Secretly Married for 4 Years, He Regrets to Tears After the Divorce

Chapter 266: Chapter 266: The Distance Between Them Seemed to Shorten a Little

The next morning, the mountain air, washed clean by the overnight rain, was exceptionally clear and crisp, carrying the distinct fragrance of earth and vegetation.

Sunlight pierced through the thin mist, dancing on the damp leaves and refracting into tiny specks of gold.

Wren Sutton woke early. As she listened to the crisp birdsong outside her window, she felt a long-forgotten urge to go for a walk.

She got up and looked at the two children, still sleeping soundly in their small beds, then glanced to her side.

Adrian Lancaster seemed to have just woken up as well. He was watching her quietly, his gaze filled with a cautious tenderness and a faint, almost imperceptible hint of hope.

"I want to go for a walk," Wren said softly, breaking the morning’s tranquility.

"Okay." Adrian Lancaster agreed at once, with barely a moment’s hesitation. His voice was still raspy from sleep, yet exceptionally clear. "I’ll go with you."

He didn’t ask why or say anything more. He simply got up, his movements swift and quiet so as not to disturb the still-dreaming Owen and Nina.

Adrian first went to the bedroom next door, gently woke Mr. and Mrs. Sutton, and quietly explained the situation.

Mr. and Mrs. Sutton readily agreed, even smiling as they urged the two to hurry along.

Adrian returned to the bedroom, where he deftly prepared the children’s morning formula and tested its temperature.

He turned to look at Wren, who had already washed up and was now standing by the window, gazing outside.

"Let’s go." He picked up a light jacket, walked over, and draped it over her shoulders. "It’s chilly in the morning. You should wear something warmer."

Wren glanced at him. "Thank you."

The two of them walked out of the small courtyard.

The flagstone path was still a bit damp and slippery. Adrian slowed his pace, walking by Wren’s side, ready to steady her at any moment.

In the mountain morning after the rain, everything felt refreshed and new.

Wild grass by the path glistened with dewdrops, and unknown birds chirped crisply from the branches. In the distance, the mountain mists hadn’t yet dispersed, swirling about and creating a scene like something out of a fairytale.

The air she breathed in was cool and clean, a refreshing sensation that filled her lungs.

Wren took a deep breath, feeling as if the heaviness that had been weighing on her chest for days was finally expelled with her exhale.

As they passed a farmhouse, a large yellow dog tied up in the courtyard suddenly began barking loudly. "WOOF! WOOF!"

Wren faltered, unconsciously leaning closer to Adrian.

Adrian immediately put an arm around her, positioning himself between her and the gate as he calmly regarded the dog.

After a few more barks, the big yellow dog saw they had no intention of approaching and lay back down, its tongue lolling out.

"It’s okay, he’s tied up," Adrian said in a low, reassuring voice.

Wren murmured an "Mm," the tips of her ears growing warm.

She lifted her head and continued on her way.

Adrian resumed his previous distance from her, but that subtle, protective gesture was like a small pebble tossed into the still lake of Wren’s heart, sending ripples spreading across the surface.

After a stretch of level path, they came to a short, slightly steep slope where the rain-soaked earth had become soft.

At the bottom of the slope was a small puddle filled with last night’s rainwater. It was so clear it perfectly reflected the blue sky and the shadows of the trees.

Just as Wren was wondering how to get across, Adrian had already stepped forward. He found several relatively flat stones nearby and placed them in the puddle.

He stepped onto them first to test their stability, then turned and offered his hand to Wren.

This time, Wren didn’t hesitate. She placed her hand in his palm and, with his support, stepped securely onto the stones.

The stone wobbled a little. Adrian’s hand immediately tightened, and his other arm hovered at her side in a protective gesture.

"Slowly. There’s no rush."

"Mm."

Once they were past the puddle, the path curved, and the view suddenly opened up to a small slope covered in wildflowers.

Wildflowers of every imaginable color bloomed in scattered clusters, their dewy petals glistening in the sun.

The floral fragrance in the air mingled with the scent of grass and earth, creating an intoxicating aroma.

"It’s so beautiful."

Wren couldn’t help but pull out her phone to take a few pictures and record some short videos.

Suddenly, her gaze was caught by something shimmering among the flowers.

She took a few steps closer, bent down, and carefully parted the flower stems.

It was a tiny, bright blue damselfly. Its delicate wings, still dotted with minuscule water droplets, trembled slightly in the gentle breeze as it rested on a white daisy.

"It’s a damselfly," Adrian said in a low voice, having spotted it as well.

Wren watched it for a moment before straightening up, a light, almost childlike smile on her face.

"When I was little, I always tried to catch them, but I never could," she said. "They’re just too fast."

Adrian’s gaze softened as he watched the genuine delight on her face. "Owen and Nina would love this. We should bring them here next time."

Wren didn’t object; instead, the corners of her mouth curved up even more.

She continued along the path, her steps noticeably lighter.

Adrian fell into step beside her. The invisible distance between them seemed to shrink just a little more.

They soon passed a vegetable patch where an elderly woman, already up and about, was picking vegetables. She saw them and called out a greeting in the local dialect, a wide smile on her face.

"Well now, isn’t that Yuna’s daughter and son-in-law?"

Adrian replied in a halting but earnest attempt at the local dialect, "Mornin’, Granny."

The old woman’s smile grew wider. She pulled two crisp, dewy cucumbers from her basket and insisted they take them.

"Thank you, Granny."

Wren looked at Adrian in surprise. After they had walked on a bit, she couldn’t help but ask, "When did you learn the local dialect?"

Adrian rubbed his nose, a little sheepishly. "I overheard Mom and Dad chatting with the neighbors yesterday and just picked up a few phrases," he admitted. "Was it okay?"

Wren smiled. "It was. You did pretty well."

Finally, they came to a small hill with an expansive view and stopped.

From there, they could look out over most of the village. The white-walled, black-tiled houses were scattered in a picturesque arrangement, with wisps of cooking smoke curling up into the air.

In the distance, the indigo mountains were wreathed in clouds and mist—a picturesque scene.

They stood side by side, neither of them speaking, simply enjoying the gentle breeze on their faces and the warmth of the sun.

Wren’s gaze lingered for a long time, quietly sweeping over the familiar landscape.

The small river that wound through the village, its surface glittering like shattered silver in the sun—she had waded there barefoot as a child, trying to catch fish.

The dark green fields, sectioned into a grid by earthen dikes, had once echoed with the bright laughter of her and her friends as they played tag.

The old camphor tree at the village entrance looked just as it always had, though the generations of storytellers beneath its branches had come and gone.

’It was all still here. The mountains were still that same deep indigo, the roof tiles still a stark black and white. The only thing that had changed was her.’

An indescribable emotion suddenly welled up inside her, heavy and threatening to spill over as tears.

She tilted her head back slightly, hoping the mountain breeze would dry the moisture gathering in her eyes.

Adrian stepped closer, took her hand, and pulled her into his embrace.

"Thinking about your grandmother, aren’t you?"

Wren nodded.

"Look up." Adrian pointed toward the sky, his tone reverent. "Grandma isn’t gone. She’s up there, watching over us."