Rosemary stepped out of the shower well past midnight, her skin still tingling from the hot water, and realized it was already 2 AM.
Checking her phone, she noticed a few missed calls and unread ssages, all from Roo.
She quickly shot him a text asking if he was still up.
No sooner had she hit send than Roo’s call ca through.
"Have you been waiting by your phone this whole ti?" Rosemary teased, a playful smirk dancing on her lips.
Hearing her voice seed to ease sothing deep inside Roo.
"Must’ve been quite the night for you to miss my ssages. Just hearing you now, I can tell things went smoothly."
He was genuinely happy for her, knowing she had a lot on her plate that evening and could guess what sort of things might have happened.
"It did go well, but it was a lot for Grandpa, you know. He’s not young anymore, and tonight took a toll on him," Rosemary shared, her voice softening.
Just then, she heard Roo chuckle and couldn’t help but ask,
"What’s so funny?"
"Have you noticed you’re talking to more and sharing more? You used to barely reply to my ssages, let alone open up about your experiences."
"Is that enough for you?" Rosemary’s smile ward her voice. "Aren’t you setting the bar a bit low?"
"Just hearing a few extra words from you and knowing you’re thinking of are all the satisfaction I need."
Rosemary laughed.
"So, can you sleep peacefully now?"
"Are you free tomorrow?" Roo’s voice was gentle. "I’d like to take you to a few places."
He’d been in Dawnstar for a few days now and hadn’t yet taken her out to explore.
Rosemary thought for a mont—no pressing matters the next day—so she agreed.
"Sleep in then. Text when you’re up, and I’ll co get you."
"Alright, it’s late. You should get so sleep."
"What about you?"
"Drying my hair."
She had answered his call with her hair still damp, and it hadn’t dried yet.
Roo felt a twinge of regret. If he had known, he wouldn’t have let her answer the phone with wet hair in the cold.
If he were there, he’d have dried it for her.
The thought brought back mories from a night long past.
"I’ll bring you a hair dryer cap tomorrow," Roo said softly. "Use the warm setting for now, and go to sleep quickly. Don’t catch a cold."
"Okay."
After exchanging goodnights, Rosemary hung up.
The next morning, before dawn even hinted at breaking the night, Serena was already up.
She wanted to bond with each family mber before Rosemary woke up.
But she had risen too early, and when breakfast ti ca, she found herself alone at the table.
The sky was a blanket of dull gray, the night’s curtain not yet fully lifted, when she couldn’t help but ask the housekeeper,
"What ti does Uncle Bard usually wake up?"
"Well, usually about half an hour from now, but ever since his wife ca back, Mr. Bard has been rising late with her. To be honest, we servants can’t say for certain."
Serena couldn’t help but inquire further,
"And what about Grandpa?"
"Mr. Darren woke up just last night. He’s usually in a comatose state, so his routine is unpredictable."
Serena could only put down her fork.
"Then I’ll go for a morning run, and we can all have breakfast together when they wake up."
At minus three degrees, even clad in thick clothing, the bone-chilling wind made Serena shiver uncontrollably.
But she jogged on determinedly, thinking to herself, What if Uncle or Grandpa woke to find her running before dawn, impressed by her self-discipline and drive?
So, braving the cold, she ran around the garden for 40 minutes.
With still no one awake, she couldn’t bear it any longer and hurried back inside.
Half an hour later, Bard was the first to co downstairs.
Spotting Serena at the breakfast table, cradling a bowl in her hands, he couldn’t resist asking,
"Serena, why so early? And your face is so red. Is it from the cold?"
"I ran outside for an hour. It started snowing, so I stopped. Good morning, Uncle Bard," Serena spoke, her breath visible in the air.
Bard hadn’t expected her to change, to take up early morning runs.
"That’s a good habit, but on bad weather days, you might consider an indoor workout. Your aunt does just that with her morning yoga."
Serena thought, Had she known, she would have grabbed a yoga mat and practiced in a conspicuous spot indoors, enjoying the warmth and avoiding the strenuous run while still catching people’s attention.
Bard joined her at the table, sharing breakfast.
"By the way, Serena, you ntioned on the phone that you have a boyfriend. How long has that been going on?"
"It started after my sister ca ho." Serena deliberately cast her eyes down, then mustered a smile.
"It’s been about half a year. He pursued for six years, from junior high through to senior year. After the college entrance exams last sumr, I gave it a shot."
"What does he do?" Bard asked with interest. "A student like you?"
"He’s a freshman too, but he’s exceptional. The college granted him privileges due to his grades. He only needs to take exams at the end of each sester and will graduate in four years."
Unable to resist boasting, Serena added,
"His family owns a departnt store chain with over 600 locations worldwide. Using his family’s resources, he started a logistics company and recently secured funding. He owns fifty cargo planes and exclusive rights to certain flight paths."
Bard was well aware of what owning fifty cargo planes ant at such a young age, especially with exclusive dostic flight path rights — no small feat.
"He’s expanded the air freight business nationwide, the fastest in the country, outpacing other logistics companies, including those owned by the Collins and McMillian families."
Serena made a point of comparing him to the Collins and McMillian families.
Bard nodded.
"Impressive. Young, ambitious, with a unique vision."
"Thank you, Uncle Bard."
Serena thought to herself how Uncle could so easily overlook the truth.
In comparison, Martin was clearly no match for Roo!
"Since my sister is the true Collins family heiress and I’m just an adopted daughter, it’s only natural that the arranged marriage between the Collins and McMillian families should be for her."
Serena put on an understanding face, not ntioning whether Roo was interested in her or how she reluctantly settled for Martin.
If she could have her way, she would be Roo’s wife!
"My granddaughter has a boyfriend now," Darren’s cheerful voice ca from the doorway.
"I sleep for a little while, and I miss my granddaughter getting a boyfriend."
Eunice, supporting Darren, added with a smile,
"It’s not too late for you to find out now, Dad."
"Bring him over to et us when you get a chance," Darren suggested with a twinkle in his eye.
"I overheard at the doorway that the young man is in logistics. Not bad at all — quite the business acun for a freshman. He has a promising future."
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