Rosalind yearned to caution him against being overly kind to her, fearing that she might misinterpret his actions and develop an insatiable desire for his constant generosity.
She felt like a parched wanderer in the desert, who, upon tasting a sip of water, couldn’t help but fantasize about having an everlasting supply. However, she lacked the courage to express her thoughts or reveal her vulnerability to Ulric.
Upon returning to Easthaven Bay with him, Rosalind was so exhausted that she immediately fell asleep after taking a shower. She awoke to faint sounds outside, realizing that it was 3 a. m. and Ulric had not yet returned to the room.
She wrapped herself in a robe and ventured out, finding Ulric in the living room, engrossed in a video conference with the head of an overseas company. The meeting must have been delayed due to her, leading to the late hour.
A wave of guilt washed over her. Observing Ulric wearing only a thin white shirt, she retrieved a blanket from her suitcase, concerned about his comfort.
As she approached, Ulric glanced up and muted the video call. “Did I wake you?”
Rosalind shook her head. “No, I got up to drink some water. Here, cover yourself with this so you don’t catch a cold.”
Noticing his hesitation, she remembered his fastidiousness and worried that he might consider the blanket unclean. Just as she was about to explain that it was new, Ulric reached out his hand. “Okay, thank you.”
Rosalind watched as he draped the blanket over himself before heading to the kitchen for a drink.
From behind, she overheard Ulric apologizing to the other party and whispering, “My wife woke up.”
Wife? Was he referring to her?
He introduced her as his wife to the other person!
Unable to fall back asleep, Rosalind decided to resume working on her documents. Ulric finally entered the master bedroom as dawn approached, his handsome face displaying signs of fatigue.
She swiftly set aside her computer and stood up. “You should get some rest. If you’re concerned about oversleeping, I’ll wake you.”
“Okay.” He nodded and retrieved his robe, heading into the bathroom.
She dutifully stood by the door, resembling a devoted wife awaiting her husband.
After Ulric emerged from his shower, Rosalind promptly plugged in the hairdryer. “Allow me to dry your hair?”
“Okay.”
He sat by the bed, occasionally stealing glances at her as she attended to his hair. A faint smile curled his lips.
Rosalind worried about his hair drying properly and him catching a cold, but she also feared prolonging his sleep and causing inconvenience, making her a little anxious.
Unexpectedly, Ulric reached out and encircled her slender waist, lifting his gaze slightly. “I have to go to the company in two hours.”
“I’ll make sure to wake you.”
“What I mean is, I don’t want to sleep anymore.”
Before Rosalind could respond, he had already taken the initiative, pressing her down beneath him.
“Ulric…”
“Just this once, okay?”
Faced with his direct request, Rosalind chose not to reply but silently embraced his waist.
Ulric was always considerate and gentle in such moments, attuned to her emotions.
That night, Ulric’s tenderness surpassed its usual depth. Rosalind felt as though she were being cradled by clouds, momentarily forgetting everything as their bodies intertwined, damp with sweat.
Yet, amidst the blissful rhythm, Rosalind couldn’t help but notice the tattoo on his collarbone. It seemed like a cautionary mark, ceaselessly reminding her-
To him, she was merely a substitute.
His affection and care would eventually be abruptly withdrawn.
Furrowing her delicate brows, Rosalind raised her hand to cover those numbers with the blanket.
For now, at this fleeting moment, she allowed herself to indulge in a dream a little while longer.