Chapter 35
She woke up with no memory of her dreams.
Sunlight seeped through the cracks in the heavy curtains, and she woke right on time.
The lingering discomfort from the night before still echoed through her body, but her mind was sharp and clear.
She sat up, noticing a fresh set of women's clothes neatly folded on the arm of the sofa. The style was conservative, clearly Jacob's directive, or perhaps Tina's interpretation of his tastes.
She picked up the clothes. The fabric was soft and comfortable.
After getting dressed, she quietly opened the bedroom door.
The hallway outside was empty and silent. It was still early.
She had only taken a few steps when a small figure darted out and wrapped himself tightly around her leg.
"Mommy!" Jack tilted his little face up, his big eyes shining with pure dependence and joy.
It seemed he had been waiting for her.
Elizabeth bent down and scooped him into her arms. Jack immediately wrapped his arms around her neck, nuzzling against her affectionately.
Just then, Willa, the woman responsible for Jack's meals and daily care, approached, her face etched with a mix of difficulty and concern.
She spoke respectfully to Elizabeth, "Ms. Windsor, Jack insisted on finding you the moment he woke up. Breakfast is ready, but he refused to eat, saying he wanted to wait for you."
Hearing Willa's words, Jack buried his face in the crook of Elizabeth's neck, one eye peeking out to gauge her reaction, looking a little guilty.
Elizabeth stroked his hair, her tone gentle but firm. "Jack, skipping meals is bad for you. You can't do this again, understand?"
Jack lifted his face, looking into her clear, serious eyes. He pouted but still nodded, whispering, "Okay. But you'll eat with me, Mommy."
"Deal," Elizabeth agreed, carrying him toward the dining room.
The breakfast room at Smith Manor was even more spacious and bright than the smaller dining room from the previous night.
The long table was already set with exquisite tableware and an assortment of breakfast dishes, the aroma filling the air.
Elizabeth placed Jack in his high chair and took the seat beside him.
Only then did Jack pick up his small spoon and begin to eat in tiny bites, his eyes never leaving Elizabeth, as if afraid she might vanish.
Elizabeth ate her own breakfast with slow, elegant grace. She noticed Jack didn't have much of an appetite, eating very little. She patiently encouraged him to have a bit more broccoli and a piece of the pan-seared egg frittata.
Just then, the sound of shuffling footsteps approached, accompanied by a voice thick with morning languor. "A guest this early? And a new face, at that."
Elizabeth looked up to see Richard strolling in, clad in a burgundy silk robe and slippers.
He had clearly just woken up; his hair was a mess, and his face had the drowsy look of a hangover. But as his eyes swept over Elizabeth and Jack, they instantly lit up with a playful, assessing glint.
His gaze lingered for a moment on Elizabeth's conservative attire, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.
Willa quickly bowed. "Mr. Richard Smith."
Richard waved a dismissive hand, plopping himself down in the master's chair opposite Elizabeth as a servant immediately brought him coffee and a newspaper.
"You must be the Ms. Windsor I've heard so much about," Richard said, lifting his coffee cup. His eyes, now fully focused on Elizabeth's face, held a disarming smile. "It's a pleasure. I'm Richard, Jacob's older brother."
Elizabeth put down her fork, dabbed her lips with a napkin, and looked at him, her expression placid. She gave a slight nod. "Mr. Richard Smith. A pleasure."
Her demeanor was perfectly neutral—neither fawning over his status nor showing any fear or curiosity. It was as if she were meeting a stranger.
A flicker of surprise crossed Richard's eyes, but his smile only deepened, his tone laced with teasing. "Ms. Windsor is as poised as they say. It seems Jacobr has good taste."
He paused deliberately, his gaze pointedly sweeping over the faint red marks barely visible beneath the high collar of Elizabeth's blouse. They were faint, but his eyes were sharp. He then glanced at Jack, who was clinging to her side, clearly attached. "And not only are you good at taking care of Jacob, but you've managed to charm our little Jack, too. Quite the talent."
Any other woman would have been blushing furiously, flustered, or tripping over herself to explain.
But Elizabeth simply met Richard's gaze—a look that was seemingly warm but sharp as a razor's edge—and the slight curve of her lips didn't waver. "You flatter me, Mr. Smith. Jack is a sweet boy; we just clicked. As for Jacob," she paused, her tone frank, "we're engaged. It's only natural that we take care of each other."
She had taken his thinly veiled jab and turned it on its head, asserting her position with a frankness that left Richard momentarily speechless.
Richard's eyes narrowed as he reassessed the woman before him.
She was tougher than he'd anticipated. Not just calm, but possessed of a composure and confidence that seemed beyond her years.
And that confidence, he realized, didn't come entirely from Jacob.
He suddenly chuckled, masking the calculation in his eyes, and said casually, "So direct, Ms. Windsor. It seems Jacob has found himself a powerful partner this time. It's just..." His tone shifted, carrying a subtle note of warning and probing. "The Smith family is a complicated web, Ms. Windsor. You've only just arrived. You'd do well to be careful. Some relationships, and some people, aren't as simple as they appear on the surface."
Elizabeth scoffed internally.
She knew damn well the Smith family was a viper's nest. She knew even better that the man sitting before her, wearing the mask of a benevolent older brother, was a snake ready to strike at any moment.
Her memories of her past life were a blur, but she remembered one thing with stark clarity: it was Richard's scheming that led to Jacob being severely injured in a conflict, leaving him with a permanent disability and his power base crippled.
This was an enemy to watch. A serpent hidden behind a friendly smile.
She inclined her head slightly, her voice still even. "Thank you for the warning. I'll keep that in mind."
Her reaction was too calm, too collected. It put Richard on high alert.
This woman was definitely not simple.
Sensing the tense atmosphere between the adults, Jack tugged nervously at Elizabeth's sleeve.
Elizabeth looked down at him and offered a reassuring smile. "Are you full? How about we go finish building that block tower from yesterday?"
Jack nodded instantly, eager to get away from the uncle who made him so uncomfortable.
Elizabeth lifted Jack into her arms and gave Richard a polite but distant nod. "Please, enjoy your breakfast. If you'll excuse us."
Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked out of the breakfast room with the child, her posture poised and unshaken.
Richard watched them go, the smile melting from his face, replaced by a mask of dark, cold calculation.