright, alright,” Eva nodded, her thoughts shifting. “Invite your boyfriend over. I’d like to meet him.”
Rosalind was taken aback by her mother’s request. Feeling a tinge of guilt, she turned her face away and started peeling an apple. “He’s really busy with work matters.”
“Your father back then was-”
“Mom!” Rosalind gently interrupted, “Not everyone is like him.”
At least Rosalind’s intuition assured her that Ulric was different.
To Eva, it sounded like her daughter was defending her boyfriend. She couldn’t help but put on a stern face. Although she didn’t say anything more, she also didn’t accept the apple Rosalind handed her.
Outside, the sky gradually darkened.
With someone else taking care of her mother and needing to return to the company early the next morning, Rosalind left the hospital after her mother fell asleep.
As she stepped out, she took a deep breath and hailed a taxi, heading towards Ulric’s place as he had instructed.
Just as she got out of the car, her phone started ringing.
Glancing down, she saw an unfamiliar number flashing on the screen.
“Have you arrived?”
Ulric’s deep and magnetic voice was unmistakable, it was hard not to recognize it.
“Yes, I’m here.”
“I have an unexpected engagement and will be back late. You go in first,” he paused before adding, “The door code is WR0825.”
Hearing those numbers again made her pause, realizing they likely held a deeper meaning than she initially thought. Ulric hadn’t changed the password, nor had he removed the tattoo, indicating that he still held feelings for someone.
So when he mentioned needing a marriage partner, it was probably to spite that person-Sirena Reynolds, the chief lawyer mentioned by Tilda.
Deciphering the door lock code of Ulric’s house, W stood for Walters and R for Reynolds-it became perfectly clear.
Rosalind couldn’t quite describe her emotions at that moment. She realized she might be nothing more than a substitute.
Intending to take off her coat and start working on her laptop, something caught her eye-a large bag of condoms sent by Ulric’s assistant, placed at the entrance.
Calling it a large bag wouldn’t be an exaggeration, it contained at least a dozen colorful boxes, each with different flavors.
The only common factor was their size, which exceeded her expectations.
Recalling the night when Ulric had overwhelmed her, Rosalind shuddered. She coughed instinctively and quickly moved away as if avoiding a contagious virus.
On the company’s internal software, as soon as Tilda saw Rosalind online, she immediately sent a message:
[Who was that male voice on the phone?]
[It was the doctor at the hospital.]
Rosalind chose not to elaborate further. It wasn’t something to be proud of, and since the contract only lasted a year, she believed she could keep it hidden.
After responding to that one message, she opened the Huayi project file and began reviewing it meticulously.
She lost track of time when suddenly the sound of the door unlocking startled her.
Rosalind stood up and walked over. Before she could say anything, Ulric’s tall and slender figure pressed her against the living room wall, and his alcohol-laden kiss overwhelmed her.