Chapter 288: Chapter 285: The One-Year Agreement (5)
"Alright." She walked over quickly, her head bowed, and offered him the coffee with both hands. "Young Master, please have your coffee."
He took it, and as if on purpose, his hand brushed lightly against hers.
"Did you grind this?"
"No, the old woman did. If the Young Master has no other orders, I’ll take my leave now." She was clearly trying to escape.
But Quentin Grant had no intention of giving her that chance.
"Are you new here? You look so unfamiliar."
"Yes."
"How old are you?" he asked.
"Twenty-three."
"What’s your name?"
Nora Ainsworth was growing impatient. ’Is this Young Master running a background check on me?’ she thought.
"My name is Amy."
Quentin Grant laughed out loud. "Amy? Did your boyfriend give you that name?"
Nora Ainsworth kept her head down. "I don’t have a boyfriend."
"Oh?" He gave her a meaningful look. "Twenty-three and no boyfriend? What’s the reason for that?"
Nora Ainsworth nearly ground her teeth. She rolled her eyes. ’What business is it of yours? You’re being awfully nosy.’
"Because my face was disfigured when I was young, so no man has ever been interested. It’s a personal failing."
Quentin Grant chuckled. "Lift your head."
She reluctantly raised her head to look at him.
She hadn’t realized until she looked, but the sight of him nearly made her heart jump out of her chest.
"Ah!" she cried, stumbling back two steps. ’How is *he* the Young Master of this estate?’ she cursed inwardly.
"What’s wrong?" he asked with a smile.
Seeing that he didn’t seem to recognize her, Nora Ainsworth explained, "The Young Master is just too handsome. Seeing you so suddenly, I was simply stunned by your good looks."
A smile spread across Quentin Grant’s face. "Is that so? What a coincidence, I don’t have a girlfriend either."
Nora Ainsworth was confused. ’What does he mean by that? I say I don’t have a boyfriend, he says he doesn’t have a girlfriend... Is he planning to get his hands on even someone as ’ugly’ as me?’
She couldn’t help but feel a surge of contempt for him.
"No way. How could someone as handsome as you not have a girlfriend? That’s impossible."
"What, you think I would lie to you?"
Nora Ainsworth gave a couple of dry laughs. "Young Master, when are you leaving?"
"In a few days, probably."
Nora Ainsworth had originally planned to leave and go somewhere else, but after hearing him confirm he’d be gone in a few days, she decided the most dangerous place was the safest place. Therefore, she would stay right here.
"Well then, I won’t disturb the Young Master any longer. I’ll see myself out."
"Alright." Quentin Grant watched her tremble as she left, a smile spreading across his lips.
He hadn’t come here for nothing.
He spent the afternoon reading and handling some business. Then, Quentin Grant went downstairs to the kitchen.
He saw her cooking, clumsy and awkward. ’She used to know how to cook. Why is she so inept now?’
He walked over quietly and, in a perfectly natural motion, pressed up against her back and said, "Is this your first time cooking?"
Nora Ainsworth was so startled she nearly cut her own hand.
"I’m not very good at it."
His smile was unreadable. "Not very good at it? You’ll learn with practice. I’ll teach you."
He took the knife from her hand, began chopping vegetables, and then started stir-frying. As a woman, she couldn’t even cook as well as a man. It was a complete and utter humiliation!
Nora Ainsworth swore to herself that she would secretly learn how to cook. She wouldn’t let this jerk look down on her.
After successfully stir-frying one dish, he handed the knife back to her. "Your turn."
"I... I’m still learning."
He chuckled, took her hand in his, and guided her as she chopped.
At first, Nora Ainsworth felt completely uncomfortable, but then she started to think she was overthinking things. ’Could he have possibly recognized me?’
’Could he have fallen in love at first sight with a disfigured servant like me?’
The answer, of course, was no.
The only possibility was that he was lonely, bored, and horny, and wanted to take advantage of her in this place where he couldn’t find any other women!
Nora Ainsworth watched him cook, and her mind was filled with those three words: "sleep with me."
Finally, she couldn’t help but ask, "Young Master, I want to ask you a question."
"What is it?"
"Are you trying to sleep with me?"
Quentin Grant’s mouth twitched. He looked her over. "Miss, even that requires certain standards. Look at you... you’re quite homely, and as for your figure, it’s just so-so. I wonder if you can even live up to your name?"
At that moment, Nora Ainsworth was truly certain he hadn’t recognized her.
"What’s wrong with my name?"
"A name like that is a silent invitation." His words nearly made her faint from anger.
「After dinner.」
She returned to her room to rest.
He, on the other hand, couldn’t sleep.
He sat and waited for the dead of night.
The old woman brought her a glass of milk. "Amy, drink this. It’ll help you get a good night’s sleep."
"Alright." Nora Ainsworth didn’t hesitate and drank it all in one go.
Every night, the old woman would bring her a glass of milk. ’She’s so good to me,’ Nora thought.
Afterwards, she took two sleeping pills herself, because she’d been having nightmares lately.
Nora Ainsworth turned off the light and, a short while later, fell asleep.
At ten o’clock, an hour after she had fallen asleep, he finally arrived at her door.
He used a spare key to open the door and let himself in.
He turned on a light and sat on the edge of the bed.
His hands gently lifted the veil from her face. The familiar features warmed his heart just by looking at them.
He leaned down and kissed her.
The room was chilly, so he turned on the heat.
Only when the room had warmed up did he lift the covers and hold her in his arms.
「After darkness comes the dawn.」
The morning air was crisp and fresh.
When Nora Ainsworth woke up, she noticed her whole body was sore.
She put on her slippers, went to the bathroom, and slipped into the bathtub for a soak.
She washed up quickly, got dressed, and headed for the kitchen.
The old woman handed her the prepared breakfast. "The Young Master isn’t up yet. Take this upstairs for him, and wake him up."
Nora Ainsworth nodded. "Alright."
She carried the breakfast tray into his bedroom.
Nora Ainsworth squeezed her eyes shut, placed the breakfast on the table, and called out, "Young Master, time for breakfast!"
There was no answer.
She had no choice but to approach the bed and call out by his ear, "Young Master? Time to get up and eat breakfast."
He rolled over and mumbled a reply.
Nora Ainsworth lowered her head. Once he had gone into the bathroom, she turned and left his bedroom.
Her face was flushed and her heart was racing. It was an indescribable feeling.
She hurried downstairs, where the old woman asked, "Is the Young Master up?"
She nodded. "He’s up."
