Just as she was about to answer Carter’s question, there came the sound of rapid footsteps outside of the study.
Immediately afterward, Camille came into the study with a hurried expression. Camille’s expression changed visibly when she saw Shirley, but it was quickly replaced with a smile.
“Jenny, you’re really back! I haven’t seen you for a long time. I have much to tell you. Come to my room first.”
Shirley glanced at Carter who nodded slowly in response. Then, she turned and followed Camille.
As soon as she entered Camille’s room, Camille ordered with a chilly tone.
“Close the door.” Shirley closed the door obediently.
As soon as the door closed, however, Camille’s questioning voice came, filled with displeasure. “Shirley, it’s really you. What are you doing back here?”
Shirley was stunned by the sudden change of attitude. She could recall that Camille was very fond of her. She even thought that she would miss her if they had not met in a few years. Camille’s current attitude baffled her.
Regardless, Shirley still put on a smile. “Mom,” she called out, her heart racing furiously.
“Don’t you call me mother! I’m not your mother!” Camille interrupted, displeased. “What are you doing here? You’re not welcome here. You should leave on your own later. Don’t make me have to kick you out.”
Camille was firm, treating Shirley like she was an enemy.
On the surface, Shirley seemed to be a strong and cold-blooded woman. Some might even say that she was vicious and merciless. Being here, in the presence of the Grays, however, she had no temper. She even seemed a little humble.
Since she had been in Gray Manor for all these years, she knew what Camille was like, of course. There must be a reason behind her treatment of Shirley.
“Shirley, the Grays have treated you pretty well, right? I’ve treated you well, yes? What about you though? Do you remember the day when you were determined to leave this family?”
The day when she was determined to leave this family…
A gloom gradually crept into Shirley’s eyes. An emptiness instantly formed in her heart.
Amidst the silence, Camille waved her hand in annoyance. “Forget it. I don’t want to say more. Hurry up and leave. Don’t come to find Carter again. Your relationship with the Grays has already ended.”
After Camille said that, she walked straight to the door and opened it without even looking at Shirley. “Leave.”
Shirley moved toward the door with leaden steps. “I’m sorry,” she said softly as she passed Camille.
Camille turned her face away, not wanting to hear her apology.
Shirley did not stay long. She walked into the yard, feeling depressed.
Seeing the door directly in front of her, she could not help but stop and look up, toward the location of Carter’s study.
The snow fell heavily and silently. The snowflakes piled up on her body, the cold piercing her skin, yet she could barely notice any of it. Motionlessly, she stared in one direction.
Carter stood in front of the French window of the study. Although the sky had turned dark, he did not turn on the lights.
He was enjoying the warm air, a cup of tea, already cold, in his hands. Indifference in his eyes, he glimpsed at Shirley who was standing in the yard, willingly receiving the beating from the wind and snow.
‘No matter how helpless or pitiful, Shirley, it’s all because you owe me.’
Carter silently turned around, not sparing another look at Shirley.
As he was sitting at his desk, his gaze unconsciously fell onto the apple-sized crystal ball.
Memories flooded his mind, but he quickly put a halt to his recollection.
The memories that he desperately wanted to hypnotize himself into forgetting.
Thinking back, it had been almost eight years…
Eight years.
This number meant a long torment to him.
In contrast to the eight years, he did not know why this moment made him feel anguish.
Carter’s calm face betrayed subtle changes. He picked up his phone to make a call…
The wind and snow grew heavier, and the night gradually grew more obscure.
Despite that, Shirley remained standing at the same spot, her eyes staring at the study, which remained unlit this entire time.
Suddenly, she heard the creaking sounds of footsteps approaching her. It was the old butler. He held an umbrella as he stepped on the thin layer of accumulated snow to reach her side. Then, he held the umbrella over her head.
“Miss Jenny, the snow is getting heavier. Why don’t you go back?” advised the old butler, his eyes filled with pity.
Shirley shook her head, the snow on her hair drifted and fell away silently.
“I’m fine. I just want to stay here for a while longer… Achoo!”
Shirley could not help but sneeze mid-sentence as the cold pierced into her skin, making her shiver against her will.
She frowned, feeling her breath, as well as her cheeks, getting hotter.
Seeing that he could not change Shirley’s mind, the old butler handed the umbrella to her. However, Shirley shook her head, refusing his kindness.
“Waterson, you should go back first. I’ll… be leaving soon,” Shirley softly said, her desolate gaze shifted from the study as she finally turned around.
She recalled that, many years ago, she too was a member of this family.
The servants had respected her very much, and they had addressed her as Miss Jenny.
Camille had liked her very much too. She had thought that Shirley was smart and was quick to learn. Plus, she could also accompany Carter.
She had also thought that those moments could continue. However, it all ended abruptly on a certain day, a certain month, a certain year…
Carter returned to the French windows again. Despite being in the dark study room, he could clearly see Shirley turning and leaving.
The illumination from the yard streetlights was so bright that he could clearly see that Shirley’s body and hair were covered with snow.
Frowning, Carter turned and stopped looking.
Just after he turned around, the sound of Shirley’s footsteps toward the gates gradually died away. One second later, she collapsed on the cold snow-covered ground.
“Miss Jenny!” The old butler rushed over while calling for help. “Guards! Quickly!”
Carter silently sat on the sofa, alone, with the lights still off.
Suddenly, he heard a commotion downstairs.
He seldom cared about the trivial goings at home, but he felt a faint uneasiness in his heart this moment.
He got up and walked out. As soon as he reached the top of the stairs, he saw a bodyguard hastily enter, carrying a woman in his arms.
Without asking, he immediately recognized the woman in the bodyguard’s arms.
Carter’s eyes darkened, and his expression instantly became increasingly cold.
He strode downstairs, his every step seemed steady, neither fast nor slow.
When the old butler saw Carter descending the stairs, he walked over hurriedly, his face flustered, and pleaded humbly, “Mr. Carter, Miss Jenny had been standing outside for far too long. She might have caught a cold. I have already contacted Dr. Lane. I’m wondering if Miss Jenny could stay and rest here for the night?”
Carter pressed his thin lips together, displeased. “Since you’ve already acted on your own accord, why do you still seek my opinion?”
The old butler trembled. “Mr. Carter…”
Carter ignored him and faced the bodyguard who was carrying Shirley tightly. In a chilly tone, he asked, “Do you enjoy carrying her? Are you reluctant to put her down?”
“…” The bodyguard was momentarily speechless, but he also did not know where to place Shirley.
The old butler immediately gestured. “Come with me, upstairs, to Miss Jenny’s room.”
The bodyguard nodded, carrying Shirley upstairs as per the old butler’s orders.
“Stop.” Carter stopped them in a cold voice. “Are you confused as to who is your master? If you are, you can leave immediately.”
“…”
“…”
The bodyguard and the old butler were both taken aback.
The bodyguard figured that he might lose his job if he did not put Shirley down right now, so he walked to the sofa, ready to toss Shirley onto the sofa.
Just as he was about to, he saw Carter coming up to him.
“Mr. Carter, I’ll put this woman down now,” explained the bodyguard. He was a big man, almost 1.9m tall, but he seemed to tremble with trepidation in front of Carter.
Carter said nothing, only coldly looked askance at the bodyguard. Then, he spread his arms, taking Shirley from the bodyguard, and turned around, heading straight up the stairs.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.