At the Royal Mansion, Jonathan shrugged off his suit jacket, loosened his tie, and sank into
the sofa. He gazed
around the empty living room, his heart aching with longing for Estelle.
After a moment, he forced down the unease and glanced towards the guest bedroom, half-
hoping the door
would swing open and Ella would emerge.
He knew it was futile, but like a man possessed, he found himself walking towards the
room.
Entering, he flicked on the light, and the familiar scene greeted him.
This was where she used to stay. When he’d visit at night, she would often be on the
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtbalcony sofa, engrossed in
a book, and he would playfully take it from her hands to steal a deep kiss.
Jonathan walked to the balcony and sat down on the sofa, noticing a note left behind.
During Estelle’s absence, he had visited many times but never found a note.
Was this left the day she went back to C City?
He unfolded the note, and her elegant handwriting caught his eye, “Mr. Lamont,
goodnight!”
The words on the paper stirred his emotions, and his yearning surged. Pulling out his
phone, he sent a video call to Estelle. After seven seconds, the call connected, and Estelle
appeared, propped up in bed, smiling at Jonathan, “Miss me?” His eyes softened, “Are you
going to bed?” “Not yet!” Estelle rested her cheek on her hand, “I thought I’d read a bit
before bed.” “How’s grandpa’s cough?” “It’s much better!” She lowered her gaze back to
the book, and with a smile suggested, “Jonathan, let me read
to you for a bit!”
“I’d like that,” Jonathan relaxed into the sofa, fixating on the girl.
Under the dim light, she looked serene and pure, dressed in a light blue satin nightgown,
her hair cascading
behind her. She blended into the room’s vintage ambiance, creating a tranquility like rain
softly touching the
heart.
Estelle turned a page, and her gentle voice began to fill the quiet night, clear and crisp.
Jonathan leaned back, watching her, listening to her. His restless thoughts were calmed,
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmbut his longing only
grew stronger.
Jonathan nodded slowly, “When will you be back?”
He felt a pang of concern, “Alright, sleep well.”
Jonathan set down his phone, still motionless, then picked up the note again, reading
those few words over and
over.
Jonathan smiled to himself, put down the note, and stood up to take a shower.
Early in the morning, Sabina approached Jonathan in the office with an awkward
expression and began to
report on her work.
Jonathan looked up, his gaze cool, ” Sabina, what was your initial purpose for joining the
Lamont Group?”
That was the same line she’d given to the HR manager during her interview.
Sabina paused, at a loss for words.