The Sway and Slide of Love

Rosie didn't answer.

"Are you not happy here?" Noelle asked.

Rosie shook her head, then nodded.

"I think you're not happy, Mommy," she said. "You don't smile at me as much as before. I want you to be like you used to be."

Noelle fell silent. Her hand, which had been gently stroking Rosie, froze in place.

While they were talking, a household staff had been standing nearby. Noticing Noelle's change in mood, she quickly stepped forward and said to Rosie, "Ms. Rosie, didn't you say you wanted to draw earlier? How about we do it together now?"

Rosie didn't answer. She just bit her lip and looked at Noelle.

After quickly taking a deep breath, Noelle forced a smile and said, "When we get the chance, I'll take you back to Stormridge for a visit, okay?"

Rosie's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"

Seeing her like this, Noelle felt her chest tighten. After a moment, she nodded and said, "Really."

Rosie was overjoyed so much so that she simply let the household staff take her away.

Noelle, however, remained seated where she was. Even though Hendrix had gone out today, the other household staff still followed Noelle everywhere.

No matter where she went, they were always nearby. Sometimes, if Noelle spent too long in the bathroom, they would even knock and ask if she was okay. Only after hearing her response would they feel reassured and continue waiting outside.

The sky gradually darkened as Noelle sat alone on the couch.

Dinner that evening was just the three of them again. While helping Rosie with her food, Beatrice suddenly asked, "What has Hendrix been busy with lately?"noveldrama

Noelle paused, then slowly shook her head.

Beatrice didn't blame her. She just smiled and said, "I just find it strange. I haven't heard anything happening at the company, yet he's away from home all day."

Noelle didn't respond. She simply ate her food quietly with her head lowered. Her appetite still wasn't that great, but it was much better than before. At the very least, she no longer resisted eating.

After dinner, she spent some time reading with Rosie. But Noelle wasn't much of a talker, so she couldn't read aloud.

Rosie, however, automatically picked up a picture book and only asked Noelle what was happening in the story when she couldn't understand something.

When it was time for bed, Rosie would put her things away on her own, then lie down with her plushie If she wasn't sleepy yet, she would hug her plushie and stare blankly at Noelle. Only when Noelle patted her back would she obediently close her eyes.

After Rosie fell asleep, Noelle sat by her side for a while longer before finally returning to her own bedroom. She wasn't sleepy at all. In fact, she hadn't been sleeping well lately.

Perhaps she had grown used to having someone else by her side because now, the room felt eerily empty with her lying in bed alone. Unable to help herself, she got out of bed and walked to the window to take a look outside.

It was at that moment that the bedroom door opened behind her.

Noelle stiffened, then turned around.

"Oh, you're still awake."

Noelle looked at him, blinking in confusion. It was as if she couldn't believe the person she had just been thinking about was now standing right in front of her.

Hendrix quickly walked over to her. A frown appeared on his forehead when he noticed she was barefoot. He then immediately picked her up and placed her on the bed.