Jayson rolled off her, got out of bed, opened the closet to grab a robe, and immediately left the room. Hearing the sound of the study door closing next door, Sidney breathed a sigh of relief and curled up on the bed, crying softly.
Although she knew this day would come sooner or later, she was still afraid. She wasn't ready to open her heart to accept him, to accept the fact that they were now husband and wife. Jayson felt too foreign to her. Every time his body touched hers, she couldn't help but tremble, even though she constantly told herself not to be afraid. They were now husband and wife, and this was something she had to get used to. She had no reason to refuse sharing a bed with him, yet her subconscious still feared him.
Crying herself to sleep, Sidney fell into a heavy slumber before dawn. Not long after, she was startled awake by the sound of a door closing next door. Hearing footsteps moving downstairs, she slowly sat up from the bed in a daze. Only then did she take in the full view of the room. She pulled back the heavy curtains, and morning light poured in through the window. Looking out, she could see half of the mountain view and part of the cityscape of B City. The row of houses next door consisted of independent villas, spaced far apart. After letting the sunlight fill the room, Sidney sluggishly made her way to the bathroom to freshen up.
Sidney went downstairs and found the living room and dining room empty. She sighed in relief and sat at the dining table, staring blankly at the cheese bagel. It was then that the housekeeper came out of the kitchen and asked what Sidney would like to drink. Sidney lazily requested coffee, and the housekeeper went back into the kitchen for a while before bringing out a cup of coffee, along with a jar of cream and sugar.
Sidney was heavily addicted to coffee and always drank it black. She raised the cup and gulped it down in one go. The housekeeper stood by, asking if Sidney needed anything else or if she wanted anything to eat. Sidney realized that the housekeeper was truly versatile, not just skilled in cleaning and organizing, but also an excellent cook. Hiring such a housekeeper must come at a hefty price.
"Will you be having lunch at home, Madam?"
Sidney wasn't sure where she would go today, so she nodded.
"Before, Sir was never home for lunch or dinner, so we never hired a special chef. I've only been making breakfast for him. But if Madam wishes, I can hire a chef who can cook dishes to your liking."
"...Can I think about it some more? If it's inconvenient for you, housekeeper, I can cook myself."
"Please don't misunderstand, Madam. As a housekeeper, it's my duty to take care of everything in the house and everyone in it. I only suggested this because I'm afraid my cooking might not suit your tastes."
"Oh, it's fine, I'm not a picky eater. You can give it a try, housekeeper, or I can cook myself if you prefer. Don't worry about it."
Sidney finished her coffee and bagel, not knowing what to do with the whole day ahead. She didn't want to disturb the housekeeper, so she went upstairs and returned to her room. After eating and drinking, she lay on the bed in a daze, wondering how she would spend the long hours now that she was here.
She thought to herself that perhaps she could suggest to Jayson that she go out and work? Or maybe find something interesting to do?
At that thought, Sidney realized that besides the first floor and this room, there were many other places in the house she hadn't explored. Maybe she should start with an adventure!
Sidney entered the study next to the master bedroom. The door was closed but not locked. She opened it and found that the study was about the same size as the master bedroom. It looked very cozy. In addition to the large bookshelves and office desk with a computer, there was also a large fabric sofa with a carpet underneath. Just looking at it made her want to sit down and read.
Sidney curiously scanned the bookshelves in Finnegan's study, noticing that the collection didn't seem to belong to him alone. Alongside the usual business and economics books, there were novels, essays, and poetry from authors around the world. This piqued her interest, and as she excitedly imagined how long it would take to read all the novels here, she ran her fingers over the spines, unsure of where to start.
