The four of them parted ways at the entrance of the private restaurant. Wyatt Kingston took Joy Coleman ho, while Luna Axton and Blaze Fairchild went straight back to Lakeside Manor.
She felt a pang of reluctance to part, but more than that, an emptiness had settled in her heart because of her mother’s departure.
Blaze noticed her low spirits. ’A change of scenery might do her good,’ he thought.
"We still have two days of vacation left. How about I take you out sowhere?"
Luna tilted her head, gazing into his concerned, dark eyes.
"Where to?"
"Anywhere is fine." It was a spontaneous idea, so he didn’t have a destination in mind. "You take a nap. We’ll leave as soon as I’m done packing."
"What about Grandfather?" Luna was concerned. ’It doesn’t feel right to leave him all alone during the Spring Festival holiday.’
Blaze replied, "He’d be thrilled for to take you out to clear your head."
"Okay, you can plan it."
She understood Blaze’s kind intentions and didn’t want to be a killjoy.
It was just that she really wasn’t in the mood to plan an itinerary, look up routes, or find accommodations.
Blaze saw her open the box and knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep anyti soon. He let her sit with her emotions; she needed so ti to accept reality.
He turned and went upstairs to pack.
He had previously invested in an eco-friendly outdoor project. It involved converting old, scrapped vehicles into rooms of various shapes and sizes, which were then placed in a forest for use.
Thanks to its secluded environnt and creative concept, it was quite popular among young people and families with children.
’Spending two days in nature would surely improve Luna’s mood.’
With this in mind, he called Kyle Joyce and asked him to make the arrangents.
"Sir, do you have any specific requirents for the room?" This was the first ti his boss was planning a getaway; he had to get the details right to ensure his satisfaction.
Blaze thought for a mont. "One with a view of the sunrise and sunset, isolated so we won’t be disturbed, and with a flat path nearby for walks."
Kyle Joyce understood imdiately. ’The boss is taking the Young Madam on a romantic getaway!’
"I’ll send you the details once it’s booked."
Blaze put down his phone and began to pack.
In the living room, Luna looked at the knitted items in the box. A stinging sensation welled up in her nose, and her eyes filled with tears again.
They were all items her mother had crocheted and knitted: hats, sweaters, coasters, and a small blanket. Without exception, they all featured a strawberry pattern.
There were also tiny knitted booties, a matching strawberry hat, and a scarf, all prepared for Lucky.
Luna examined each item carefully, her palm gliding over the soft, warm texture, which felt like her mother’s love.
’From now on, these will be here to keep company in my mother’s place.’
After a long while, she finally folded them and put them back in the box.
Luna lay on her side on the sofa. A tear escaped from the corner of her eye and fell onto the leather, a single, crystal-clear drop.
The surroundings were silent, and the heating in the house was turned up high.
She stared blankly at the box on the coffee table. Gradually, her eyelids grew heavy, and before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.
After packing, Blaze ca downstairs with the suitcase. He scanned the living room but didn’t see her.
’Did she go to Crimson Hall?’ he wondered.
Just as he was about to go look for her, his gaze fell on the large box on the coffee table.
He walked over, and what he saw made his heart clench. The pain was so sharp it stole his breath.
Luna was lying on her side on the sofa, her long legs curled and overlapping, her hands tucked under her cheek.
She was sleeping in a fetal position, a posture that suggested a lack of security.
Her damp eyelashes were stuck together, a clear sign she had been crying before she fell asleep.
Blaze stood there, watching her for a long while before turning to take the suitcase to the car.
Then he went to Pinehurst Estate to inform his grandfather of their travel plans. Finally, he drove the car up to the front of Lakeside Manor.
Mrs. Creed had also prepared a fruit platter and so snacks for the road. "Young Master, please drive safely."
Mrs. Creed’s heart ached for her as well, but she knew that the Young Master taking the Young Madam out for a change of scenery would do her a world of good.
Once everything was ready, Blaze went to wake her.
She was sleeping so soundly that he felt reluctant to wake her. But if they didn’t leave soon, it would be dark by the ti they arrived.
Luna rubbed her swollen, uncomfortable eyes and looked at Blaze, who was crouching in front of her. "Is it ti to go?"
"Yes. I’ve already spoken with Grandfather. We can leave directly."
"Okay." Luna’s voice was soft and raspy from crying, making one’s heart ache to hear it.
Blaze stroked her hair. "You can sleep more in the car."
Luna sat in the passenger seat, and Blaze adjusted it for her to make it more comfortable.
Soothing, gentle music played in the car. As the scenery outside the window gradually opened up, Luna’s eyes grew tired, and she slowly closed them.
Seeing that she had fallen asleep, Blaze turned up the heat and turned off the music.
On the country roads, the fields were planted with winter crops.
Occasionally, small groups of dogs would dart across the road. Blaze was driving slowly, so it caused no problems.
The evening breeze carried the sll of firewood. Luna slowly woke up. "Where are we going?"
"A campsite in the mountains." Blaze glanced toward the only white buildings below the summit. "It’s in those white buildings over there."
Luna glanced over but said no more, not wanting to distract him. ’The country road is narrow,’ she thought. ’It’s better if he concentrates on driving.’
Another half an hour passed before the car finally reached its destination.
Before them stood a two-story white building. About a dozen cars were parked in the open lot in front of it.
Blaze unbuckled his seatbelt and looked over at her with his dark eyes. "I’m going to check us in. Do you want to get out and stretch your legs?"
She had been sitting in the car for a long ti, and her bottom was a little sore. On top of that, due to her pregnancy, her legs felt a bit swollen and tight, so she agreed.
"Sure, I’ll go get so fresh air."
Along one side of the white building was a row of flowers—red, pink, and white—all in full bloom. The blossoms were elegant and beautiful, and their light, refreshing fragrance, carried on the cold wind, was invigorating after being cooped up in the car for so long.
’I wonder what kind of flowers these are?’
She walked closer, took a photo with her phone, and did a quick search.
Callias.
She was intently reading about how to cultivate callias, thinking she might plant so in the courtyard of Evergreen Manor when they returned to Fairchild Estate.
"Luna."
Hearing Blaze’s voice from behind, she turned around, still holding her phone.
"What is it?"
"You need to register, too."
She put her phone away and walked toward Blaze, who was waiting for her.
Her outdoor shoes made a crunching sound on the fine gravel. No one else was around, and her gaze remained fixed on Blaze.
’Blaze seems a little different than usual,’ she thought. ’It’s probably his clothes.’
Today, he was wearing an aurora-blue windbreaker and a black beanie. The cold aura he usually carried seed to be bundled up by his clothes, not a trace of it leaking out.
The tall, handso, athletic-looking man stood there with a faint smile on his face, his dark eyes also watching her.
With every step she took closer, the smile on his face deepened.
She could clearly feel her heart skip a few beats in response to that smile.
Luna lowered her head, no longer looking at him.
When she reached his side, Blaze naturally wrapped an arm around her shoulder and asked caringly, "What were you looking at?"
"The callias over there. It’s warr here than in Valoria, so there are still flowers blooming."
"Mm," Blaze humd, ruffling her hatted head without another word.
After their information was registered, the front desk called for a shuttle cart to take their belongings to their room.
Blaze’s car couldn’t go any further up, and since Luna wanted to walk, they started up the road on foot.
The higher they climbed, the taller and straighter the pine trees on either side of the road beca, and the scent of pine in the air grew stronger.
Luna took a deep breath, feeling as if the clean air could fill the very bottom of her lungs. Gazing down at the houses scattered across the landscape below, she felt herself relax.
It had been many years since she’d last felt the urge to shout at the top of her lungs.
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