Chapter 24
Chelsea didn’t seem interested at all and just said, “Yeah, yeah, he’s hot,” without even looking up. She started her car and slowly drove away.
Kate was left speechless. Even though Chelsea was just being polite, she could at least shoot a glance.
Meanwhile, in the black Rolls Royce Phantom, Fabian noticed Chelsea’s car pull up and instinctively looked over at Winston. “Mr. Moody, that’s Ms. Wise’s car,” he said casually.
Winston’s fingers paused on the papers he was flipping through, and it suddenly hit him–Chelsea was likely there to pick up Kate. A chill ran down his spine.
“Don’t you have better things to do?” Winston asked
Fabian felt a chill down his spine. ‘What is going on? Didn’t Mr. Moody used to care about Ms. Wise? He would head home after work. Why didn’t you go say hi to Ms. Wisetoday?‘ Fabian wondered.
“Take me back to Moon River Villa,” Winston replied, clearly not in the mood to return to his rented apartment just yet.
Fabian sensed tension between Winston and Chelsea and cautiously said, “Sure thing.” He had never been in a relationship, so he figured it was best to stay quiet.
This was the first time Winston had been back to Moon River Villa since moving into his rented apartment.
He was used to having his own space. The housekeeper had a regular cleaning schedule, meals were always prepared, and the staff had already called it a day.
The big Moon River Villa looked stunning, sitting above the shimmering waters, its ivory–white walls sparkling under the night sky. As he pushed the door open, a cool breeze greeted him.
He held onto the doorknob a bit tighter, as though he was waiting for something–or someone.
After finding the refrigerator empty, he called the housekeeper and then went upstairs to freshen up.
When he came back down, a maid was already helping the housekeeper prepare dinner. “Mr. Moody, are you planning to stay at Moon River during this time?” the housekeeper asked.
“Probably,” Winston replied, his hair still a bit wet and his expression chilly.
The housekeeper seemed to get the vibe. “Alright, dinner is ready. Make sure to eat and get some rest early, Mr. Moody,” he said with a friendly smile.
Once the butler wrapped up his duties and left, Winston strolled into the dining room, where a lavish dinner was laid out just for him. He settled in, barely feeling the urge to reach for his fork.
The professional chef had whipped up dishes bursting with colors and flavors, but honestly, nothing compared to the deliciousness Chelsea made.
Chelsea and Kate rolled into the neighborhood and met up with the agent to get a vibe for the area before checking out the
rental.
The place looked pretty much like the photos–a small one–bedroom with all the basics.
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Chapter 24
+23
The rent was surprisingly low. The landlord was in a rush to rent it out for 1,500 dollars a month, but Chelsea had to pay the first four months‘ rent in one go, which was 6,000 dollars.
After they signed the lease, Chelsea watched her 10,000 dollars shrink down to just 4,000 dollars. She still had to split the rent with Winston, which didn’t leave her with much at all.
Once they parted with the agent, Kate took Chelsea to a nearby restaurant, where they indulged in a nice dinner before parting ways.
When Chelsea got back home, she opened the door to a dark room. Winston wasn’t home, which was actually a blessing- she wanted to avoid any awkwardness.
Chelsea then took out her suitcases and started gathering her things. She had quite a bit to manage–three suitcases, just enough to fit everything,
After she finished packing, she settled down in the living room to tackle the bills. Living here meant handling not just rent but a bunch of other expenses, too.
Winston had given her a card for living expenses earlier, and she’d already spent some of it, so now she needed to get her finances sorted.
It took her until late at night to wrap it all up, and she realized that in just half a month, their food expenses had shot past 1,000 dollars–over 500 bucks each. Chelsea’s wallet was definitely feeling the pinch.
On top of that, she had become somewhat notorious and had a falling out with Amber Jewels, making it tough to find a job in this industry.
Just as she was deep in thought, the door opened. Chelsea pretended she didn’t hear it and kept focused on her calculations.
Winston noticed a couple of suitcases scattered in the living room and looked over at Chelsea, who was standing up. “I left that card you gave me earlier on the coffee table,” she said.
“I’ve added up all the rent and living expenses for now. I’ll transfer you the money later,” she continued. “I found an apartment and I’m moving out tomorrow morning. Thanks for looking out for me.”
She felt a bit heartbroken. Sometimes, she could really sense Winston’s genuine concern for her. But maybe that was just her imagination.
After finishing her thought without even glancing at Winston’s cold, expressionless face, Chelsea headed back to her room.
Winston kicked the suitcase away and strolled over to the coffee table, where a sheet of paper lay. It was dense–probably a list made by Chelsea–with everything from cookware to groceries on it.
As he read it, it felt like something in his heart, which was ready to burst, was being held down. He didn’t know why he had come rushing back in the middle of the night.
Skipping dinner left his stomach feeling tight, so he set the paper down and collapsed on the couch.
Meanwhile, Chelsea was tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She got up and headed to the bathroom.
When she came out, she noticed Winston curled up on the couch, looking really tense in a space that was way too small for
him.
Not wanting to interrupt him, she quietly shifted past him but soon heard his breathing becoming heavier. Concerned, she turned on the light and walked over.
Winston’s handsome face was slick with sweat. His body was stiff, and he was breathing hard.
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Chapter 24
“Winston, do you have a stomachache?” Chelsea asked, noticing his hand pressed against his stomach.
Realization hit her, and she quickly got up to search for some stomach relief pills in the drawer.
She went to the kitchen, fetched some water, and brought it to him, saying, “Winston, you need to drink this.”
As he became more aware, Winston lifted his gaze and sipped the water, but it didn’t alleviate the pain.
Chelsea recalled reading something about stomach aches earlier and paused for a moment, reaching toward his back.
Winston, on his guard, grabbed her hand and asked, “What are you doing?” Even though his words had a fierce edge, they came out a bit muted.
Chelsea winced as the pinching made her wrists ache. She leaned in and said softly, “I’ve read a bunch about how to ease stomach aches. I can help you out–just let go for a minute.”
She only did this because he had taken her in when she had nowhere to go. Winston reluctantly let go of his hand.
Chelsea shrugged it off and pressed down on his back, right in the middle below his shoulder blades. “Does that hurt?” she asked.
Winston felt a little tingle and some swelling, frowning as he said, “Yeah, a bit.”
+23
This was the first time Chelsea did this. She found the right spot and massaged him. She was nearly on her knees, her whole body pressed against his.
The stomach cramps had eased up quite a bit, and Winston’s breathing became more relaxed as he started to regain his composure.
Chelsea’s nightgown had a round neckline, and when she leaned over, it revealed a glimpse of her fair skin that caught Winston’s eye.
Memories of their first meeting flooded back to him, including that soft, satin–like touch. He averted his eyes unnaturally. “That’ll do. I’m not hurting anymore.”
It felt too close for comfort. Chelsea also noticed their posture was a bit awkward, so she immediately backed away.
“I found some medicine. Are you in the mood for something to eat?” Chelsea asked.
Winston glanced down and said, “I really want some ravioli.”
He wasn’t hungry for any of the meals at Moon River, but at that moment, he totally craved the ravioli she had made.
Chelsea stood up and headed to the kitchen to make ravioli for him.
Chelsea came back with the ravioli. She helped Winston get to the table and pulled out the stomach pills, carefully reading the instructions, “Take this one hour after meals.”
The ravioli was steaming and looked delicious as Winston wiped the sweat from his face with a tissue. “Thanks,” he said, his voice low.
Chelsea pulled her hand back and said, “Take your time eating and get some rest.” She thought about their past and felt like it was time to leave.
Winston watched her walk away, a heaviness in his eyes. “Actually, you don’t-”
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Chapter 24
“Good night,” Chelsea cut him off, shutting the door to end the conversation.
(+23)
Winston’s fingers tightened slightly on the table. He wanted to say she didn’t have to move out, but instead, he lost himself in thought, staring at the steaming plate of ravioli.
The next morning, Chelsea woke up feeling refreshed and noticed that Winston was gone.
She loaded everything into her car and tidied up the room, leaving behind a bank card with 150,000 dollars on the dining room table.
That was the agreed amount, but she knew Winston would never take it. After all, he had lost his first marriage because of her, so it felt like the least she could do.
Chelsea settled into her new rented house, rolled up her sleeves, and cleaned every nook and cranny. By the time she finished, it was already six p.m., so she grabbed some ingredients and headed to the kitchen to cook dinner.
Just then, there was a loud banging at the front door, like someone was trying to get in urgently. “Coming!” Chelsea shouted.
When she opened the door, she was greeted with a steel pipe swinging down hard. “Hey! Give me back my money! Come here!”
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