Late at night, I woke up with a dry mouth, only to find a cup of warm water placed on the bedside table. I didn't have to guess who had placed it there.
I sighed, thinking of the harsh words I had said to Alastair earlier, and felt a strange sense of guilt. The light was still on in the other room, suggesting he hadn't gone to sleep yet. I hesitated, wondering whether I should knock on his door and apologize. Just as I made up my mind, I heard a "click," and the light behind the door went out.
I: "..."
What a temper.
The next morning, the breakfast table was set for two, just like usual. But Alastair sat down without saying anything, not rushing me like he normally did.
"Alistair."
I sat across from him.
He lowered his gaze and sipped his soup, deliberately ignoring me.
"I had too much to drink last night. I said some things I shouldn't have."
I said sincerely, "I'm sorry."
After a long pause, Alistair simply muttered, "Mm."
Alistair rarely gets angry, but when he does, it's hard to read him.
It wasn't until I burned my tongue on the soup, and he handed me a glass of water accompanied by a familiar scolding, that I knew he was truly no longer upset.
I had a meeting scheduled for later, and after it, I was supposed to have dinner with some clients.
Knowing the dinner would take a while, I figured Alistair might be waiting for me again.
I called him, "I'm having dinner with some clients today, so I might be back late. Don't wait for me."
My manager, who happened to be passing by, winked at me playfully and teased, "Paisley, did you check in with your partner?"
What, check in with them?
"Besides, even if I were to check in with anyone, there's no way I'd be updating him! The phone in my hand felt like it was on fire, but once I said it, I couldn't take it back. Alistair responded with a quiet 'Mm,' as if he was about to say something more."
I quickly hung up, "I have work to do. Talk to you later, bye."
Since I had already informed Alistair, I agreed to meet with Frida Blackwood after the dinner. To avoid waking Alistair, I waited until almost midnight, making sure he was sound asleep before coming home. The living room light was still on, and someone who should've been sleeping was sitting on the couch.
"Why are you back so late?"
"Why aren't you asleep?"
Our voices rang out at the same time.
Alistair sniffed, "Have you been drinking?"
I instinctively touched my nose, "I was with clients for dinner tonight."
Alistair, expressionless, called me out, "You never drink when you're with clients."
"Frida asked me to go out after dinner."
I sheepishly added that part.
Alistair didn't comment, "Did you go look for that person from yesterday?"
"No."
I didn't even know where the business card I had from yesterday went, and I certainly wasn't going to ask Frida for his contact information.
It was just one man, not worth making a fuss over.
Alistair walked toward me, crouching down as if he was trying to verify the truth in my words. I thought he was going to grab my shoulder and interrogate me, but instead, he gently reached down my arm and took the bag I was holding, hanging it on the rack.
Huh?
What kind of scene is this?
Alistair clearly didn't want to explain my surprise. He turned and walked into the kitchen.
The figure in the kitchen was tall, bathed in warm light that softened the coolness of his demeanor. It was such a cozy and heartwarming scene, but if the person weren't Alistair, I might have been more moved.
"Here."
Alistair quickly brought me a glass of honey lemon water.
For a moment, I thought of the conspiracy I had discussed with Frida about Alistair.
If someone like him asked me for 6.4 billion of my family's fortune, I think I would hand it over without hesitation. Truly, I was losing my mind. I gritted my teeth, angry with myself. Alistair's personality had changed so drastically, it felt like someone had taken control of his body.
He no longer bombarded me with long speeches at every turn, and instead, he took full charge of my daily needs. As an adversary, Alistair could make me so angry I could die. But as a friend, who had turned his anger into care, he took such good care of me. Sometimes, in fleeting moments, I even felt like we had somehow become a couple. My instincts screamed in alarm, but part of me wanted to sink deeper into the comfort of it all.
This change undoubtedly affected Frida first.
"Paisley, Paisley..."
She pointed at me. "You've really fallen off the deep end. You wake up at seven and go to bed at ten, and you don't even drink with me anymore."
"Even Cinderella got to stay out until midnight! How come your boyfriend's even stricter than a fairy godmother?" Alastair Langley wasn't controlling to the point of being a freak about my bedtime.
Just coming home late every day after being out, and then silently pouring me a glass of water—something about Alastair always feels off to me.
It was like I was the one throwing my loyal husband at home and going out to enjoy myself, leaving him behind like an unfaithful person.
Of course, I wouldn't say this to Frida.
I smiled sheepishly. "I'll definitely join you tonight." She huffed, and only then did she seem somewhat satisfied.
"Oh, by the way."
Frida asked, "Are you going to the alumni gathering tomorrow?"
Since I wasn't busy, I replied, "I'll go."
She teased me, "Well, your boyfriend better get a pumpkin carriage that lasts until at least midnight! 10 PM is way too early."
I remained silent.
