Lahat ng Kabanata ng Winning Her Back: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 25

The golden sun of the afternoon bathed Mrs. Blackwell's room in gold, blurring furniture lines and throwing a halo about the fresh lilies on her bedside table. Ethan and I arrived together in synchrony, each of us with a tray. The lavender-scented air, and beneath it, the undertone thrum of privilege and the subtle musk of Mrs. Blackwell's signature sandalwood candle burning on the bedside table.As we came in, Mrs. Blackwell was just ending a conversation on the phone, her smooth voice still echoing in the room: "Yes, dear. I'll rest now." She put her phone down gently and smiled at us, a look of victory and relief."Perfect timing, my dears," she cooed, smiling. "Put the soup and chicken here."Ethan placed the tureen delicately on a gilded tray stand, steam rising in languid circles. I put the plates of sautéed chicken and steamed vegetables on the bedside table, pale green of asparagus and blush color of carrots a pleasant contrast to snow‐white china.Mrs. Blackwell settled back

The sun shone through the gossamer drapes in delicate, gold stripes. I lay beneath the white blanket, tracing invisible patterns on the ceiling as my mind replayed last night's stolen kisses and naughty moments on the balcony. Ethan's arms around me, the weight of his lips at the base of my neck, the throb of his breathing identical to mine, each memory ignited a searing blush down my body.Aside from the heat still smoldering under my skin, panic started building quietly within my chest. To lay here, next to an empty pillow and untucked bed, was at once a relief and a betrayal. Relief that I could hold on to the memory intact, and betrayal because he wasn't there. My fingers ached to trace the line of his jaw, to have his hand on the small of my back. Instead, I slipped off the bed and wrapped my robe around me, resolved to flee from the silence too near to bear.I stalked along the hall, by the closed door of his study, where once I had dreamed of surprising him with breakfast, or a

The morning courtyard was still, dew glistening on neatly trimmed boxwoods as Mrs. Blackwell and I strolled beneath the thin trellis of the arbor. I breathed in the fresh air, the sweet perfume of early bloom chasing away the whispers of fitful nights. We stood side by side, quiet friends. She paused in front of a rosebush, touching a velvet pink petal with her fingers. "Pretty, aren't they?" she breathed. "They are," I replied, looking at her serene profile. Just a few days back, I'd thought her seriously ill, so frail, so in need of my and Ethan's nursing. She smiled up at me, silver locks glinting in sunlight. "Lila, I'm so glad things are going on well between you and Ethan." I smiled hesitantly, still sensitive from the reality I had only half absorbed. "I’m positive it’s because of you, thank you for all that you've done." Her eyes sparkled. "Ah, but about that." She took a deep breath as though gaining courage. "I have to admit, I wasn't ill." I hesitated mid-step, heart p