Chapter 232: Chapter 232: There Once Were Sweet and Loving Days
In the master bedroom, Wren Sutton lay on the large bed, wide awake.
The fresh scent of Adrian Lancaster after his shower seemed to linger in the air.
She turned her head, her gaze drifting uncontrollably to the door that connected the master bedroom to the nursery.
This was the first time since their children were born that she hadn’t slept in the same room with them.
It wasn’t that she worried Adrian Lancaster couldn’t take good care of the children. He was meticulous and thoughtful when it came to looking after them.
It was just that her heart felt empty. Without those two small, soft sources of warmth snuggled beside her, without the sound of their faint, even breathing, the night seemed especially long and quiet.
She rolled over, closed her eyes, and tried to fall asleep.
But an image of Adrian Lancaster turning to leave flashed uncontrollably through her mind—the faint, almost imperceptible trace of loneliness in his upright silhouette.
’Was that really my imagination? And the deep tone he tried so hard to suppress beneath his steady voice... the dark undercurrents swirling in the depths of his eyes when he looked at me.’
...
For some reason, Wren Sutton suddenly felt flustered and even less able to sleep. She opened her eyes and stared at the dim ceiling, well past midnight.
Her throat was parched. She took a deep breath and reached out, fumbling for the thermos on the nightstand.
Just as her fingers touched the thermos, her wrist went limp, her mind still in a fretful state.
With a dull CLANG, the thermos fell to the floor. The lid popped off, and water spilled out, soaking a small patch of the carpet.
...
Wren Sutton was speechless, silently annoyed with her own clumsiness.
The very next second, Adrian Lancaster’s figure appeared in the master bedroom.
He had clearly been startled from a light sleep. His hair was a little messy, the sash of his robe was hastily tied, and a trace of drowsiness still lingered in his eyes. But his gaze locked onto Wren Sutton instantly as he strode over and turned on the night light.
"What’s wrong?" His voice, husky from sleep, was filled with concern.
His eyes swept over the thermos and the small puddle on the floor, his brow furrowing slightly.
He didn’t immediately pick up the thermos, nor did he blame Wren Sutton. Instead, he asked worriedly, "Did you get scalded?"
"No, it was lukewarm." Wren Sutton shook her head. She pursed her lips, feeling like a child who had done something wrong. ’How could I be so clumsy? I can’t even do a simple thing like this. I’m completely useless.’
Adrian Lancaster finally relaxed. "Thank goodness it was lukewarm," he said, relieved.
Then, he took her hand in his.
"If you’d gotten burned, I would have died of worry."
A tremor went through Wren Sutton’s heart.
A gentle smile spread across Adrian Lancaster’s face. "Just a moment. I’ll go get you another glass of water."
"Thank you."
Soon, Adrian Lancaster returned with a glass of warm water and handed it to Wren Sutton.
Wren Sutton took the glass, and its pleasant warmth seeped through into her hands.
She sipped the water, her eyes drawn irresistibly to Adrian Lancaster.
He was squatting down, picking up the thermos and wiping the floor with paper towels. His movements were quiet, as if he were afraid of making too much noise.
A mix of self-reproach and her earlier chaotic thoughts churned inside Wren Sutton. Her voice dropped. "I’m sorry for waking you."
The dim yellow night light traced the contours of Adrian’s profile. His lowered lashes cast small shadows just beneath his eyes.
’He was woken up, yet he didn’t complain at all. He came to check on me first, and now he’s quietly cleaning up this little mess.’
"I’m really sorry," Wren Sutton said, setting down her glass. Her voice was even quieter now.
"You must have just fallen asleep. Please, go back to bed. The maids can deal with the carpet tomorrow."
Adrian Lancaster set the water-soaked towel aside and looked up at Wren. The corners of his lips curved into a natural, gentle smile, chasing away any trace of fatigue from his face.
"Silly girl, what are you apologizing for?" His gaze was gentle and reassuring, his voice full of doting affection.
"It’s just a little spilled water. It’ll be cleaned up in a second."
Wren Sutton lowered her gaze, too embarrassed to meet Adrian’s eyes. "I’ll be more careful next time."
Adrian Lancaster leaned over, pulled the blanket that had slipped down back up to her shoulders, and carefully tucked in the corners.
"I remember I used to come home after drinking and accidentally knock over the water glass on the nightstand."
"You never said a word of blame. You just quietly cleaned everything up."
Wren Sutton froze, surprised that Adrian still remembered that.
"You... you were so dizzy and drunk back then you could barely walk straight. I thought you didn’t know what was happening. I can’t believe you actually remember."
"That’s strange. I never told you about it afterward. How did you know you’d knocked over the glass?"
Adrian was amused by Wren’s cute, bewildered expression. He raised a hand and gently stroked her hair.
"I may have been drunk, but I knew what I was doing. And I knew what you were doing for me."
...
"Honey, I remember every single thing you’ve done for me," Adrian added.
Hearing those words, Wren Sutton’s heart trembled, and a warmth spread through her chest.
’So he knew all along. All those trivial, tender details from so long ago, details nearly lost to the dust of time.’
Back then, with a love that was as humble as it was overflowing, she had silently tidied up after him every night he came home late, just so he could be a little more comfortable.
She had thought Adrian never paid any mind. But it turned out he had seen it all and kept it in his heart, just without ever saying so.
This belated acknowledgment was like a stone tossed into the lake of her heart, sending out complex ripples.
There was a pang of sorrow, a sense of loss, and also a thread of ineffable comfort.
Wren Sutton lifted her eyes to look at Adrian.
In the soft glow of the night light, his deep eyes seemed especially tender. Her own reflection was clearly mirrored in them, along with an unconcealed look of adoration.
"So," Adrian’s voice grew even softer, carrying a magic that could soothe one’s soul.
"Now, I’m just doing the same. It’s only right that I do anything for you, and I do it gladly. Don’t feel sorry, and please don’t think you’re a bother."
He leaned in slightly, so close that Wren could feel the reassuring warmth radiating from him.
"The children are sleeping soundly. I’ve been checking on them every so often, so you don’t need to worry. The only thing you need to do now is close your eyes and get some rest."
Adrian’s fingers brushed the stray hairs from Wren’s forehead, his touch as gentle as if he were afraid of shattering a precious treasure.
"If you still can’t sleep, or if you feel uncomfortable in any way, you have to tell me. I’m right in the next room. I’ll hear you if you call."
A lump formed in Wren Sutton’s throat. A thousand words were caught there, but in the end, they all melted into a soft, "Okay."
Hearing Wren’s response, a more genuine smile bloomed in Adrian’s eyes.
He straightened up, checking on her ankle one last time before he left to make sure she was all right.
"I’ll head back, then. I won’t disturb your rest. Get some sleep."
"Good night," Wren whispered.
Adrian picked up the wet towel and the thermos, then returned to the nursery, his footsteps exceptionally light.
The room fell quiet once more.
But this time, something felt different.
The air was no longer filled with only her restless tossing and turning. It felt as if Adrian’s gentle words and comforting presence still lingered.
The empty space in her heart seemed to have been filled by something warm and substantial.
Wren Sutton slowly lay back down, snuggling deeper into the soft blankets.
The corner of the blanket was still perfectly tucked, bearing the trace of his touch.
She closed her eyes. This time, the image that surfaced in her mind wasn’t his departing silhouette, but his eyes, filled with concern and tenderness, as he had knelt by the bed and looked up at her moments before.
And his words: "I remember every single thing you’ve done for me."
’So this is what it feels like to be cherished, to be cared for so tenderly.’
A long-absent drowsiness washed over her like a gentle tide.
Before her consciousness faded into darkness, Wren had a fleeting thought. ’This long night doesn’t seem so unbearable after all.’
As her consciousness sank into darkness, dreams gently washed over her like a tide.
Her dream was not an empty void, but a series of warm-colored scenes, unfolding clearly, frame by frame, like a movie.
Wren Sutton dreamed of their newlywed days, of those sweet and loving times she had shared with Adrian Lancaster.
