Kya was so taken with Henson’s playful banter that she could hardly feel sleepy even after everyone had left. She
waved goodbye to him with a reluctant smile, “Bro, see you later!”
Estelle looked on with admiration, “I never realized you had such a knack for charming kids!”
Henson replied with a mature smirk, “It’s nothing, really. Little tykes like her are easy to please!”
Yet Estelle couldn’t help but think that at home, Henson was the baby of the family. Now that there was someone
even younger around, he seemed to relish the chance to play the elder brother.
Leaving the 9th Mansion, Estelle gently patted Norah’s shoulder before getting into the car and said softly, “Think it
over. If a relationship is causing you pain, it’s okay to let it go.”
Norah turned, her eyes wide with surprise, and looked into Estelle’s clear gaze. Her nose tingled with emotion, and
she nearly broke into tears. She looked down and murmured, “I understand.”
“It will pass,” Estelle assured her.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Yeah,” Norah replied and hugged Estelle briefly before getting into her car.
Late into the night, well past midnight, Jonathan bathed Estelle and helped her into bed before applying body lotion
to her skin.
The wound on Estelle’s back had almost completely healed, leaving no scars, and the new skin was as soft and pink
as a baby’s.
Jonathan kissed the spot tenderly, lingering a moment too long.
Estelle, drained of energy, reached out to hold his arm, her voice soft and sleepy, “Can we sleep now?”
With a low hum of agreement, Jonathan lay down beside her, holding her close.
Estelle found a comfortable spot in his arms and was quickly overtaken by sleepiness, her eyes unable to stay open.
Jonathan switched off the bedside lamp and stroked her freshly dried hair, murmuring, “There’s a bit of a situation
at the M Country branch. I need to take care of it personally. I’ll be back within a week, in time to go to Magdalen’s
wedding with you.”
Estelle’s eyelashes fluttered as she looked up at him, “Is it serious?”
“Not at all, but it requires my presence.”
Resting her forehead against his chest, Estelle whispered, “I’ll wait for you.”
Jonathan kissed the tip of her nose, “I’ll sort it out as fast as I can.”
“Mhm,” Estelle snuggled back into his embrace, holding him tight.
As Jonathan wrapped his arms around her, gazing out into the tranquil night, he too closed his eyes before long.
The next morning
Estelle woke up earlier than usual and helped Jonathan put on his shirt, then fetched his tie to help him knot it.
Jonathan looked down at her, admiring her delicate focus, his heart growing fonder by the second. He carefully
instructed her, “While I’m gone, be good. No staying out in the cold, no getting into scraps, and if there’s an
emergency, call Millard.”
Estelle’s fingers were slender, skilled with a bow and arrow, but tying a tie was a finer task she hadn’t mastered yet.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAfter two attempts, she wasn’t satisfied and started over again.
Jonathan held her hands, chuckling softly, “I can do it myself!”
“No!” Estelle’s eyes were determined, “I refuse to believe I can’t do it right!”
Letting her be, Jonathan watched as she tried again.
On the fourth attempt, Estelle finally nodded in satisfaction, stepping back to admire her work, she smiled warmly,
“Looks great!”
“Are you complimenting the tie or me?” Jonathan wrapped his arms around her waist, whispering sweet nothings.
Estelle’s eyes sparkled, her smile lazy, “With the tie I knotted, you look even handsomer!”
Jonathan chuckled lowly, tilting his head to kiss her, “Did you remember everything I told you?”
Estelle nodded obediently, “I remember!”
“And don’t forget to miss me!” Jonathan’s gaze deepened as he kissed her deeply.
After a long, passionate kiss, Estelle looked up at him, “Go on, then. Come back soon.”
“I will,” Jonathan kissed her forehead one last time, “I’m off!”