Chapter 21
Wesley’s lips curled into a small smile, so subtle that it was barely noticeable unless one looked closely.
He sighed in mild exasperation, then sat down and casually switched on his phone, murmuring, “PayPal.”
Yvonne glanced at him, then casually pushed her phone, which was already opened to the PayPal interface, toward him. Wesley looked at her, then averted his gaze and transferred the money obediently.
Yvonne wasn’t in a hurry, so she ate at a leisurely pace. Her breakfast was cereal, and she hadn’t ordered anything else. She sat quietly, spooning up the cereal one bite at a time.
But she wasn’t really focused on eating. After each spoonful, she would put down her spoon and pick up her phone to scroll for a while.
Wesley, on the other hand, ate very quickly. Even so, his movements were elegant and efficient, without a hint of rudeness.
He finished his pasta and, almost casually, noticed Yvonne still hunched over her phone, with half of her cereal untouched.
He hesitated for a moment, then couldn’t help but say, “Eating while looking at your phone can distract you and affect the secretion of digestive juices, which in turn weakens gastrointestinal motility. Your digestion might be impacted.”
Yvonne paused, glanced at him indifferently, then opened PayPal and transferred another 30 dollars to him. “Thank you. Here’s the money for your advice,” she said.
Wesley looked somewhat taken aback. He opened his mouth slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but then fell silent.
He quietly watched Yvonne for a moment, then cleared his plate, stood up, and took a few steps.
As if remembering something, he couldn’t resist glancing back at Yvonne. She was still engrossed in her phone, completely oblivious to what he had just said.
Yvonne felt a bit disappointed that she hadn’t seen the sunrise. She checked the weather forecast and found out that the next day would be sunny, so she decided to extend her stay for another day.
After washing a few clothes in her room, she planned to take a walk around the streets.
As she walked, she arrived at the square from yesterday. There, she spotted Wesley’s tall figure. Behind him was a banner that read, “Avaloria First Hospital Cardiac Screening Clinic.”
It turned out he was here for a free medical check–up.
A long line had already formed in front of him. Dressed in a white lab coat, he was focused and attentive as he examined each citizen who came forward.
Yvonne stood in the crowd, watching him patiently answer everyone’s questions. His dedicated expression stirred something within her.
She suddenly realized that this seemingly indifferent man was actually warm–hearted and caring.
Yvonne quietly left and strolled through the nearby alleyways. At that moment, her phone rang. It was a call from Cour!
“Courtney, what’s up?” Yvonne answered.
Courtney’s voice sounded anxious. “Yvonne, did you offend someone in Avaloria?”
“Me? No, I don’t think so. Why do you ask?” Yvonne replied.
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“I heard that someone in Avaloria is looking for you. They’ve almost searched the entire city,” Courtney said,
Yvonne thought for a moment. The only people who might be looking for her were Steven or Reid. But Steven was unlikely, since she would be returning in a month to finalize her divorce with him.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll be heading back soon,” she told Courtney.
“Be careful, then,” Courtney said, still concerned.
“Alright, I will,” Yvonne assured her.
After hanging up. Yvonne felt a bit restless. She didn’t wander for long before returning to the inn.
Jessica had a tabby cat with a coat of mottled colors, as if it were wearing an
quisite floral outfit.
Yvonne walked over quietly and squatted down beside the tabby cat. She reached out and gently stroked its head. The soft fur soothed her slightly.
The tabby cat didn’t seem to mind Yvonne’s touch; instead, it closed its eyes contentedly and purred softly.
“What’s his name?” Yvonne asked Jessica, looking up.
Jessica walked over with a smile. “His name is Boba, and he’s quite a troublemaker. If you’re not busy, could you look after him for a bit? I need to go out for a while.”
“Sure,” Yvonne replied with a smile.
*****
When Wesley returned at noon, he saw Yvonne sitting on the swing in the corner of the garden, with Boba cradled in her arms. Sunlight filtered through the dappled leaves, casting a mosaic of light and shadow that gently fell on her.
Yvonne’s eyes were slightly closed, a faint smile playing on her lips, and a soft glow illuminated her cheeks. Her hair fluttered gently in the breeze, with a few strands playfully brushing against her face, adding to her carefree and natural demeanor.
Boba lay curled up in her arms, occasionally letting out a soft meow, as if enjoying the tranquil and beautiful moment as well.
Wesley stood at a distance, quietly observing the scene. His gaze was distant, tinged with a hint of a smile.
Sensing someone’s presence, Yvonne opened her eyes and saw Wesley standing there, his eyes radiating a rare warmth that subtly melted the usually indifferent aura around him.
“Yvonne, I’m making tiramisu this afternoon–a local specialty. Would you like to try some?” Jessica’s voice called out. Yvonne looked over Wesley’s shoulder and broke into a bright smile. “Sure. Thank you, Jessica.”
Jessica walked in from outside and, seeing Wesley standing in the courtyard, warmly invited him as well. “Oh, Dr. Godfrey, you’re back too. How about joining us this afternoon?”
Wesley nodded slightly. “Then I’d be happy to. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. We should be the ones thanking you for coming here to do the clinic,” Jessica said with a smile, turning to head into the kitchen to prepare.
Boba, in Yvonne’s arms, looked up at Wesley with emerald–green eyes, meowed softly, and then jumped out of Yvonne’s lap to rub against Wesley’s feet. Wesley squatted down and petted him a few times. Boba rolled over on his back, purring contentedly.
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When he looked up again, he saw that Yvonne had already gone upstairs and opened the room next to his. He stood there, gazing at the door in silence for a moment, before returning to his own room.
He lay down to rest for a while, but his mind couldn’t help but replay the scene in the garden.
After resting for a bit, he went back to the clinic. As he passed by Yvonne’s room, his steps unconsciously slowed
In the afternoon, Yvonne and Jessica prepared dinner together.
The locals were simple and hospitable, and Jessica and her husband, seeing Yvonne traveling alone, insisted that she join them for meals.
Yvonne didn’t feel embarrassed about it; she simply transferred a bit more money to them via PayPal, as a way of contributing to the meal costs.
When Wesley returned, they had just finished cooking, and the kitchen was filled with the warm aroma of a home–cooked meal.
Jessica’s children lived far away, and she and her husband ran the small inn together. It was a rare pleasure for them to have company for dinner, and they were delighted.
“Yvonne, if you go early tomorrow, you’ll definitely catch the sunrise,” Jessica said warmly.
“Okay,” Yvonne replied.
Wesley sat at the table, his gaze occasionally drifting toward Yvonne.
He noticed that her character had become much more lively in the company of the Browns. It seemed that the shadows of her unhappy marriage were gradually fading, leaving behind only the sparkle in her eyes and the warm smile on her lips.
Yvonne didn’t have much of an appetite and ate very little. She stopped after a few bites and bent down to play with Boba. After the meal, Yvonne helped the couple clear the table before returning to her room.
Wesley followed behind her. Before entering her room, Yvonne looked back at him, hesitating.
“What’s wrong?” Wesley asked.
Yvonne bit her lip slightly. “PayPal.
Wesley was taken aback and stood still.
“I’ll transfer you 30 dollars. Can you wait half an hour before taking a shower?” she asked.
Wesley frowned. “No need to pay for that.”
With that, he turned and entered his own room. Shortly after, he heard the sound of water from the bathroom next door. Wesley looked toward the bathroom. For some reason, an image suddenly flashed through his mind.
A gentle stream of water flowed from Yvonne’s hair, trickling down her neck. Her hands lightly brushed across her face, gliding over her delicate collarbones. The water cascaded down her slender arms, pooling into tiny droplets at her fingertips that fell with a soft pitter–patter.
Her body was faintly visible through the misty vapor, her graceful curves resembling mountains shrouded in mist, exuding an air of mysterious allure. She turned slightly, sending droplets of water spraying around her.
Wesley abruptly snapped back to reality, realizing that his thoughts had strayed. His heart rate quickened involuntarily.
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He took a deep breath, trying to dispel the image from his mind. Then he turned and walked to the window, staring blankly into the night outside.
