Reid looked at Giselle, his gaze searching and analytical. In those ice-cold eyes, there wasn't a trace of anger.
Their bodies were so close that they could feel each other's warmth. Combined with the warm water enveloping them and the slight friction of their skin, a tingling sensation spread to the depths of their hearts, disturbing their thoughts.
Her skin was flushed, a soft, radiant pink as if it had been freshly watered. Her soaked nightgown clung tightly to her body, revealing alluring, graceful curves. He could feel that this body possessed a powerful attraction for him.
His eyes grew deep, and it wasn't until Giselle braced herself against the tub to stand up that she looked up and noticed. The light was sufficient for her to see his gaze clearly-his pupils were pitch black. She took only a fleeting glance before immediately looking away. Her face burned crimson as she embarrassedly moved away from him, stammering, "I... I'm sorry."
"Did my mother tell you to do this?" Reid asked, his tone laced with a hint of coldness.
It had happened repeatedly. If she wasn't letting him see her right after a bath, she was falling onto him. After so many instances, who would believe this wasn't intentional?
Giselle struggled to stand straight. Her head felt as if fireworks were exploding inside-a chaotic mess that made it impossible to think. Hearing his question, her reaction was a half-beat slow. "I don't understand what you mean."
Her large eyes, filled with doubt, looked at him. Reid felt those eyes were as vivid as if they could speak; he could see she wasn't faking it.
That night, she didn't oversleep, so she was able to take meticulous care of Reid. After smoothing his bedsheets, she brought out a blanket for him while she slept on the sofa. The sofa was large enough, and she slept peacefully through the night.
The next morning, after getting up and washing her face, she went downstairs to make breakfast. As she descended, she heard Mrs. Theophilus arguing with Flynn again.
Mrs. Theophilus was trembling with rage as she pointed at Flynn. "If you dare step foot out of that door today, I will make that girl, Serena Staverley, disappear forever from New York."
Giselle stood on the stairs, not daring to continue down. She worried they might take their anger out on her.
"Then don't expect to ever see this son again," Flynn replied coldly.
The heated and tense argument between mother and son was all because of a girl named Serena Staverley. This was the first time Giselle had ever heard that name.
Mrs. Theophilus laughed out of sheer anger. "Fine. Very well. You actually dare to threaten me."
"It's you who broke your word. You promised me that as long as I stood in for my elder brother at the wedding, you would let Serena and me get married. Furthermore, Serena is pregnant with my child. Haven't you always longed to hold a grandchild?"
"It's been two days since I've seen Serena. Can you please let me go out to see her?"
Hearing such humble pleading, Giselle realized she had misjudged her brother-in-law as a cold person. He was dissatisfied with her because of that wedding; he was also someone who had been forced, so how could he have a good attitude toward her?
The fury on Mrs. Theophilus's face had not dissipated. Hearing him speak like that only made her angrier. Her own son refused to listen and was pleading so submissively for that girl. She didn't even look at Flynn. "Who knows if the child in her womb is even yours?"
In the eyes of Mrs. Theophilus, this girl named Serena Staverley didn't have a single redeeming quality. She had a bad reputation, poor conduct, and was an illegitimate daughter. She would absolutely never allow such a person to set foot in the Theophilus family.
"Mother, how can you say such a thing?" Flynn shouted, his face filled with rage.
The two were at daggers drawn, and there was no telling when the argument would end. Giselle was very reluctant to face someone like Mrs. Theophilus; if she hated someone, she would use incredibly harsh words to describe them.
While Giselle stood watching Mrs. Theophilus, the older woman turned around and caught her eye. "Giselle, according to custom, today you must return to your family home for the post-wedding visit. Your mother called here early this morning. Once you finish breakfast, you and Flynn will go to the Yashashree family home together."
Upon hearing Mrs. Theophilus's words, Giselle looked toward Flynn. Sure enough, his eyes were bloodshot, looking as if he wanted to tear her apart. Consequently, even though she hadn't done or said anything, she had somehow managed to offend him.
After thinking for a moment, Giselle said awkwardly, "Mother, I will call home. I won't go back today. I'm worried there will be no one here to look after Reid."
She claimed to be worried about Reid's care, but in reality, she didn't want to offend Flynn further. Moreover, if Flynn had to return to the Yashashree house with her while looking like he wanted to shred her to pieces, how could her mother and Uncle Yashashree fail to notice something was wrong?
"Mhm, I know you mean well. But we cannot let that ruin our customs and traditions." Mrs. Theophilus spoke with a firm tone that brooked no opposition.
Flynn suddenly agreed. "Fine, I will go back with Giselle."
However, Giselle truly did not want to return. Once she went back, she didn't know if she could keep the secret; she feared everything would be exposed. In this house, she had no right to make her own decisions. After Giselle finished making breakfast, she carried it up to the room, wanting Reid to help her. But how should she bring it up? And even if she spoke, would he help her?
The study was the place where Reid went every day after waking up. Just like yesterday, he currently had a book resting on his lap. Giselle placed the food on the table and proactively stepped forward to push his wheelchair. "I heard from sister Skye that breakfast in this house is usually noodles or porridge. Today I made fennel noodles to change things up for you. I hope you enjoy it."
The fennel noodles sat on the table looking quite presentable, topped with a fried egg that looked very appetizing. Reid picked up the bowl, took a bite, and chewed slowly. The flavor was excellent.
Looking at Reid's expression, a smile appeared in the depths of Giselle's eyes. She quite enjoyed cooking, and she enjoyed seeing others like her food even more. Although he didn't say he liked it, he didn't say it was "not bad" like yesterday.
"May I trouble you with something?" Giselle hesitated for a long time before finally speaking.
Reid looked toward her. "Mhm, go on."
The fact that he was willing to speak gave her more hope than if he had remained silent. Thinking this way, Giselle no longer hesitated. "Today is the home-visit day. I don't want to go back. Could you please speak to Mother so I don't have to go?"
"You don't want to go home." He looked at her tightly knitted brows and asked suspiciously.
"It's not that I don't want to go home, but... the visit requires the husband and wife to return to the bride's home together. Mother wants me and the younger brother to go back together, but my husband isn't the younger brother. I don't want to deceive my family." She spoke the truth from her heart.
The hand Reid was using to hold his chopsticks paused. His voice was cold. "No one is making you deceive your family."
This whole situation had been arranged by his mother. His mother had indeed put all her effort into him. If it weren't for her being consumed by worry all day, he wouldn't have compromised and agreed to marry Giselle.
"Then am I supposed to tell them the truth. How could I be so heartless as to tell them? They..." She stopped abruptly. She had almost blurted out that her family would think they had personally pushed her into a pit of fire and would be consumed by guilt.
He stared at her, his gaze much sharper. "Speak. Why did you stop talking?"
From his voice, she could hear a terrifying coldness. How could she dare to continue? But Reid did not intend to let her stay silent. He leaned closer to her and questioned her coldly. "Are you afraid of your parents knowing you married a cripple?"
Hearing this tone, Giselle held her breath, not daring to make a single sound.
