Winning Her Heart Back



Suppressing HimselfText property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Emelie gestured for Jodie to check the area thoroughly. Then, she turned to William, putting on an act of gratitude.

She said, "With so many of us here, we must've been a nuisance, Mr. Middleton. Once we leave, we'll pay you back for any supplies we've used."

William didn't argue. Instead, he pulled a watch from his pocket and put it on. "Whatever you say."

"Well, we won't keep you from resting, Mr. Middleton," Emelie said.

William knew that she was implying for him to leave. So, he retreated to his room next door.

Once Jodie finished inspecting, she reported, "Ma'am, there are no pinhole cameras or listening devices found."

Emelie opened the cabinet beneath the bathroom mirror. She found towels, toothpaste, toothbrush, and disposable underwear.

As she took a pack of the disposable underwear out and examined the packaging, she noticed the production date. It was from three years ago.

William bought the house three years ago, and the items were likely placed here at the same time. Since no one had lived here, they hadn't been replaced.

According to the date, William didn't seem to be lying.

Emelie closed the cabinet and straightened up, scanning the room. Her eyes landed on a painting on the wall-"The Snowy Road in Argenteuil" by Monet. It struck a familiar chord that she couldn't quite place.

She turned to Jodie and asked, "Are there any attractions nearby?"

Jodie retrieved her phone to look it up. Soon, she got an answer.

"Yes, there's the largest ski resort in Borealis City, just three kilometers from here," she replied.

Emelie remembered and glanced back at the painting, realizing why it felt so familiar.

William found a pair of cotton slippers in his drawer. He remembered that Emelie was wearing a pair of short boots that weren't comfortable, so he decided to bring them to her. William walked to Emelie's door.

As he was about to knock, he heard a man's voice coming from inside. "Where are you at?" The voice sounded familiar, and William paused for a moment.

Emelie replied, "Still in Serdantia."

Wesley was confused. "Didn't you say last night that you've finished up in Serdantia and are heading to Borealis City?"

"Well, it's snowing heavily in Borealis City. If we head over there now, we might get stuck in the storm. So, we're staying in Serdantia for a bit. The view here is nice, and I'm taking some time to explore," Emelie replied.

Wesley wasn't suspicious.

"You hate the cold. Make sure to stay warm when you go out," he said.

"Got it. You've been telling me that every day. Aren't you worried people will think you're just an old chatterbox, Mr. Cronus?" Emelie said.

Wesley chuckled. "Am I old? Hmm?"

From their daily banter, it was clear how close they were. They spoke casually and with ease, even teasing each other a little from time to time.

William heard everything clearly with a blank expression on his face.

Emelie wasn't being completely honest. She probably didn't want to worry Wesley, who was away in another country. And Wesley knew her routine so well from their nightly phone calls. Just what a sweet couple they made.

Suddenly, William felt a cough coming on.

He pressed his lips together and turned around, leaning against the wall. He clasped his chest with one hand and covered his mouth with another. He fought the urge to cough, and the sensation burned from his throat to his lungs.

It was said that there were three things in the world that couldn't be hidden: poverty, a cough, and love.

But he hid it all away, didn't he?

The conversation in the room continued with light chatter. There was no specific topic, just a desire to share their day's experiences.

That was right. The desire to share was often called the highest form of romance. William recalled his past memories. He and Emelie had shared moments like that too.