By the time she woke, it was evening.
The setting sunâs rays shone through the floor-to-ceiling window to gild the people on the bed with a golden sheen.
Alfred had woken up a while ago. When he saw her open her eyes, he moved over to kiss her before gently saying, âSleep a little longer. Iâll wake you when itâs time for dinner.â
As he spoke, he got out of bed to put on his clothes.
He still had to handle a lot of work. Leslie had been waiting for him in the study for a long time, but Alfred could not bring himself to ditch her in the bedroom, fearing that she would be upset to find him missing upon waking.
He cherished her. Though he could not stay by her side at all times, he would do everything he could.
Melora was a little flustered.
She pulled the blanket higher and watched him as she leaned against the pillows.
Once Alfred put on his clothes, he leaned over to kiss her before chuckling.
After he left, Melora did not dare to sleep anymore.
She got up to visit Crystal before chatting with Lucia. Lucia was a wise elderly woman who did not shift. her anger onto Melora for being Henryâs younger sister. On the contrary, since there were few women in the Lodge family, Lucia seemed to be happy to have someone to dote on.
At night, when Alfred was done with work and returned, he found Melora picking vegetables with his mother in the garden.
Lucia was muttering, âI planted these myself, and we didnât use any pesticides.â
He pushed the vines above his head aside and walked over. âMom is protective of these vegetables and normally wouldnât let anyone eat them.â
Lucia scoffed.
She then turned to Melora and said, âDonât listen to his nonsense. If he would bring his âMeloâ back home, Iâd give her all the vegetables I have.â
âMelo?â Melora visibly paused.
After that, Lucia briefly told her about his drunken rambles.
Realizing what had happened, Melora blusked.
Alfred quietly watched her with a half-smile, making her even more uneasy. Still, she was touched. So Mr. Alfred calls my name when heâs inebriated.
The sky turned dark.
Lucia decided to cook, and Melora stayed near her. Even though Alfred rarely entered the kitchen, he, too, was there.
After the meal, they went back to their rooms together.
When they reached the entrance, Alfred led her into his own room.
Alfredâs room was spacious, its decor a tinge of vintage. The accompanying study was equally decorated with wooden furniture, and near the window was a spot for drinking coffee.
Melora blinked, stunned.
Alfred tapped her button nose and prompted, âShocked?â
A little embarrassed, she muttered, âI never imagined my boyfriendâs room would be like this.â
She was certainly beating around a big bush.
In other words, she was saying that his tastes were antiquated.
How could Alfred not understand that? He simply chuckled and walked over to brew a cup of coffee for her.
When she took it, he nonchalantly said. âShall we continue tonight?â
Melora stiffened.
Are you human?
She was younger than him, and she knew how to submit. Thus, she walked to his back to hug him and whined. Alfred merely held her hand and drank his coffee.
The truth was, he was busy with work. It was rare that he had time in the afternoon, so how could he possibly have time for that now?
Melora made no protests.
As he worked in the study, she kept him company Once in a while, Alfred would lift his head to ask her to get him something, and she would eagerly run errands for him.
Work kept him preoccupied until eleven at night.
He finally had time to pin her against the bed to bully her.
Melora thought of him as a beast. He had told her he was not going to do it earlier.
Just as things were getting heated, someone knocked on the door before Luciaâs voice rang out. âAlfred, youâre not asleep yet, right? Iâve brought you supper.â
The handle was already turning.
Both people on the bed stiffened.
Meloraâs eyes were wide, and her voice was a whisper. âWhat do we do now?â
Alfred hastily shoved her under the blanket and kicked her house shoes under the bed. At the same time, he sat down by the edge of the bed, making it seem like he was about to go to sleep.
Lucia entered the room. When she saw him, she remarked, âAre you getting ready to sleep?â
Alfred gave her a small smile. âYes. Iâm exhausted from working hard earlier.â
Lucia sat down.
She was in the mood for a chat with her son, but that spelled misery for Melora. Being under the blanket was stuffy, and she wanted to move, but Alfred had clamped her head with his legs. He even reached. under the blanket to pat her on the head as if she was a puppy.
After a while, Lucia finally left.
The second the door closed, Melora climbed out, her eyes teary.
âMr. Alfred, I canât breathe!â
Alfred gently pulled her out and placed her in his lap. After a long while, he muttered. âDo you like it here?â
Melora Blushed.
What does he mean by that?
Alfred did not continue with the questions. He took the supper his mother brought over and shared it with her.
Half a bowl was not enough for Melora, so she started whining for more..
Alfred pinched her cheeks and said, âShall I wake my mother and ask her to make another set of for her daughter-in-law?â
He was such a terrible man, so she started hammering her fists against him.
A long while of messing around later, she hugged his neck and told him that she was hungry. Alfred kissed her. âIâve never met anyone whoâs more troublesome than you. Iâll make supper for you. then.â
âYou can cook?â she queried, still hugging him.
Alfred smiled before putting on his house shoes and heading to the kitchen. To his surprise, he found Lucia there.
Lucia was equally stunned to see him.
Alfred lit a cigarette and started rummaging through the refrigerator. âSupper wasnât enough, so Iâm thinking of making more.â
How could Lucia let her precious son do that?
Therefore, she took the ravioli out from the refrigerator and boiled them as she chided her son, âYouâre not that young anymore, so cut down on the suppers. Itâs time for you to keep fit. How else are you going to find a wife?â
Alfred kept quiet.
Once the water in the pot was boiling, Lucia scooped the ravioli onto a smaller plate before putting a dash of cilantro on it.
She had heard that cilantro was a popular garnish among young women recently.
Alfred took the plate and left. Halfway to his room, he laughed.
He did not eat cilantro, but Lucia had garnished the dish with that. It seemed like his mother was more perceptive than he thought.
When in love, every day seemed to be wonderful.
They had yet to publicize their relationship. Alfred planned to have Melora spend the harvest festival together before sending her back to Barnwood..
They were going to take things one step at a time for their future plans.
Having been stuck in the Lodge residence for three days, Melora wanted to head out for a stroll to buy some gifts for Crystal and Lucia. Furthermore, she heard that pumpkin pies were famous in Coldbridge.
Due to Alfredâs identity, Leslie was the one by Meloraâs side when she shopped. Meanwhile, Alfred sat in the car and read documents.
Alfred never expected to meet a familiar face on the street.
It was Molly, Alfredâs coworker and also a prominent figure. Just as she was done with her meal, she spotted Alfredâs car stopped by the side of the road. Knowing that Alfred had a brighter future than her, she prioritized building a good relationship with him.
Hence, she strode over to knock on his car window.
Alfred then got out of the car.
Molly smiled and greeted him. âI saw your car from afar, but I didnât think that it was really you!â
Just as Alfred was about to say something, Melora jogged over with a few bags. Her face was flushed from her exercise, and she was even calling out for him.
Molly could not help but spare a few more glances.
Sheâs quite a pretty girl. Since Molly had a son, she cleared her throat and started, âAlfred, this is...â
Not wanting his coworker to learn about his private matters, Alfred said with a small smile, âA young family friend.â
A young family friend?
For reasons unbeknownst to Melora, her heart skipped a beat when she heard that, and she felt upset. So, even here in Coldbridge, he canât introduce me as his girlfriend?
Her thoughts were written all over her face.
On their way back, Alfred tried to console her, but he was already thinking of sending her back to Barnwood. After all, with his identity, he could not tell anyone about their relationship unless it was official. Otherwise, it would affect Melora greatly if anything happened.
He had always been a man of secrets.
Still, Melora could guess what was on his mind. When it was time to sleep, she lay in his arms and whispered. âI donât want to go out anymore, so please donât send me back to Barnwood.â
Alfred lowered his head to look at her silently.
She had her arms around his neck. âI like it here.â
Most importantly, it was because they rarely had the opportunity to be together.
It was not as though he could always go to Barnwood. It had been more than a year since they first met each other, but they had only spent a few proper days together.
Alfredâs heart melted..
He bowed his head to find her lips before kissing her.
At the same time, his slender fingers slowly pulled her bathrobe apart. The soft sensation that greeted his fingertips sent him ablaze. Melora did not know if it was her imagination or not, but he was rough that night.
When it all came to an end, she pressed close to him, letting her sweat slowly cool.
Alfred gently patted her as though he was coaxing her to sleep, but neither could bring themself to do that, She raised her hand to touch his face and mumbled, âMr. Alfred, why havenât you gotten married?â
Alfred chuckled. âWhat do you think?â
Then, he pulled her into his arms.
Her heart was thumping loudly as her head leaned against his chest. Shamelessly, she said, âI think youâre waiting for me to get older. Once Iâm older, youâll have someone to marry.
Melora kept going on and on about marriage, and it seemed like it was something she wanted.
Alfredâs interest was abruptly piqued. As he reached his hand into the blanket, he started teasing her as he said, âLet me see if youâre all grown up now. Donât you lie to me!â
He was a wolf in sheepâs clothing when he was in that kind of mood.
Lifting Melora so that she sat on him, he took his time training her. Even when she cried and wanted to come down, he would not let her. He continued to stir her up in various ways.
Skylerâs status was still unknown, so their relationship was kept in the dark.
After the harvest festival was the time for Melora to return.
The night of her departure, she was teary-eyed.
Alfred patted her head. âDonât worry about that, girly.â
However, he was melancholic too. How could he not want her to stay by his side?
With her around, the house seemed livelier.
Lucia always grumbled in the past, but now, she was always going to the marketplace with the housekeepers to pick vegetables that the young woman liked. Alfred knew that his mother had sensed something about their relationship, though she chose not to voice it out loud.
That night, he sat in the study for a long while.
He thought about the future and about promising the rest of his life to her.
Lucia came over with tea and sat beside him. It seemed like she wanted to ask something but ultimately. did not. She was sure that the young woman that her son brought home had to be the one he chose to spend the rest of his life with.
In truth, she quite liked Melora too.
Meloâs Melora, isnât it? Lucia mused. Maybe weâll be holding a wedding soon. Though their age gap is wide, itâs fine as long as my son likes her.
In the end, Lucia said, âSheâs not bad.â
Alfred mulled over those words for a long while before chuckling.
My motherâs an interesting woman. Once Skyler is in a better condition, Iâll ask the Miller family for her hand in marriage.
Alfred wanted to keep her by his side and have her stay with him and Lucia. That way, he would come back to a house with lights on and the sight of her spending time with his mother.
He was not young anymore. Perhaps kids would be their priority once they married.