Chapter 217 Can You Have a Cup of Tea With Me?
"Alright, it's ready." Caroline set the plate on the small dining table nearby and spoke softly to him.
Then she untied her apron and quietly sat down across from Alexander.
Alexander took a deep breath, picked up his spoon, scooped up some clear soup, blew on it, and brought it to his lips.
The soup was almost plain—just a hint of salt and the fresh aroma of scallions—yet it made his tongue tremble slightly, and warmth rushed straight to his eyes.
He quickly lowered his head and practically inhaled the food, stuffing it into his mouth to block the sob rising in his throat.
Caroline looked even more surprised, "How long has it been since you've eaten? Slow down, you'll choke."
Alexander heard her voice and looked up, wanting to answer, but his mouth was full, his cheeks bulging. He could only manage a muffled sound.
Embarrassed, he gave her a somewhat sheepish smile.
This time Caroline was completely stunned.
In her memory, Alexander rarely smiled.
Even when he did, it was for Edith.
He had never shown her a smile like this—so open and unguarded.
Alexander continued eating with his head down, wishing he could finish the entire plate in one go.
Suddenly, he felt a warm, soft hand tentatively touch his forehead.
Alexander stopped chewing abruptly and slowly looked up.
Caroline frowned slightly, pressing the back of her hand against his forehead, then against her own, and murmured under her breath, "You don't feel feverish..."
Alexander suddenly felt like the piece of steak he'd just swallowed was lodged in his throat, dropping heavily until it settled in the softest part of his heart.
Did he look crazy to her right now?
He lowered his gaze, avoiding her searching look, and mumbled, "Maybe... I didn't sleep well last night."
Caroline didn't press further and sat back down.
Something must have happened with his family, right?
Maybe right now he just didn't want to be questioned—he just wanted to quietly eat a meal.
Alexander finished every bit of food on his plate, even carefully spearing the decorative celery garnish with his fork.
Caroline sat across from him, watching as Alexander practically licked the sauce from the bottom of the plate clean. The surprise in her blue eyes deepened.
She hesitated for a moment but ultimately said nothing, just silently stood up and began clearing the dishes.
Alexander watched her slender figure carry the empty plate toward the sink. The warmth from the meal was quickly overtaken by a wave of disappointment.
His behavior today must have seemed completely bizarre to her, maybe even a little unsettling.
Maybe he should leave.
He stood up, about to go, when he saw Caroline emerge again holding a printed cardboard box.
"This... is for you."
Caroline handed the box to Alexander.
"These are cookies I baked. If you get hungry again after you go back, you can have some. If they're too sweet, have them with black tea."
Alexander's gaze froze the moment it landed on that little box.
This box... he knew it all too well.
The floodgates of memory burst open, and countless fragments rushed into his mind at once.
When he was young, Edith often came to him carrying a box just like this, smiling brightly and saying, "Alexander, I brought you some treats—I made them myself!"
So even those desserts Edith gave him were actually made by Caroline?
Alexander felt everything in his chest constricting, aching with each contraction.
What he owed Caroline wasn't just the hurt from those five years of marriage.
Before it all began, he had already taken her efforts for granted, giving all his gratitude and affection to someone else.
He didn't want to leave anymore.
He wanted to stay a little longer, to be with Caroline.
After a few seconds of silence, Alexander took the box and suddenly asked, "Would you... be willing to have a cup of black tea with me?"
Caroline led Alexander up to the rooftop terrace.
The rooftop terrace was spacious with an open view.
White wrought-iron furniture with carved details sat beneath a parasol, and several potted plants in the corner had clearly been lovingly tended.
The entire terrace was arranged exactly as Caroline had once described to him.
Caroline poured him a cup of black tea and gently slid it across to him.
"From here you can see the back mountain," Caroline sat down across from him and poured herself a cup as well.
"When the weather's nice, the view is even clearer."
Alexander followed her gaze.
The distant hillside rolled on continuously, and at some point, a light mist had risen between the mountains, softening the outline of the distant peaks.
Though it was no longer as bright and sunny as before, it held a kind of quiet beauty.
Alexander suddenly understood why, back at Ravenwood Manor, Caroline had been so insistent that he restore that empty second-floor terrace.
There was beauty everywhere in life—it was just that his eyes had only seen what he wanted to see, or what others pushed in front of him. He had never stopped to notice these things.
"You're right, the view is beautiful," he said quietly, picking up his teacup and taking a sip.
Both fell silent for a moment.
But this silence wasn't uncomfortable. Alexander even found himself savoring it.
Soon, though, he felt a bit restless.
He was afraid this quiet would make her feel awkward, afraid she would find an excuse to leave.
He set down his teacup and took out a cookie from the box Caroline had given him, taking a bite.
"I remember..." he said while chewing, deliberately searching for something to talk about.
"You can't have dairy products—lactose intolerant, right? So how come these cookies have a buttery aroma? What did you use as a substitute?"
Caroline was clearly surprised by this question.
After a moment, she blinked, as if finally processing what he'd said, and a light, genuine smile touched the corners of her eyes and lips.
He... he actually remembered such a small detail.
Alexander clearly caught that little spark that suddenly lit up in her eyes. His heart felt like it had been lightly brushed by a feather—soft and bittersweet.
He suddenly realized that Caroline would light up when he brought up little things about her, and that she actually enjoyed talking with him.
He quickly took another generous bite of the cookie, closing his eyes in satisfaction and praising warmly, "These are really delicious! You did an amazing job! This flavor is really unique—how did you make them?"
The smile in Caroline's eyes grew even brighter.
"Actually, I didn't use milk or cream. I used almond flour and coconut oil to replace some of the flour and butter, and added a bit of honey and vanilla extract for flavor..."
She patiently explained, while Alexander listened intently, as if hearing a master chef reveal a secret recipe, afraid to miss a single detail.
But halfway through, Caroline's eyes suddenly dimmed for a moment, and she added in a low voice, as if making a casual observation, "But... my mother said these are all a waste of time. We have chefs at home, and if I want desserts, I can have them make them. She thinks I'm wasting my time on pointless things."