Until when?

Nancy angrily pulled Matthew's hand into his room. Confirming that her husband was gone, she closed all the doors.

"Matthew, what exactly is your goal? I don't agree that Arthur is taking over the company again!" She said desperately.

Matthew was tired of discussing this, but he had to convince his stupid mother. He smiled sweetly. "Mom, I told you that letting go of him would allow him to fly freely. I don't want that to happen."

Nancy's expression was very worried. "But by letting him here, anything can happen. If your father finds out the truth, let alone the wealth, even his affection for you will disappear. I have suffered enough for dozens of years. I don't want to live without clarity anymore."

"Mom, why are you afraid? I am father's biological child, am I not?"

Nancy nodded.

"Then what's there to worry about?"

"Darling, that company is a company that should fall on you. If you give it to that damn son, he can trample all over us again."

Matthew was still smiling, but this time his smile looked more sly. "Who said I gave the company to him?"

Nancy frowned in confusion.

In fact he just didn't want to be bothered with managing the company, only instead he said, "Don't you want to live easily and comfortably? So do I. So, let brother work as a money machine in this family and we enjoy his wealth."

"But sooner or later he can take the wealth and—"

"Shh, don't be afraid, Mom. He won't take the wealth, because I won't let that happen."

... Because he had taken hold of Arthur's precious ace. And Arthur wouldn't be a fool to let him destroy that ace.

***

At Arthur's residence, the cold atmosphere froze on all sides.

Since Livy returned home yesterday, she had not communicated with him at all. The fact that she was no longer mad at him, but she didn't know how to deal with him at the moment. So when they got home she went straight to her own room and Arthur didn't stop her either. She then knew from the maid that Arthur had been locked up in his study all night.

By late afternoon, still not seeing Arthur anywhere, she looked for Jim and asked, "Is Arthur in his study?"

"Master left half an hour ago."

Left?

"Do you know where he went?"

Jim shook his head. "Master never told me where he went. I think he went to his base, Miss."

Ah, right. It's almost night. There's no way Arthur would be in the office at this hour. After all, Matthew said that he had resigned. He must have gone to headquarters.

Livy was about to ask Dave about this, but she didn't.

Her eyes fell silent as she glanced at Gwen's contact number.

"I'm not having dinner today. Please don't bother anyone." Livy told Jim before leaving.

"Yes."

If Arthur went to the base, he definitely wouldn't come back either. So why was she waiting for him to have dinner?

For some reason she felt her heart ache so much. Her anger at Arthur had clearly subsided but why had he been deliberately avoiding her since yesterday? Even though they were under the same roof, why didn't he tell her he was leaving?

Livy took a deep breath. She went into her room and locked the door.

Three days from their departure abroad, this gloomy situation must be resolved immediately. After she had faith, she touched Gwen's contact number again, typed a few words in the message and sent it nervously.

[Sorry, is this really Gwen Estelle phone number?]

***

Elsewhere, Arthur felt his eyes twitch slightly. His vision was always worse at night and these twitches occurred frequently when he forced himself to see something. In the end, he closed his eyes for a moment. When his eyes were closed, many things he had forgotten for a moment, he finally remembered again.

One of them is about Livy.

He didn't know why he had to act like that towards her after his little wife returned, or why he had to avoid her? Was it really because he just wanted to buy it time? At a time like this shouldn't he be the one to comfort his little wife and explain everything?

Livy was angry because he put a bug in his own gift, it was natural anger. It would be weird if she wasn't angry, right?

But how does he explain it to Livy? What reason should he make up?

His head hurts thinking about this.

By the way, his head has been hurting a lot lately, has the effect of the poison on his body recurred? After a long time, Dave's treatment succeeded in suppressing his paralysis, slowly the pain in his body was getting better, why did he feel that the pain was slowly returning and starting to limit his movements?

Arthur laughed at himself, such a flawed man was meant to suffer like this.

"Sir, we have arrived." Driver told him.

His thoughts were scattered when he pulled into a parking lot where it was cold and lonely. Behind this fence, there are many new and old tombs lined up in a row. He cleared his throat a bit, picked up the lily he had prepared and walked out of the car.

Absolutely correct. Afternoon is the right time for pilgrimage.

After all these years, this is the first time he has dared to visit someone he loves so much.

His mother.

Her grave is not far from the main gate. He quickly found his spot and sank to the ground, lowering his head gloomily.

"Mother, I'm back." His deep voice said softly. "Sorry for visiting you only now. It's been five years since the last time."

Arthur really wanted to cry, but the tears did not come out at all.

He put the bouquet of flowers in front of the grave. Seeing the beauty of the flower is as if imagining his young mother hugging and inhaling the fragrance of the flower. Even his mother looks prettier than any flower.

"Mother, I'm married now," Arthur said calmly.

The wind answered his sentence with a gentle caress. Strands of his hair twitched slightly from the air. As if his sentence was answered by his mother.

"You ... don't have to worry anymore."

***

[Let's meet tomorrow afternoon. It just so happens that I'll be back because I forgot an item.]

Livy read the message again, and her heart skipped a beat with nervousness.

In the end she texted Gwen without mentioning what her relationship with Arthur was, and she agreed to see her. Livy was a bit lucky because she didn't need to go out of town, instead Gwen would be here.

Thinking of what to say the next time she saw Gwen, Livy couldn't sleep. It was very late when she came out of her room. Outside, it was pitch black. Usually if Arthur was home the lights would be on everywhere.

"He really isn't coming back," she muttered.

But even if Arthur returns, the man will ignore her again.

Livy smiled bitterly.

This house is so quiet and cold, without Arthur around, it becomes much colder. She didn't know what was really happening to them at this point, where the widening distance started or what to do at this time.

She really didn't know.

She sat on the cold couch in the guest house, moving restlessly, until she finally lay down there. She didn't know exactly when, but by then, she was getting tired and drifted off to sleep.

Half an hour later, the door opened and the bodyguard who escorted Arthur came in to turn on the lights. The bodyguard was shocked to see someone sleeping on the couch.

"Miss, wake up. Don't sleep here. Miss?" He was trying to wake her up.

Arthur entered shortly after and saw the same sight.

"Don't wake her up," he said. The bodyguard could only agree.

Instead of immediately going upstairs, Arthur crouched down on the side of the couch, then lifted Livy's body in his arms with ease. The hold was a bit wobbly before finally standing up and could have been more stable. Luckily she is very thin, so her body is so light.

"S-Sir, I'll do it," offered the bodyguard, he was worried because his master's room was upstairs.

"You go." Arthur ruled.

It was obvious that the bodyguard had doubts, but he couldn't refute and could only agree.

Arthur immediately took Livy to his own room. With careful movements, he put Livy down and tucked her up to her chin.

In the dark, Arthur is completely blind. Even after the table lamp was on, he couldn't see clearly. His fingers stretched out to caress her cheek. As he had expected, his little wife's skin had always been soft and smooth. He secretly planted a kiss on his little wife's forehead.

"Good night."

***

The next morning, Livy woke up with a start. She felt that she just closed her eyes for a moment and she fell asleep on the sofa. As she was about to get up, she realized that she was no longer on the couch; there was a blanket over her shoulders and a familiar room.

"When did I sleep here? Didn't I sleep on the couch?" Livy confused.

There was a brief knock on the door and a maid entered with a tray.

"Young Lady, I was just about to wake you up." The maid was smiling.

Normally, none of the maids would wake her up if someone didn't ask them to. Does that mean Arthur is back?

"Please drink this warm milk."

Someone must have asked this maid to make a drink. Livy immediately asked, "Was it Arthur who carried me last night?"

The maid looked confused.

Livy just remembered that she left her room very late and the maids were not active. "Ah, forget it. Is Arthur back yet?"

"Young Master is having breakfast. Would you like to come down?"

'So, it's true that he carried me to the room. Is now a good time to make up?' Livy winced, then glanced at the clock on the wall and frowned.

"Breakfast? At this time?"

By the way, Livy felt like she had just fallen asleep on the couch and found it was almost ten in the morning.

And she has an appointment with Gwen at one in the afternoon!

The maid stirred the milk while showing a somber face. "That's ... Young Master looks exhausted. I think he came back late last night and didn't sleep."

Exhausted?

"Did he say anything?"

The maid shook her head.

Livy removed her blanket and rose up. She ignored the maids calling out to her repeatedly and headed down to the dining table. There, she saw Arthur drinking his coffee.

"You're awake?" Arthur said as soon as Livy arrived at the dining table.

Right now Arthur wasn't looking at her at all and his sentences were bland as well. Livy felt a little pain in her heart. So he is still avoiding her?

"Sit down. You haven't had breakfast yet," Arthur said.

Livy pulled up a chair right next to Arthur, saying nothing.

The maid who had chased her also arrived and placed the previous drink on the table. Arthur said to her, "It's getting a little cold. Get some new ones."

"Yes, sir."

"No need. I'll drink it," Livy said.

"Milk that is not warm is not good to drink. Sit down and obey."

Hearing that calm yet pressing tone, Livy couldn't help but agree. Arthur is always like this, always uses this tone and makes her obey. Why did she feel like she was a bodyguard who had to take orders?

And why could she think like that? Was it possible that her anger at him had been sparked again?

"I'm going to the office today. Do you have plans to go out?" Arthur wiped his mouth with his napkin, starting to open his tablet again.

But without Livy knowing actually Arthur didn't do anything on the tablet. He only did it because he didn't know what else to say. And the reason for going to the office is just a subterfuge. Right now, if he saw her even a little bit, he would remember about Livy's rejection of him. It made him anxious.

"You've been so busy lately," Livy said softly.

Arthur didn't answer.

"In two days, we'll be leaving. You better get your energy up and get some rest. Didn't Dave say you shouldn't be too tired?" Livy turned her gaze to the side dishes on the table, losing her appetite.

Whether because of her words or what, Arthur put his tablet back down. "I will only work today, tomorrow I will rest."

Livy wanted to talk to him more, especially wanting to make up for their fight yesterday, but the words that were on the tip of her tongue were swallowed up again.

But ... it's good that he is gone today, because it means he won't be watching her directly. She still has to meet Gwen. No one can know.

However, she was confused about what reason to leave.

"How was your exam?"

"That's fine I guess."

Arthur nodded in understanding.

"It's just that there will be revisions for failed exams. I guess I should still go to uni to check. That way I can have a peaceful vacation." Livy immediately expressed this reason, and felt that it was a reasonable one.

"Ask the driver to drive you." Arthur pushed back his chair and stood up. He took his tablet and phone, intending to leave, "I'll be going first."

Livy's heart throbbed at the nonchalant tone, and Arthur just left her without waiting for her to touch her food.

Until when will they continue like this?

... to be continued ...