"You wish! If I can't have it, why would I take time to develop it?" Tom complained. Meanwhile, he carefully checked his bruised face. The more he looked at it, the angrier he got. If Edward knew that Tom still had ointment in his drawer, he would definitely steal it for Daisy. He better keep quiet if he wanted to keep it for himself.
"Something's wrong. Jerry, you're keeping something! It's not like you to be so calm." Edward said doubtfully. Peering at Tom inquisitively, he could sense that something was wrong with him.
"I don't know what you're talking about. You have everything in your pocket. I have nothing left in the office." Tom replied. Immediately, he wanted to slap himself. He was trying to cover things up, but he only made it more conspicuous. He just foolishly shot himself in the foot.
"It sounds like you still have some with you. No wonder you're suddenly so generous. You're hiding something!" Edward accused. He wasn't greedy enough to take it away from Tom. He was trying to frighten him in retaliation for tricking him.
"No, developing the ointment isn't easy! Besides, I can't count on it to make a living. I don't need more ointment. And by the way, aren't you busy?" Tom asked. He was obviously hinting for him to leave. If Edward stayed any longer, he would leave nothing for Tom.
"No. To repay your generosity, how about I buy you lunch?" Edward suggested. Tom really wanted to punch the pleased look off Edward's face. Generosity? Edward coerced it out of him!
"Alright. Only idiots would refuse a free meal." Tom replied. Tom wasn't an idiot. He would have Edward pay him back, or he wouldn't get over it.
"Well, I'll see you at the Mochan Restaurant at noon. Catch you later." Edward smiled. Edward behaved like he wanted to get a dressing down. Now, Tom really wanted to give him a good beating.
"Piss off! See you later." Tom replied unhappily. He was going to apply the ointment on his face as soon as Edward left. He didn't want his face to be ruined.
Edward was in good mood. He finally got the answer to the problem that had haunted him for a long time. It was worth celebrating. With a smile, Edward drove his sleek luxury Lamborghini through the streets of S City. Jessica could never use her unborn child as leverage to threaten him anymore. If he was the only man she had ever been with, then who was the baby's father? Was it conceived without a father, like how the Monkey King was born from a stone in the Journey to the West?
Luke followed behind Edward's car. He wondered where Edward was headed to. 'This is the way to the Maple Night. He hasn't been back there for years. Does he intend to visit it now? Does he want to reminisce his past with Mrs. Mu?'
That was exactly Edward's intention. The Maple Night was the place where he met Daisy and slept with her for the first time.
Edward's unexpected visit thrilled the butlers who had been taking care of the place for years. They had been alone in the big villa for years without a master. Many young servants had already resigned due to the uncertain future about this place. Only the elder ones chose to stay.
"Mr. Mu, thank God you're here! I have never expected to see you again." One butler said sadly. The villa was a wedding gift from Edward's parents, their masters. But the young masters left the house one after another the day after the wedding and never came back. The servants were anxious about the future. A servant without a master is like a house without its pillar. Fortunately, they were paid on time. Their salaries reassured them that they hadn't been abandoned and forgotten.
"Yes. How are you doing?" Edward asked politely. Edward was easy-going. He was nice to the elder servants and never put on airs.
"Very well, thank you. But it's such a shame that we never have the chance to wait on you, when we're paid highly every month!" replied the butler. The mass of wrinkles on his face became more evident when he started to cry in happiness.
"It's fine. I'll have the villa renovated, and we'll come over from time to time." Edward replied. Looking around, it seemed that he needed to redesign the outdated layout of the villa.
That would be great, Mr. Mu! We'll finally have a chance to work for you." The butler was about 60 years old, but his experience made him look older than his peers.
"I'll have a look around. You may go about with your business." The butler's enthusiasm and reverence made Edward feel embarrassed and uncomfortable.
"Yes, Mr. Mu. The villa has remained the same for all these years, and we clean it everyday." The butler smiled graciously. He was the most valued servant in masters' eyes. It was the reason he was appointed to take care of the young master. Unfortunately, they didn't have the chance to get to know each other.
The young master had been living abroad. And when he came back and got married, he left the day after the wedding. It came to a point when the butler thought he would die alone in this villa, waiting for the young master to come back. Thank God he came back today. He felt happy and excited.
Alright. Please go about with your business." Edward repeated. He was always moderate to servants, not too warm and not too indifferent. He knew the perfect balance. Edward quickly walked to the bedroom where he first slept with Daisy. To be honest, he had no memory of that night. All he remembered was his rage the following morning. He hated being set up. When he woke up that morning, he thought that Daisy had played a dirty trick on him. That was why he said so many harsh things to her.
If he hadn't been so cynical years ago, he would've never treated her so badly. He didn't even have a problem with her, he was just dissatisfied with his parents. They always arranged everything for him. To rebel against them, he made a big issue of the wedding. Years later, he willingly fell into his parents' trap and fell in love with Daisy.
The room brought back memories of that night. He remembered Daisy's panicked expression. She must've been miserable at that time. In front of her stood the man she had loved deeply for many years. But every single word he said was a deep cut to her heart. Unable to defend herself, she could only endure his rage in silence.
Edward felt distressed at the thought. Daisy was such a fool. Even if he said those horrible things to her, she shouldn't have left on her own. He never told her to leave. If she loved him, why didn't she seize every opportunity to stay with him? Living alone must've been hard for her. Why did she do that? If Daisy had stayed, would he fall in love with her earlier? Edward wasn't certain. And it would be very difficult to fall in love with her because he was so rebellious at that time.
He sighed. There was no sign of her in tjis room, and he missed her terribly. His longing grew every second. He wanted to jear her voice, hug her tight, and sleep with her this very moment. But that wasn't gonna happened. Daisy told him last night that she couldn't contact anyone in the upcoming week. He couldn't complain about it. After all, Daisy had waited a long time for him.
In the past, the week flew by quickly. But now, a week seemed like a year. Perhaps it's because he was in love with her now. Edward had never missed anyone like this. Je finally understood that missing someone could be both bitter and sweet.