I only asked casually when we might be able to go home, yet he said we could leave immediately. So… causing a scene actually worked? Captian nodded, grabbed my hand, and pulled me away without even looking back. I stared at him in disbelief. He truly was the definition of swift and decisive, say go, and he went.
"Mr. Anderson, I was just talking nonsense," I whispered hurriedly. "You don't need to leave so soon, we haven't even eaten yet. It feels rude to walk out like this."
"The Andersons' food isn't good anyway."
His thin lips curved slightly, a hint of mockery in his tone. He clearly had no intention of slowing down.
I frowned but swallowed my words.
At that moment, Grandma Jessica came out of the house. The moment she spotted us walking away, her sharp eagle-like eyes flared. "Mina, what are they doing? They don't put this old woman in their eyes anymore, do they?"
Following her gaze, Mina bowed respectfully. "Mr. Anderson's temper has always been stubborn, nothing strange about his behavior. But that Bailey girl didn't even try to persuade him completely improper."
Grandma Jessica let out a cold laugh. "So she's just that kind of useless woman."
"Grandma, where's Brother Captian?" Wendy walked into the hall carrying her easel. When she saw Grandma, she offered a gentle, warm smile.
Seeing her, Grandma Jessica's mood instantly improved. This was the kind of woman she believed should run the Anderson household, a girl with pedigree, elegance, and status. "Wendy, Captian and Rosy left."
Wendy stiffened for a second. She bit her lip delicately, trembling like a fragile blossom. "Brother Captian and… sister-in-law left?"
"Sister-in-law?"
Grandma Jessica snorted with open disdain. "That useless girl could never be the Anderson family's mistress. Wendy, do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Huh?"
Wendy clutched her easel, confusion clouding her eyes.
Grandma Jessica narrowed her gaze. "Why do you think I invited you to the Anderson family gathering today?"
Wendy's lips pressed together.
Grandma Jessica patted her hands gently, her voice soft and grandmotherly, "You're the one I choose to be the future matriarch of this family. You and Captian grew up together, your families match each other. If not you, then who? That girl Rosy?"
Wendy's eyes widened. "But… Brother Captian and she already received their marriage certificate. Everyone saw it on Facebook."
"Marriage certificate?"
Grandma Jessica lifted her chin, radiating authority. "If I don't approve, she'll never step foot into this house. Wendy, don't worr, I will make sure they divorce."
Wendy looked shaken, calm but conflicted.
Meanwhile, Captian and I had already returned to the mansion.
Only after being away did I realize, this villa I once thought of as a prison actually looked… comforting. Compared to the Anderson ancestral home, this place was heaven. The moment we arrived, I hopped out of the car. In the backyard, Bexle, the big fluffy dog, immediately sensed us and sprinted toward me, tail wagging like crazy as he rubbed against my legs.
"Bexley, you little angel, are you welcoming us home?" I laughed and hugged him. He'd eaten well, he felt heavy now.
Captian got out of the car too. He stood beside me, watching quietly, a faint smile hidden in his eyes. Back at the Andersons', my smiles were stiff… but here, I became lively again, like a bright mountain spring overflowing with life. He watched me silently from the stone path, and I could feel something unseen melting in him.
But his face remained unreadable, giving nothing away.
After rubbing Bexley's head a few times, I put him down, he was too heavy to hold for long. The air here was clean, peaceful. I couldn't stop smiling.
"Mr. Anderson, Madam, why are you back so early?" Nanny Alley happened to be taking out the trash when she spotted us. With our formal clothes still on, we probably looked like we had just arrived, not returned.
But it was barely noon. Surely the family banquet shouldn't have ended so soon? Unless… something happened?
She had worked here for years and knew a lot about the Andersons' secrets. But tthis... this was the first time she'd ever seen Mr. Anderson walk out like that.
Touching my nose, I didn't know how to answer her.
Captian stuffed his hands in his pockets and said nothing.
I hesitated before saying, "Something happened, so we came back before eating."
Nanny Alley looked shocked. They didn't eat? So they'd basically just shown up and left?
Feeling awkward, I rubbed my nose again. Was it my fault? If I hadn't asked that question… would Captian still be there eating lunch with the old lady Anderson?
"Um… Nanny Alley, is there any food in the kitchen?"
My stomach growled. The little pastries I ate earlier weren't enough.
"There is, but not much. I'll go heat it up," she said.
I quickly waved my hand. "No need, I can heat it myself."
Before she could answer, Captian walked inside the mansion too, as if he fully intended to eat the food I reheated.
Nanny Alley instantly understood the atmosphere.
Newlyweds and their little moments.
She wisely stepped aside and didn't follow.
Inside the kitchen, I opened the fridge. The food left over was simple, too simple for someone as picky as Mr. Anderson.
So I tied on an apron and decided to cook more dishes. I planned to make a herbal stew, he liked it last time, so I figured he might like it again. (I'd already replaced the Eastern herbs with Western medicinal broths modern, clean, clinical, nothing spiritual.)
As I prepared the stock, I sensed a burning gaze.
Turning slightly, I caught Captian standing at the kitchen doorway, staring at me like I was the only thing in the room.
His dark eyes locked onto me, intense, sharp, hungry making my scalp tingle.
I shifted my head a little… and our eyes met.