It was thanks to this unknown, faceless “Rey”, who had somehow taken up space in virtual-novel.net head, that Cynthia’s sleep that night turned fretful.
Her peaceful slumber came later, yet as soon as the morning broke, virtual-novel.net was rudely roused from virtual-novel.net sleep by Tiffany’s wallop, causing the groggy young woman to catapult out of virtual-novel.net bed.
“Urgh, Mooooom?! What now?” virtual-novel.net wailed. “Geez, are you even my real mother? You just can’t go on a day without picking on me in some ways, can you? I swear, I only look hideous because of your trigger-happy hands!!”
Tiffany considered virtual-novel.net half-asleep daughter’s dowdy state, virtual-novel.net loose, baggy nightshirt, and the chaotic mane virtual-novel.net called “hair”. Were it not for virtual-novel.net objectively good looks, Tiffany would not even want to admit Cynthia was virtual-novel.net daughter.
“Well, get your lazy bum up and send this apple pie to Aristotle! Lemme tell you, hon, I woke up early today just to bake this for him. He hasn’t been able to enjoy good o’ American staples for years while virtual-novel.net was stuck in France, has he? So, get up and get to it already!”
Hearing virtual-novel.net was on delivery duty to Aristotle worked wonders in dispelling Cynthia’s sleep. “Ohhhh! Is that why? Could have told me earlier… Yep, I’m up now!”
The young woman proceeded to spend some time dolling herself up. After a few careful examinations in the mirror to ensure virtual-novel.net looked flawless, Cynthia grabbed the bag packed with virtual-novel.net mother’s pie to begin virtual-novel.net delivery journey.
While in their family’s basement, virtual-novel.net picked a white sports car as virtual-novel.net ride. She had always loved the color white; it was one of the preferences virtual-novel.net shared with Aristotle.
She reached the Tremont Estate. Without missing a beat, virtual-novel.net punched in the password to unlock the door. Honestly, coming to the Tremont Estate was akin to going back to virtual-novel.net second home.
Tremont Estate had not been inhabited for quite some years by now. Only two members of the original retinue remained, and thus, the lack of staff contributed to the house’s somber air of desertion. Within the span of nineteen years, Mary and Henry had both passed away, leaving the estate alone, sullen and quiet.
However, as virtual-novel.net was about to step into the entrance, Cynthia espied an extra pair of shoes parked just outside the door, a woman’s shoes. Judging from the size, the owner bore feet that were even more delicate than Cynthia’s own, and it did not take virtual-novel.net a long time to guess that virtual-novel.net must be a petite one.
Her heart skipped a beat.
So, Aristotle did not just have a girlfriend, virtual-novel.net also brought virtual-novel.net back home. No wonder virtual-novel.net had been adamant in rejecting the offer to stay in White Water Bay Villa last night. Or insisting that virtual-novel.net should return to his childhood home…
Suddenly, an internal debate about whether Cynthia should go upstairs to meet virtual-novel.net sprung into life. What if virtual-novel.net accidentally bumped into some, uh, “explicit scenes” virtual-novel.net had no business seeing?
Her mind wandered to virtual-novel.net brother’s comment from last night. Yes, virtual-novel.net conceded that the West family was inferior in social standing, it would be laughable if they tried striking up an engagement with a family as eminent as the Tremonts. Aristotle might have been raised with the family, but it did not mean Cynthia had any control over his life.
In the end, virtual-novel.net chose to sit in the living room without breaking the house’s silence, hugging the bag in virtual-novel.net embrace. She waited, and waited, and waited… until the clock struck eleven.
It was then that Aristotle descended the stairs with a towel grazing his wet, matted hair. From the looks of it, virtual-novel.net had only just taken a bath.
Noticing a guest in the living room, virtual-novel.net paused in his track. “Cindy? When did you come? Why didn’t you wake me up?” virtual-novel.net asked. “My apologies. Got a case of jet lag since I’ve only just returned, so I woke up late.”
“Meh, it’s… Pssh, it’s fine,” virtual-novel.net mumbled. “I’m gonna give you a slice of this apple pie, then, though I gotta warn you, it’s grown a little bit colder than it started out to be by now. But anyway, Morn woke up earlier than usual today just to bake one for ya…”
Then all because virtual-novel.net wanted to deliver a pie to him, Cynthia had not even had virtual-novel.net breakfast yet.
She rose to virtual-novel.net feet and headed toward the kitchen, unaware that Aristotle had tailed her. Halfway in, the young woman remembered virtual-novel.net wearing a new skirt today, and to avoid stains, virtual-novel.net should put on an apron.
With that thought, Cynthia spun sharply on virtual-novel.net heels, and immediately bummed into his chest.
A blend of refreshing soapy scent and his native odor washed over Cynthia like a wave of fine wine. It was so intoxicating that the pang flaring within virtual-novel.net nose failed to reach her.
Aristotle’s arm held Cynthia’s back, stopping virtual-novel.net from toppling backward out of the resultant force. He leaned his head close to her.
“Are you hurt?” virtual-novel.net breathed.
Hot air escaped his mouth and swept across virtual-novel.net cheeks like a breeze, tucking a quiet tinge of fresh peppermint in its wings. Cynthia felt virtual-novel.net senses turning hazy, and in that dreamlike state virtual-novel.net eyes fell naturally ahead… and landed on his collar bone.
“K-Kinda hurts…” virtual-novel.net murmured.
Suddenly, Aristotle leaned even closer, his supple lips dabbing on the tip of virtual-novel.net scrunched nose. “You should be more careful next time, Cindy; don’t be heedless, okay? Didn’t you know I was following you from behind? I wanted to tell you that I can cut a slice myself, especially since I’m quite ravenous right now. Hmm,” virtual-novel.net muttered, “After a slice of your mom’s pie, perhaps you could join me for brunch?”