Chapter 69
***
“Welcome back.”
Ethan was waiting at the mansion’s entrance.
As Elisa stepped down from the carriage with his escort, she narrowed her eyes and looked at him.
“I told you not to get out of bed until your leg was fully healed.”
“The doctor said this morning that a light walk is fine now,” he replied smoothly.
“So, how about a stroll in the garden?”
It was a sudden suggestion, but Elisa quickly guessed why he brought it up, and she nodded.
The two walked hand in hand toward the small garden behind the mansion.
The garden, bursting with golden roses, was as breathtaking as ever. Elisa had always dreamed of planting a field of yellow roses herself, so this place had a special meaning for her.
“When you said you wanted to plant yellow roses, didn’t anyone say anything?”
She had tried to plant them before, but every time, her parents and others stopped her.
Curious about how he managed to do it, Elisa asked, and Ethan chuckled.
“They did. Prince Howard said I must’ve lost my mind to plant yellow roses. Later, though, he admitted they were beautiful and wanted to try it himself.”
“Huh? Wait, did Prince Howard say that—not Lady Briana?”
“Why would her name come up right now?” Ethan asked, confused.
Elisa blinked, realizing something didn’t add up.
“Wasn’t it Lady Giselle Briana who helped decorate your mansion?”
“Why would she decorate my house?”
“Well, you said you two had a contract to act like lovers. I figured she must’ve helped with your home, too.”
“We only pretended for others’ eyes,” he said firmly. “I wouldn’t let her into my private space.”
Something in his tone made Elisa’s lips curl into a faint smile. His certainty was oddly comforting.
“This mansion was decorated by Prince Howard. He said I’d probably neglect the place, so he took it upon himself. Though, of course, it was his aide who handled the actual work.”
“Sir Conrad?”
“No, another aide—one who’s more skilled with design.”
So there was another aide. It made sense; he was a prince, after all.
“Is the prince never going to marry? I mean, I know he’s been at war for years, but surely it’s time now?”
“He’s not a child. He’ll do as he pleases.”
His indifferent response made Elisa laugh softly. She’d always found it funny how little Ethan cared about others. Then again, that was just who he’d always been—he listened but never asked questions himself.
Except when it came to me.
She had been the only one he’d shown curiosity and care for. Realizing that had made her heart swell with pride. She had been special to him—truly special.
Her gaze lingered on him, full of quiet warmth.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked.
“Mm, no reason.”
She wanted to ask when he’d first started liking her, but she swallowed her curiosity. There were more important things to talk about now.
“Let’s sit over there.”
Elisa pointed to a marble bench nestled among the roses. Even if light walks were fine, this conversation wasn’t one to have standing.
As they sat, a soft breeze drifted through. A golden petal floated down and settled lightly on Elisa’s hair.
Ethan reached over, plucked it gently, and slipped it into his pocket. When Elisa gave him a questioning look, he just smiled wordlessly.
Watching him, she finally said quietly,
“I went to Lord Grenville’s trade office today.”
She hadn’t told him where she was going—only that she had an errand. If she’d said it was to meet Derek Grenville, Ethan would’ve insisted on going with her or tried to stop her altogether.
Normally, he would’ve asked where she was headed, when she’d return, a dozen other things. But this time, he hadn’t asked a single question.
She had wondered why—until she met her father. Then she understood. Ethan already knew.
And, as if to confirm it, he simply tightened his hold on her hand. His warmth spread through her fingers.
“I went there to ask Lord Grenville to convince the investors—to make sure my father’s business could continue safely. But… I couldn’t say a word.”
“Why not? Did he refuse to see you?”
“No. He did meet me… but someone else was with him.”
“Someone else?”
“My father.”
Elisa studied Ethan’s face as she spoke, but his expression didn’t change. It was unreadable from beginning to end.
“I overheard them talking by accident. Lord Grenville told my father that if he let us marry, he’d persuade the investors to come back.”
Even then, Ethan’s face stayed composed—but his grip on her hand grew tighter.
“I thought my father would accept the offer… but he didn’t. He refused. Said he’d never use his daughter as a tool for business or trade.”
When she’d heard it, the words had hit her like lightning. She’d been too stunned to cry—just overwhelmed by emotion. But now, as she repeated the story aloud, tears pricked at her eyes.
Don’t cry, idiot. It’s a good thing.
She blinked quickly and turned her gaze toward the yellow roses.
“I couldn’t just sit there after hearing that. I thought—maybe this was my chance to change his mind. So I told him that you and I would find new investors together, and then…”
As the memory resurfaced, the sadness vanished, replaced by something else—sharp and bright.
“He said you already found one.”
For the first time, Ethan’s composure cracked. When he tried to pull his hand away, Elisa only gripped it tighter.
“He said you came to see him two days ago. Is that true?”
“Hmm…”
“Two days ago, you weren’t even supposed to walk! Am I remembering wrong?”
Elisa leaned in, her eyes narrowing. Ethan dropped his gaze.
“Ethan.”
But she wouldn’t let him escape.
“When I went out with Noah, you went out too, didn’t you? To meet my father?”
Her hands rose to cup his face, forcing him to look at her.
“You suddenly took a bath that day—to hide that you’d gone out. The butler delayed me on purpose, didn’t he? To buy you time to return.”
Ethan stayed silent, but the look in his eyes was enough. It was all the answer she needed.
“I knew it.” Elisa’s brows furrowed deeply. “You really—”
Before she could finish,
smack.
Ethan kissed her.
She froze for an instant, startled, and he used that moment to draw her closer, kissing her again.
“I just wanted to help because you seemed so distressed,” he murmured between kisses. “So please… forgive me this once.”
His rare display of sweetness melted her anger like snow under sunlight.
Lately, she’d started thinking—this man wasn’t a wolf at all, but a sly fox wearing a wolf’s skin. How else could someone be so cunningly charming?
“I’ll tell you next time before I go anywhere,” he promised, his voice soft and coaxing.
He didn’t say he wouldn’t go, though.
Elisa sighed in exasperation, but her irritation had already faded. How could she stay mad when he looked at her like that?
“Then promise me one thing,” she said quietly. “No more secrets between us.”
Ethan smiled, dimples deepening as he nodded.
“Alright. From now on, I’ll tell you everything—even the little things.”
Then he kissed her again, and though Elisa rolled her eyes, she kissed him back.
Above them, a sky draped in velvet black shimmered with countless stars, shining softly upon the lovers sharing their quiet, radiant night.
