About five minutes later, Tegan returned from the backyard. She was wearing a light gray wool coat and carrying a large bouquet of fresh flowers, which were all picked from the garden and looking vibrant. Margaret had already brought a vase the size of a large bowl.“Are you done with work?” Tegan asked Lorian the same way any newlywed wife would do. Her tone was warm and polite. Her politeness seemed a bit too formal in Lorian's eyes. He watched her as she arranged the flowers she had picked. Her overall demeanor was excellent. She radiated a gentle and warm aura.Lorian couldn’t help but recall the previous night. It had been their wedding night. Although he was drunk, he was not oblivious. He remembered every detail of their intimate moments. It was Tegan’s first time. She had tightly bitten down on his shoulder blade when he thrust into her. At that instant, Lorian had a fleeting moment of distraction. However, he was craving sex. So, he didn’t spare her any tendernes
The bathroom was filled with steam. Tegan soaked in the hot water and quietly reflected on what had just happened. Lorian had been very gentle throughout the entire process. However, his gentleness seemed almost formulaic. It was too perfect and reminded her of a robotic husband. With that said, Tegan dared not expect too much. They were in a marriage where they weren't equals. Demanding too much would be considered unreasonable.Tegan didn't soak for long. There were still things she wanted to discuss with Lorian. Once her body felt more relaxed, she got up and wrapped herself in a white bathrobe before stepping out of the bathroom.The chandelier in the bedroom was off. Lorian had left only a reading lamp on. He was leaning against the headboard and holding his phone, giving some instructions to Kris via voice message. When he saw Tegan coming in, he wrapped up the conversation with a few simple words.Tegan took a tube of ointment and sat on the side of the bed, carefully app
After Lorian went downstairs, the sound of a car engine starting echoed through the courtyard. The noise gradually faded into the distance until it disappeared completely.Tegan sat dejectedly on the edge of the bed. He was gone. They had agreed to visit her parents together, and he knew how important today was for her. However, he left without hesitation. Tegan understood he was busy with work, but they were newlyweds, after all.Although it was early morning, Tegan couldn't fall back asleep. She put on a robe and got up. Then, she walked to the balcony to gaze into the distance. The morning fog was thick, mirroring the confusion and helplessness in her heart.After a long time, Tegan was nearly frozen. She returned to the warm bedroom. The bed was slightly messy, and the remnants of last night's passion were still evident. However, her heart felt icy cold. Hugging her arms tightly around herself, Tegan held on as if trying to find some warmth.Margaret came upstairs from th
Philip did not respond further. Instead, he handed over the gifts to the McKinney family's servants.Jennifer caught wind of the situation and rushed out of the house. As soon as she arrived, she saw Tegan covering her face. Clearly, Theo struck her again.Jennifer couldn't hold back her anger. She gave her husband a cold sneer and said, "Paityn works tirelessly for you at the company, and Tegan married into the Sanders family according to your wishes. "What more could you possibly want? Even if you invested in something, you have to give it some time to bring back the profits."Do you think I don't know your intentions, Theo? You treat Paityn and Tegan as if they’re worthless. All you cared about was the child your mistress had. "You let Paityn and Tegan work for your benefit while you live comfortably. I’ll tell you this. As long as I’m alive, don’t even think about letting that illegitimate child of yours enter this family properly."…Theo felt that Jennifer exposed his de
As night fell, Paityn entered Tegan’s room. The latter was still awake and worked on her embroidery. It was a piece commissioned by the National Museum. Tegan had spent two years on this project.Paityn stood quietly at the door and watched her sister. There was a tube of ointment in her hands. Back then, Paityn had stood in the same way at Tegan's bedroom door and quietly watched her embroider. She knew that Tegan would retreat into her embroidery whenever she felt distressed. Tegan was probably finding tranquility within her craft.Paityn entered the room when Tegan took a break. She gently guided the latter to sit on the sofa. She examined the side of Tegan's face under the light, noting the slight redness on her delicate skin.Even someone who was usually as strong-willed as Paityn couldn’t help but have tears well up in her eyes now.Paityn applied the ointment to Tegan’s wounds and murmured softly, "Don't come back when I'm not at home, Tegan. Forget about the customs and t
Silverlake Vila was Lorian and Holly's home once. Now, it was just a house filled with distant memories.The villa had been unoccupied for some time, but it was kept impeccably clean by regular housekeeping. Everything that Holly had used was neatly preserved, such as her clothes and jewelry. They were small trinkets she liked and merchandises from her favorite movie, "Fallen Dust". Lorian picked up a book of concept art and read aloud the lines printed on it. “A single romantic encounter was much more precious than everything in the world.”Lorian repeated the phrase softly to himself over and over again. That night, he reminisced about his past love. He was unaware that the love that had once sparked in Tegan’s heart had long since extinguished. As far as Tegan was concerned, Lorian was not a husband. Instead, he was a man she could never hope to attain.As dawn approached, Lorian lifted his weary eyes.Today was the day of Holly's wedding.…Lorian returned to Brooke
Tegan was slightly disoriented by the way Lorian intimately addressed her. She looked up at him and smiled gently. “You’re back?”There was no reproach or complaint in her tone. Extra displays of affection and intimacy could feel like self-degradation in a marriage devoid of love. Tegan didn’t expect him to treat her any better, but she still had the right to remain true to herself.Lorian walked over and gently touched the embroidery. He was somewhat taken aback by its beauty. “You've been embroidering for many years, haven’t you? Did you study it professionally?”Tegan nodded. “I learned from Ms. Robin.”Robin was a renowned embroidery master in the country, widely acclaimed.Lorian smiled slightly. “That explains it.”He wanted to discuss the matters regarding her return to the McKinney Villa. So, he decided to broach the topic. “I left in such a hurry that I didn’t get to accompany you when you returned to your home. By the way, there’s a subsidiary project at the compa
After the sex, Lorian rolled to the side. His chest heaved with heavy breaths, and his entire body was drenched in sweat. However, his expression showed relief. After a while, Lorian calmed down and turned to ask Tegan, "Did it not feel good for you just now?"Tegan curled up with her back to him. She hugged herself, and her pale shoulders trembled slightly. It took her a while to whisper, "No."Lorian rested for a moment and regained his strength. He couldn't help but think of having another round with Tegan Just as he touched her shoulder, she reacted sharply, "I'm a little sore."Without giving him a chance to inquire further, Tegan grabbed the bedsheet, sat up, and quickly walked into the bathroom. Lorian watched her retreating figure, feeling a bit uninterested.It was better if both of them were into the sex. Lorian wasn't foolish. He could see she wasn't willing. He didn't force her, though. Instead, he put on a bathrobe and went to the adjacent room to shower. When he