Chapter 16 Chapter Sixteen

Waking up in Jayden Sean's arms on the first morning, Olivia almost thought the whole world was turned upside down.She never expected to have such intimacy with a man again.Maybe only someone who has loved and lost understands the magic, she thought, leaning against his furry chest.When Jayden was asleep, he looked very different from usual, looking like a stern-faced angel.Olivia smiled as she scanned his torso, his long straight nose, full lips, and a strand of golden hair on his forehead. "You are breathtakingly beautiful," she said to him, and he was already waking up. "It's weird how anyone can listen to you when they should be sitting there watching you stare straight in the eye."

His voice was hoarse just after waking up, "I don't want others to listen to me seriously, it's too dangerous." Olivia helped him back his hair with a smile, "I have to go back before Mrs. Smati wakes up." "Who's Mrs. Smati?" Jayden rolled over and pressed her down, caressing her neck teasingly with his nose. "It's my chaperone, very old with bad hearing and very, very bad eyesight." "It's wonderful." Jayden grinned lazily.He moved down again, put his hands on her chest, and began to kiss gently, "I have a meeting this morning. But in the afternoon, I can go shopping with you and Mrs. Smaddy... How about eating fruit sorbet?"

"Okay, maybe we can watch the panorama show." Her skin began to flush under his teasing, and her nipples began to tighten due to his wet tongue, "Jaydon..." "Of course," he murmured, "no matter how good the panorama is, it can't compare to the liveliness at this moment." "It's almost sunrise," she protested, writhing under him. "I have to go." "You'd better hope that Mrs. Smity went to bed late last night," he said. Later in the day, Jayden dutifully took on the role of the guardian of the flowers, especially for Mrs. Smati, who was very patient and caring.The lady is solemnly dressed and wears a feather hat.After scrutinizing Jadon through thick glasses, Mrs. Smati still seemed unimpressed by his handsome looks.And she doesn't appreciate Americans very much, because she can't trust foreigners.

However, Jayden's disdainful efforts and persistence finally made her change.After booking a seat with a panoramic view of Naples and Fort Constantinople, he thoughtfully sat next to Mrs. Smati, and patiently described the scenery in her ear at full roar.During the break, he turned back and brought her some snacks.After watching, they took a carriage to Hyde Park.Along the way, Jayden patiently listened to Mrs. Smati's complaints about the dangers of cigars.Just because he mentioned enjoying cigars occasionally, being scolded by the old lady, how bad the cigars are, how depraved...sitting in a room full of smoke will look vulgar and boring, etc.

Olivia couldn't help laughing again and again when she saw Mrs. Smati reprimanding Jayden.Every time his eyes met hers, the smile in his blue eyes easily took her breath away. Cigar's speech turned to social etiquette and then to marriage.The subject made Olivia flinch a little, and Jayden seemed to appreciate Mrs. Smati's eloquence. "...you have to marry someone whose appearance, temperament, and appearance are completely different from your own." The escort advised the two of them, "For example, a gentleman with black hair cannot marry a woman with dark skin A fat man can't marry a plump girl. A warm-hearted man should find a cold-blooded one, a sensitive man should match an ascetic, and a sentimental man must find a very rational one."

"So, two sentimental people shouldn't get married?" Although Jayden didn't look at Olivia, he still nimbly avoided her kick on his calf.Her shoe kicked the opposite board. "Of course not," came the resolute reply. "Imagine the noisy children they would have!" "Too bad," Jayden said, frowning mockingly at Olivia. "And social status is very important," Mrs. Smati said. "Only the right family can marry... If it is not possible, at least the man has a higher status than the bride. It is impossible for a woman to bow down to a man who is inferior to herself. "

Olivia became tense instantly, and Jayden also became silent. Without looking at him, she knew that he was also thinking about Mikan and Erin. "Will I have a chance to meet Mikan while I'm in London?" she asked Jayden, while Mrs. Smati was still commenting, obviously unaware that Olivia was no longer listening. Jayden nodded, "Tomorrow night, if you are willing to honor me and accompany me to the theater." "Okay, I do." She paused, then continued to ask in a low voice, "Did Mikan mention my sister to you later?" He hesitated for a while, then looked at her alertly, "Yes."

"Did he talk about his feelings for her?" "That's all I can say," replied Jayden dryly. "He's in a lot of pain—and revenge. The wound she inflicted on him so many years ago seems to have been his fatal illness." Olivia's glimmer of hope turned to nothing. "It's not her fault," she said, "but she'll never explain it." Jayden looked at her intently, "Then tell me." "No," Olivia said sullenly, "I promised my sister never to reveal her secret. A friend of mine promised to keep her promise, but then she broke her promise, and I suffered greatly as a result. I can't betray Erin like this." She frowned apologetically, "I know you'd be a little angry with me, but—"

"I'm not thinking about that." "Then what are you thinking?" "Thinking of you has made me love you even more." Olivia held her breath for a moment, shocked by his words.It was a long time before she spoke, "Jaydon..." "You don't have to say anything," he murmured. "Just this once, it's nice to be in love with someone and not expecting anything in return." There are two kinds of theaters - those for purely dramatic enjoyment, and the vast majority for alternative social occasions.The theater is a special public place, where gossip is exchanged, flirtation is amused.After sitting in the box with Jayden Sean, Mrs. Smati and two other couples, Olivia soon gave up trying to listen to the lines, because almost everyone was talking.She sat back in her seat and watched the people coming and going at the door of the box.The two young American talents are indeed eye-catching, and there is an endless stream of people who come to visit.

Jayden is really good at social jokes, with a relaxed face and a smile on his face, while Mikan is relatively cautious and reticent.Standing together with Jayden in a black and white formal suit is a perfect match.Olivia is a little in awe of Mikan and realizes that Erin has this wonderful man at her knees. Jayden got up to get her lemonade and a drink for Mrs. Smati, and Olivia was finally able to speak privately with Mikan, whose nurse was pretty much deaf anyway.Mikan was polite and a little distant.He looked like he didn't need anyone's sympathy, but Olivia couldn't help feeling sorry for him.Although Mikan looked fine on the outside, she noticed the tiredness in his eyes and the dark circles under his eyes, revealing his sleepless nights.She knew what it was like to fall in love with someone she couldn't have—and it was even worse for Mikan, because he'd never know why Eileen rejected him.The guilt in Olivia's heart began to stir. She thought of the hands and feet she moved when Mikan was driven out of the stone garden, and felt herself blushing.To her dismay, Mikan noticed her predicament.

"Miss," he murmured, "does my presence hinder you?" "No." She answered quickly. Mikan stared at her and said softly, "I think so. If it makes you feel better, I'll find another place to enjoy the show." Olivia stared into his blue-green eyes, remembering the appearance of that little boy back then, and the apology she had been thinking about for several years.She remembered what she had promised Irene—but she only said that she would not talk about the scars, and she didn't say that she couldn't mention her father's behavior back then. "Mikan," she said hesitantly, "I don't feel comfortable thinking about what I did. What I did was unfair to you." "You mean when I was a servant in Shiziyuan?" He raised his eyebrows slightly, "You were a little girl at that time." Olivia hastily explained in a low voice, "I'm afraid that little girls can also commit serious harmful behaviors—I am. Because of me, you were suddenly sent to Bristol." Mikan stared at her suddenly, silently waiting for her to speak. "You know, I used to love being around Erin, I adored her. When I found out about your relationship with her, I felt a bit jealous because I wanted all the care and attention Erin had, and to me she was like Same as the second mom. And then I just saw you with her by the carriage—” Olivia stopped, feeling herself flush even more, “I did the worst thing—I didn’t know It would have been so bad. I went to my father and told him what I had seen. Then you were fired and sent to Bristol. Then I realized how big a mistake I had made and saw I feel awful for what Erin has suffered for this, I always wish I hadn't done it, and I don't expect you to forgive me, I just want to tell you I'm really sorry." "Misery?" Mikan repeated blankly, "Miss Irene sent me to Bristol because she no longer has feelings for a servant, and she knows that I will embarrass her in the future—" "No." Olivia interrupted him anxiously. "It's our father—you have no idea what a cruel man he is. He told my sister that if she ever sees you again, he will Destroy you. He'll leave you with nothing and no home - he won't stop until you die in prison. Irene trusts him because he can. She never wants you to leave Stone Letters - but she Knowing that you had to be protected. To save you. In fact, that's why Father sent you to Bristol instead of leaving you on the streets, because Irene asked for it." Mikan looked at her mockingly, "Then why didn't she tell me then?" "My sister knows that once you have hope, you will risk everything to come back to find her." Olivia looked down at her knees and smoothed the wrinkles on her clothes, "Did she do something wrong? ?” There was a long silence, "No," he finally whispered. Olivia looked up and saw Mikan staring blankly at the stage.He seemed unimpressed...but she noticed that his forehead was sweating and his hands clenched into fists on his thighs.Olivia wondered uneasily if she had revealed too much, but the words were out and she couldn't stop.She has to put everything back in place, has to let Mikan know the truth of the past, "Since you left," she said, "Eileen has changed completely. She loves you, Mikan...so much that you would hate her , and I don’t want you to suffer any harm.” His voice was dull but hostile, "If what you said was true, she would have told me long ago that your father is dead and the devil has taken his soul—nothing can stop Erin .” "Maybe," Olivia said carefully, "she just doesn't want you to feel guilty. Or maybe she's scared, for reasons you still don't know. If you—" Mikan raised his hand to signal her to stop, his eyes unfocused on the stage.Olivia noticed the slight trembling of his hands and knew that what she said had shocked him a lot.She bit her lower lip and sat back on the chair.And Mikan put down his hands, his eyes still staring blankly at something in the distance. Olivia was relieved to see Jayden returning with lemonade.He looked warily at her face, then at Mikan, feeling the tension in the air.Jayden sat down next to Olivia, calming her down gradually with his usual leisurely ease, allowing her to smile freely again. Mikan, on the other hand, seemed to be in hell.He was sweating profusely, and every muscle in his body tensed.He seemed unaware of the people and things around him, and he didn't know where he was.When he looked unbearable, he had stood up and walked out of the box muttering. Jayden turned to Olivia and looked at her in surprise, "What did you tell him after I left?" Mikan walked outside the theater.There are hawkers bustling at the door.He walked past a row of huge long columns at the entrance of the theater, and stopped in the shadow of the last column.His mind and body were in turmoil.What Olivia said still rings in and shatters his self-control, leaving him angrily confused about what on earth he should believe. What he had been believing for 12 years was not true... it struck deep in his core and made him start to fear. Suddenly he remembered what he said many years ago, "Irene... unless you tell me to go, I will never leave you..." That can't all be true, the truth is there's more to it.If Mikan still had a glimmer of hope for Irene, he would definitely put aside all his self-restraint and go back to find her again. Eileen is well aware of this. Mikan lifted his good black tweed coat and wiped his face.If that was true, if Eileen had driven him away to protect him from the old earl...then she loved him.Maybe it's nothing now, but at least she loved him then.He struggled not to believe it all, but at the same time he was overwhelmed with emotions that no man could handle.He wanted to go to her and ask her face to face if it was true.But he already knew the answer, clearly to the marrow of his bones. Erin loved him... the realization made him straighten up. Several passers-by looked curiously at the black figure leaning against the pillar.He bowed his head like a fallen giant.But no one dared to stop and ask how he was doing.They sensed a threat behind his silence, as if suddenly he would do something in a frenzy.Take it easy, stay away, it's better to walk away quickly. Jayden came to Olivia in the middle of the night, actually groped into the house and climbed into her bedroom.He stripped her carefully and made love to her for a long time.Fill her with deep, tireless movements and gently shift into various poses.Her Shen Yin was suppressed by the silky probing kiss, and her trembling body eagerly welcomed his weight. Olivia realizes she's doing something she's never done with Amberley before.There are no hallucinations in this bed, just a soul of hers with nothing to hide.She wishes Jayden knew her better, even her flaws.And something about him—his ardent desire, perhaps, seemed to strip her of the protective cloak she had always put on, leaving her to respond to him naked and unrestricted.Whatever he asked, she would give wholeheartedly, and he would give in return everything she had never dared to dream of. They lay peacefully together, Olivia half leaning against Jayden's body, her long legs straddling him inadvertently.His fingers moved up the roots of her hair, and then brushed down the delicate skin on the side of her neck.Her legs lifted slightly, feeling his penis against her thighs, still half-rigid after orgasm.She lazily reached out to caress him. "You're so greedy," she accused him, her throat quivering. Jayden smiled and put his hands around her arms, letting her cover him, "We're not the same." She lowered her head, and the two of them rubbed their noses together, "I have to admit, Mr. Xiao En, I am indeed infatuated with you." "Infatuation?" He chuckled, "You are madly in love with me." Olivia felt her heart beating faster, but still kept her brisk tone, "Now, why am I so stupid to fall in love with you?" "There are so many reasons," he reminded her, "not only can I please you in bed, but I also happen to be one of the richest men in the world—" "I don't care if you have money or not." "I know, damn it," he sounded a little unhappy now, "but that's one of the reasons I can have you." "have?" "marry." Olivia frowned and tried to slide off him, but Jadon held her hips in place. "Time to think about it, no?" he asked. "But we've only known each other for less than two weeks!" "Then tell me, how long do you want to wait, I am willing to wait." "You have to go back to New York first." "I'm willing to wait." He repeated stubbornly. Sighing, Olivia pressed her face to his chest, determined to let herself be honest, "Nothing is going to convince me to marry you, darling." Jayden wrapped his arms around her, making her a little tighter, and then his hand slid to her back, touching her beggingly, "Why?" "Because I'm worried about you, and I don't want you to ruin yourself." She felt a sudden tension in her body under her ears.She wanted to get away from him again, thinking that this time he would let her go.But his arms tightened again, and one hand rested on her head and pressed closer to his chest.There was resignation in his voice, "You want me to quit drinking." "No—I don't want to give such an order." "But if I quit, would you consider marrying me?" She hesitated for a long time, he raised her head urgently, and they looked at each other. "Yes," she said reluctantly, "so I do think about it." Jayden's expression was indecipherable, his mouth tightened, as if he was looking into his own heart, and was not very satisfied with what he saw. "I don't know if I can do it," he murmured with the candor she admired. Muttering, "I don't even know if I'm willing to do this, I'd rather continue drinking and have you at the same time." "You can't," she said bluntly, "even if you're a Sean." Jayden turned sideways, fixed her head with one hand, and looked down at her, "I am willing to give you everything. I will take you anywhere in the world and give you whatever you want—" "This problem will have to be faced sooner or later." Olivia wondered if she was a little confused. Other women would have knelt down on their knees in gratitude, but she hadn't asked him desperately yet.His expression brought a shaky smile to her, and it was clear he wasn't used to being rejected, for any reason. "Let's just enjoy the short time we have now. I'm going back to Shizi Garden in a few days, and before that—" "How many days? No, stay a little longer and go back with me." She shook her head, "It's not appropriate for the two of us to go back together—others will gossip." "I don't care." There was recklessness in his voice. "Come with me, Olivia." "Maybe, if I worried less," she said, closing her eyes and feeling his lips brush her brow, eyelashes, hot cheeks, the tip of her nose. "But I won't let myself lose you little by little, until you destroy yourself, or become someone I don't even know." Jayden drew back and looked at her sadly, "Tell me one thing at least—do you love me?" Olivia remained silent, not sure whether the answer would make things worse or better. "I want to know," Jayden said, his mouth half-mockingly grinning, hearing the longing in his own voice, "if I change myself for you, I'll have to have some hope first." "I don't want you changing yourself for me. Every day you make the same decision, over and over again - but it has to be for yourself. Otherwise you'll hate me." She could see he wanted to argue, but he lay back beside her with his arms loosely around her waist. "I don't want to lose you," he whispered. Olivia stroked the back of his hand and sighed softly, "I have been wandering for a long time since Amberly's death, and now I finally decided to start living again. And you just showed up when I needed it, so I will always be with you Remembering you with love and gratitude." "Love?" he repeated, lips pursed. "Grateful?" "I won't admit more than that. It's coercion." Jayden murmured and covered her, "It seems that I have to test your determination." "Just let the horse come here." Olivia said, but her tone was not flirtatious and charming, but worried, and she wrapped her arms and legs around him, as if she wanted to protect him from the inner demon. Erin sighed and took out another stack of cream-colored letter paper from the desk drawer, dipping the tip of her pen in ink.There were nearly a dozen letters in front of her, from friends to relatives, all complaining about her delay in replying.However, you can't reply so sloppily.Letter writing is an art, handled with care, kept up to date with the latest news, trends... If you have nothing to write, you have to be creative. Erin frowned and looked at the three completed replies.She had written everything she could think of, from the complaints of the maids in the house, to the gossip of the gossip, and even mentioned the latest weather. "As long as I don't tell the truth, I'm really good at talking about other things," she commented with a self-deprecating smile, and began to wonder whether her own real events could please the ears of relatives and friends... I recently had a lover, and there was Two intimate acts, one in the woods and one in my bedroom closet.My sister Olivia, in good health, is in London at the moment, and is probably rolling in bed with a lifelong alcoholic American... Erin couldn't help grinning at the thought of what would happen to her staid cousin Georgiana, or great-aunt Mattie, when such news reached her. Her brother's voice came from the door, and his interruption at this moment seemed to help her out, "God, if you don't write letters, there are jobs waiting for you." She looked at Max and smiled amusedly, "Someone hates letters more than I do." "I don't like that," Max admitted. "In fact, the only thing worse than writing letters is receiving them—God knows, I'm not too lazy to be interested in people's lives." Eileen smiled and put down the pen in her hand, seeing ink marks on her fingertips, "What's the matter, dear? I beg you, save me from this unbearable situation." "There's no need to beg. Salvation is in my hands... at least it can give you a direction." He showed her the unopened letter in his hand, with a strange expression on his face, "There is a postal package from London, and this. " "Are they all from London? If we ordered something, it was two days early—" "We didn't order it," Max walked to the door and gestured to her. "The postal package is yours. Come with me to the entrance of the hall to have a look." "Okay." Erin closed the glue bottle and sealed the wax box.After everything was settled, she got up from the table and followed Max to the entrance of the front hall.The air was filled with a strong fragrance of roses, as if the entire hall was infected by this expensive fragrance. "Oh my god!" Irene exclaimed, seeing a whole cart of flowers outside the door.There are a large number of white roses, some are still budding, and some are in full bloom.There were already two servants helping, plus the coachman, a total of three people were rushing in and out to unload the lovely flowers in the white lace wrapping paper. "Fifteen dozen," Max said bluntly. "I suspect there is but one white rose left in all of London." Irene couldn't believe it, she walked forward slowly and took out one, gently touched the delicate buds with her fingertips, lowered her head and smelled the fragrance of the flower, its wings were like cold satin touching her cheek . "There's more," Max said. Irene followed his gaze and saw that the servants were working together to lift down a large wooden box, which contained a brick-shaped thing wrapped in dark brown paper. "What is it, Seth?" "If you agree, miss, I will open it right away." The old servant carefully unwrapped a package.Removing the sealing wax from the dark brown paper reveals the piquant scent of gingerbread bread, in stark contrast to the scent of roses. Irene reached out her hand to cover her small mouth, and suppressed gasping in surprise, but there was an indescribable touch in her heart. "Gingerbread bread?" Max looked in disbelief, "Damn Mikan gave you so much gingerbread bread?" "Because I like to eat." Irene replied breathlessly, "How do you know it was from Mikan?" Max looked at her silently, as if accusing her of taking him for a fool. Erin opened the envelope awkwardly and pulled out a stack of letter paper.The handwriting on it is thick and scribbled, and it can only be seen but not gorgeous: No byline...not necessary.Eileen closed her eyes, her nose began to sniff, and tears streamed down her cheeks.She pressed her lips to the letter, not caring what Max might think. "It's a poem," she began unsteadily, "a terrible one." But the sweetest she'd ever read.She stretched out her sleeve and wiped the tears from her face. "let me see." Eileen quickly rolled up the letter, "No, this is a personal letter." She swallowed hard, trying to wash away the lump of joy in her throat, and suppress the unrestrained emotions in her heart, "Mikan," she whispered, "you have It left me at a loss." Max sighed weakly, and handed her a handkerchief, "What should I do?" He murmured, unable to respond to the woman's tears. The only answer Irene could give was the one he hated to hear the most, "You can't do anything." She thought he would come up to hug her reassuringly, but both of them were attracted by the figure not far from the door.The person who came with his hands in his jacket pockets was Sir Adam Sundry. At this moment, he was staring at the white roses all over the place. "I guess these are for you," he said to Erin, hands out of pockets. "Good afternoon, Sundry," Max said, his manner turning very formulaic as the two shook hands. "You came just in time, and I'm sure Miss Irene would be delighted to have a visit." "Then I should try my best to be both willing and visiting," Adam grinned casually, bowing his head gracefully and holding Erin's hand. "Come with me for a walk in the garden." She urged, clasping his hand tightly with her fingers. "What a brilliant idea." Adam took out a blooming rose from the pile of flowers on the table and pinned it to his lapel.He took Eileen's hand and walked with her down the hall to the back of the house. The summer garden is full of cheerful magic, full of clusters of forget-me-nots, fragrant lemons, vigorous yellow lilies, large roses and deep red clematis.Among the oriental poppies is a long row of silver sheep's ears.The two walked down the steps and along the gravel path to the yew forest.Adam was one of the few people who was reassured by silence, and now he waited quietly and patiently for her to speak. The fragrance of the garden and Adam's reassuring company made Irene let out a long sigh, "The roses are from Mikan." She finally spoke. "I think so." Adam said flatly. "There's another poem," she said, pulling the letter out of her pocket and handing it to him.Adam was the only one with her permission to see the poem.He stopped in the middle of the road, opened the letter, and scanned a few lines. When he finally looked up, what he read in her eyes was a mixture of pain and joy. "It was very touching," he said sincerely, returning the letter to her. "What are you going to do?" "Do nothing. I'll send him away, as I originally planned." Adam considered her words carefully, as if he wanted to raise some issues, but he just shrugged, "If you think this is the best, then that's fine." No one around her would say that.Erin held his hand, and the two continued to walk, "Adam, what I like most about you is that you never suggest what I should do." "I don't like advice—that's useless." They climbed the steps of the fountain, splashing the delphiniums beside them. "I thought about telling Mikan the whole truth," Erin confided, "but whatever his reaction, it just made things worse." "So, honey?" "If one day I show Mikan my scars, he will either find them unbearably ugly, or worse, he will take pity on me and do things out of duty and compassion that have nothing to do with duty and reputation …And he would end up regretting his decision and wishing he could get rid of me sooner. The thought of looking at him every morning and wondering if he would leave me today is just too much for me to live with.” Adam let out a soft, sympathetic grunt. "Did I do something wrong?" she asked. "I never give a wrong or right definition to something," Adam replied, "You have to make a good decision based on the situation, and once you make a decision, don't think about it or that." Irene couldn't help comparing him to Max, the older brother always asserting everything—right or wrong, good or bad—with a bitter smile on her lips, "Adam, my dear, about you the other day The proposal I said..." "How?" They stopped again, their hands clasped together and staring at each other. "I can't accept it," she said, "that it's unfair to you and me. I thought that if I was destined not to have a real marriage, I could at least be happy in a pretend one. Than, I would rather be a long-term friend with you." Seeing the unhappiness in her eyes, Adam stretched out his arms and hugged her hard and warmly. "Dear girl," he murmured, "my proposal is always valid. I will be your loyal friend until the end of the day." If you change your mind about marriage one day, just tick your fingers." He smiled helplessly, "If no one offers you the real thing, maybe the fake thing will be damn more attractive Woolen cloth."