NovelEnglishAurelia offered a light smile, an acknowledgment without words. The question of whether ‘that day' would cwas one she couldn't answer.
"I've got to head to the office tomorrow, so | can't drive you to the airport. Dropa line once you're airborne, okay?" "Sure." Arnold nodded in agreement.
By the tAurelia returned to the Stirling Mansion, it was past ten o'clock.
Leopold, the ever-watchful guardian, was scowling as he rummaged through the fridge for a midnight snack.
He had seen Aurelia get up at dawn, bustling about in the modern kitchen, crafting several boxes of treats. To his dismay, there wasn't a single one in sight.
"Feeling hungry? Want a late-night bite?" Aurelia inquired.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHis brow furrowed. "What happened to the treats you made this morning?" Aurelia choked a bit. "I took them with me. If you want, | can make sfor you tomorrow." He shut the fridge and turned to face her, his voice laced with accusation. "Where did you take them? To the office?" Aurelia thought he was looking for trouble. He knew well she'd gone to see Arnold off.
"I made those treats for Arnold. He's off to the Arctic, of all places. You know how remote and barren it is up there, and the food's scarce. Of course, | had to make him something for the journey." Leopold knew it. It was always for Arnold. She only ever put that much care into things for him.
"When | went abroad, why didn't | ever get homemade treats?" Aurelia rolled her eyes, unimpressed. "Did you go to the Arctic?" "It isn’t the point where | went." Leopold felt sourness seeping from every pore.
If only she could spare him a tenth of the tenderness she showered on Arnold, he'd wake up from dreams with a grin.
Aurelia was at a loss for words. "Fine, I'll make sfor you next time, okay?" Still, a sullen cloud lingered in Leopold's chest, stirring a discomfort he couldn't shake.
He yanked open the fridge again, grabbed a bottle of ice-cold soda, and took a long, cooling swig.
Her period was nearing, and he dared not touch her, fearing he might cause her pain. He'd have to nurse his wounds in silence.
"Be honest with me. Is Arnold that important to you?" "Yes, | would have died four years ago without Arnold." She didn't shy away from the truth.
Arnold was her confidant, her family, and her rock. The person she trusted most was always Arnold, not Leopold.
She couldn't rely on Leopold. He was a shaky pillar, one that could topple at any moment.
Leopold felt the sting of her words like salt in an open wound, extinguishing any fire he might have felt. It was his punishment, one he deserved.
He sank onto the couch, hands cradling his head, fingers buried in his thick hair.
The agony slowly spilled from his eyes, spreading across his face.
He was never the husband he should be in her heart, always overshadowed by Arnold.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAurelia bit her lip. Sometimes, the big bad wolf was more frightening when he wasn't raging.
"You're not jealous, are you?" she teased, trying to lighten the mood.
Leopold swallowed hard, the bitterness in his throat hard to ignore.
"Yeah, | am jealous. Bitterly so. What do you suggest?" Aurelia pursed her lips. She knew his jealousy wasn't about love. It was just his overwhelming need to possess.
"You shouldn't skip meals with your stomach. If you want a snack, how about | make a sandwich for you? I'll get you a glass of hot milk, too. How's that sound?" At her words, Leopold found himself caught between laughter and tears.
Arnold was the thorn in his side, causing pain at the slightest touch, which seemed impossible to remove because Arnold had taken root in Aurelia's heart, claiming a space he could never occupy.
All he could do was numb himself, silently digesting the bitterness.
"Alright, go ahead."
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