Chapter 2

Streetlights flickered on one by one.

I let out a quiet breath.

My new life officially began at that moment.

Forty minutes later, the car pulled up in front of a stately house.

There was no army of servants waiting outside as I imagined, only a housekeeper in a work uniform stood by the front door.

"Sir, ma'am, everything has been prepared as instructed."

Linda took my backpack and smiled at me.

Hedworth gently patted my shoulder, his voice warm.

"Aaron, this is your home from now on. Your room is on the second floor. If there's anything you're not used to, you can talk to Linda anytime, or come directly to me."

I followed him upstairs.

The moment the bedroom door opened, I froze.

The desk had been neatly arranged with imported fountain pens, study supplies, and a complete collector's edition of classic literary works.

Hedworth studied my expression, his tone as calm as ever.

"Mrs. Harper told us you enjoy writing and literature. Laura arranged for all of these to be prepared on our way home."

After a brief pause, he asked, "Do you like them?"

I turned to look at him.

Unlike Samuel in my previous life, he didn't immediately crowd around me asking whether I was adjusting well.

Instead, he kept a comfortable distance and patiently waited for my response.

"I like them very much. Thank you, Mr. Bennett."

I nodded earnestly.

He seemed to relax a little.

"I'm glad. Go take a shower and get some rest. Dinner will be ready in half an hour."

The dinner table was so quiet that the faint clink of silverware was the only sound.

Hedworth and Laura occasionally exchanged a few quiet words, mostly about literary exhibitions or the orchestra.

They didn't deliberately alter their routines because of my arrival.

In my previous life, Sean was always complaining that the Bennett household felt colder than an icebox.

He said every second he spent here felt suffocating and that the Bennetts never truly loved him. They only wanted a child to brighten their lives.

After they had a child of their own, they cared even less about him.

I couldn't help thinking back to my previous life with the Parkers.

The three of us would squeeze around a small coffee table. Samuel would always pile extra meat onto my plate and say in his booming voice, "Aaron, eat more. You're still growing."

That lively, bustling warmth, filled with the comforts of everyday life, stood in sharp contrast to the quietness of the Bennett household.

Back then, we were both still young. Without the wisdom that came from living a second life, neither of us understood that every family had its own way of showing love.

But now, sitting at the dinner table and looking at the nutritious, child-friendly dishes that was prepared especially for me, I arrived at a different answer.

The Bennetts' love was rooted in respect.

They weren't the type to loudly announce how much they did for someone. Instead, they quietly made sure everything was thoughtful and taken care of.

For the Sean of my previous life, who longed to be constantly noticed and showered with affection, that kind of restrained care probably felt like emotional distance.

But I wasn't Sean.

I knew better than anyone how precious this kind of freedom, free from interference and backed by the best resources, was for a writer.

A week later, Evelyn came to visit the Bennett household for a follow-up check.

She took my hand and led me into the garden.

After making sure no one was nearby, she lowered her voice and asked, "Aaron, are you adjusting well here? If anyone has treated you unfairly, you must tell me."

I shook my head and pointed toward my desk.

"Mr. Bennett hired a professional writing tutor for me. They'll be arriving tomorrow."

Evelyn looked at me, something complicated flickering in her eyes.

"You've always been more composed than Sean. Sean called me yesterday. He was so excited he could barely contain himself. He said Mr. Parker took him to a night market and bought him all kinds of cool toys."