CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: AN UNEXPECTED KINDNESS

"Childish." Henry Preston spat out the words coldly, then changed into a black down jacket, put on a matching knit hat, and walked out.

I followed him out, wrapping my scarf tightly around my neck, then squatted on the ground to start rolling a snowball.

The snow was very cold, and my hands quickly turned red from the chill. A servant brought me gloves, which I put on before continuing the grand task of rolling a snowball. Meanwhile, Henry Preston stood still, unmoving.

"I want you to build a snowman with me, not just watch me build one," I said unhappily.

"Do you still think you’re a three-year-old?" Henry Preston retorted irritably, "You’re so grown up yet still this childish, building a snowman?"

Damn it, did he talk this uselessly when he was building snowmen with Azure Vaughn in a past life? Annoyed, I picked up a chunk of snow and threw it at Henry Preston without mercy.

Henry Preston brushed off the spot where the snow hit him, and refusing to be outdone, picked up snow and threw it back at me.

We started a snowball fight, but with his stronger arms and accuracy, Henry Preston hit me every time, while in my fluster, I kept missing.

I unwillingly accepted defeat, and while Henry Preston bent down to pick up more snow, I threw a snowball which hit him squarely on the head. He let out a muffled groan, then looked up at me angrily, "Lane Stevens!"

"Hit me then!" I taunted, wiggling my finger with a triumphant grin.

Henry Preston picked up a basketball-sized snowball, holding it above his head ready to get back at me. I seized the moment, darting forward to dive into his arms, clinging tightly to his waist and then looking up at him, "Go on, hit me. Kill me so you can marry Azure Vaughn!"

Snowflakes fell on my face, my eyelashes, and the tips of Henry Preston’s hair. He lowered his gaze to look at me, his eyebrows and eyes flawless and perfect.

The atmosphere seemed to freeze as our eyes locked. Although I’ve loved him for ten years and we’ve had a few marital moments, this kind of pure playful bickering was a first.

I didn’t know whether I was deliberately trying to do this before Azure Vaughn or using this excuse to make up for my once pitiful self.

"Cheat," Henry Preston finally looked away, his expression a bit unnatural, and he tossed the snowball to the ground. I, understanding the cue, quickly let go of him too.

Henry Preston returned to the house, leaving me lost in thought amidst the icy landscape. After a long while, I snapped out of it and continued to build the snowman, but soon I gave up.

Feeling chilled to the bone, it wasn’t until after a hot bath that I felt alive again. Lying on my bed, I opened my phone’s surveillance system and found the footage of Henry Preston and me having a snowball fight.

Under the dim yellow lights, with snow fluttering around, I was wearing a white sweater wrapped in a black scarf, holding onto Henry Preston’s waist and looking up at him, while he held a snowball above his head, looking down at me.

If I hadn’t already died once, I might have been entranced by this beautiful, romantic scene.

What was he thinking at the time? Was he wishing that if only it were Azure Vaughn in his arms?

I couldn’t help but take a screenshot and set it as my lock screen wallpaper.

I didn’t know when I finally fell into a deep sleep, not even hearing Ivan Underwood’s call. It wasn’t until the next day when I woke and saw the missed call, that I quickly called back.

"I need your help," Ivan said.

"What kind of help?" I was still half-asleep, my voice sounding lazy.

"Let’s talk in person." Ivan assertively arranged a place and time for a meeting, then hung up the call.

I ruffled my hair in confusion, got up, drew the curtains, and looked out. The thick snow on the balcony railing was reflecting the sunlight in shimmering spots.

Are you kidding? Meeting up in this weather—what if the road is slippery and there’s an accident?

As I pondered, my eyes suddenly caught sight of a nicely built snowman on the lawn below. I was overjoyed and quickly changed my clothes to rush outside, asking the servant sweeping the snow nearby, "Did you build the snowman?"

"Madam, Mr. Preston built it," the servant answered.

My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t quite define the feeling; Henry Preston’s sudden kindness to me felt like buying lottery tickets for ten years and finally winning ten bucks one day.

While building that snowman, Henry Preston surely kept cursing me for being childish.

Grinning, I ran to the kitchen to fetch two black beans and a carrot, then returned to the snowman to give it eyes and a nose, and took off my scarf to put it on.

"Good boy," I patted the snowman’s head, then went back inside in high spirits to have breakfast, afterwards calling Lane to drive me to meet Ivan Underwood.

Ivan Underwood lived alone in a high-end apartment, not far from the hospital.

It was my first time at his place. I originally thought that with his aloof nature and being a doctor, his home would have a minimalist black, gray, and white decor.

To my surprise, as I entered, there were hardwood floors and warm yellow walls. The home was warmly and comfortably decorated, exuding a faint, fresh scent.

"Sit wherever," Ivan said, dragging a suitcase into the living room, then made a cup of hot tea for me and brought out a plate of golden cookies. "I baked these, try them."

After speaking, he called out, and a beautiful Ragdoll cat came running, its big tail dragging on the floor, meowing gently. It leaped into his arms, and as he petted the cat, he told me, "I’m going for an exchange study for about half a month. Take Bonnie back with you and look after her for a while."

The cookie I had just picked up almost dropped to the floor. It turned out he called me over to ask me to cat-sit.

"I can’t do it!" I shook my head.

"She’s well-behaved. Just feed her and play with her a bit each day," Ivan came over and without another word, placed the cat in my arms.

The cat rubbed against me; she was indeed very well-behaved.

Ivan then took out a box containing the cat’s food and toys, "Let’s go, I’ll walk you out."

Entrusted with this responsibility, I had no choice but to carry the cat downstairs.

Ivan headed to the hospital in his car, while I, holding the cat, got into my own car with Lane driving me back to Maplewood Gardens.

I have to say, pets are excellent companions for humans. With Bonnie’s company, I found much joy, and in just one day, she had adapted to my home. When I took her to the music room to practice, she lay nearby like an audience.

I couldn’t resist taking a beautiful photo of Bonnie and posting it on social media. After posting, I saw Azure Vaughn’s latest update.

Ever since she added me, I hadn’t seen her post anything; her profile was always set for only the last three days to be visible, just a blank slate.

A photo of a hand reaching for snow, with a line of text: "Do I hold a special place in your heart?"

I knew this sentence well; it was from a song I used to like. The next line is "I just fear you’ll never realize that I’m still by your side."

Before, I found this song perfectly described my feelings for Henry Preston. Is it now Azure Vaughn’s turn to use this as a metaphor for her feelings for Henry?