Rosalind instinctively looked in the direction he indicated.
Sure enough, Malcolm was standing not far away, holding a phone and smiling at her.
“Over here!”
Seeing Malcolm’s figure, Rosalind felt an indescribable emotion.
To say she wasn’t moved at all would be a lie, but this feeling was more like familial affection, unrelated to love.
Many times, Rosalind wondered if she hadn’t met Ulric first and had been set up with Malcolm by Tilda, she would probably have lived happily with him.
But all of this was under the condition that Ulric never appeared.
Rosalind stood up and slowly walked towards him. “Malcolm, why didn’t you leave?”
“I couldn’t bear to leave you here alone. I had my friend drive Tilda and the kids away first. Don’t worry, the friend driving them is an old classmate of mine. They will be safe and he won’t betray us.”
Rosalind wasn’t worried about that, but…
“You’ve been standing here waiting?”
“I stayed behind to keep you company,” Malcolm said gently without a hint of complaint in his voice. “Now that you’re done talking, shall we go?”
Rosalind nodded and followed Malcolm.
The wind was getting stronger, and it looked like it was going to rain. Especially in summer, rain could come suddenly.
“Why don’t we find a place to stay for the night? We can head back tomorrow morning.”
Malcolm paused for a moment before turning back with a smile. “Alright! You don’t seem to be in a good mood today anyway. It’s perfect to find a hotel, take a nice bath, get some sleep, and leave when we wake up naturally tomorrow. Don’t worry about the kids; they love Tilda.”
Rosalind nodded and forced a smile.
Actually, from being in a hurry to leave to suddenly deciding to stay until tomorrow, Malcolm could guess what was on her mind.
But he felt he had no right to persuade her otherwise.
Besides…
To be honest, he sincerely hoped Rosalind could be happy.
Nothing else mattered.
Malcolm took Rosalind to a high-end hotel and booked two adjacent rooms.
“This hotel’s beds are very comfortable. I stayed here during a business trip before. Rest well and call me when you’re ready to leave tomorrow.”
Rosalind nodded. “Thank you.”
“No need for thanks! Go on in.”
Malcolm watched Rosalind enter her room before opening his own door but didn’t go inside. He stood at the door.
Sure enough, after a few minutes, he heard the door next door open again.
Rosalind must have come out again.
Malcolm’s lips curled into a bitter smile.
…
Rosalind went to find Ulric.
More precisely, she went to Easthaven Bay to take a look.
That place held all their beautiful memories and was where she first felt cherished and valued in her life.
From childhood until now.
Her mother loved her but in an extreme way with more control than consideration for what her daughter could bear. She just didn’t want her daughter to follow in her footsteps.
Tilda loved her too, but it was a friendship kind of love. Tilda had her own family, life, and social circle; she wouldn’t put Rosalind first always.
Only Ulric genuinely approached her with care and cautious protection, afraid of any neglect.