Zard's Wish

A few hours later, Dominic sat in his dimly lit office, a heavy silence hanging in the air. He stared blankly at the sheet of paper in front of him, his mind filled with regret over his harsh treatment of Evangeline. He picked up a pen, tapping it rhythmically against the desk, trying to gather his thoughts. The memories of shoving her away flooded back, and guilt gnawed at him. Closing his eyes, he let out a deep sigh, muttering to himself, "I went too far. I shouldn't have. I need to make things right."

Without realizing it, Dominic pressed the pen too hard against the paper, causing it to snap, ink splattering across the blank page. Caleb, who was sitting across the room meticulously recording the business accounts, looked up and noticed the ink spreading like a dark cloud. He sighed softly, watching Dominic ruin yet another pen in frustration. "There goes another one," Caleb murmured under his breath, his brows furrowed with concern. "What's going on with him? Did something happen between him and Evangeline?"

Dominic abruptly stood up, pushing his chair back with a loud scrape. He grabbed a small jewelry box from his desk and headed for the door without a word to Caleb. The tension in the room was palpable.

"Uh… Dominic, is something wrong? Where are you going, my lord?" Caleb asked, his voice tinged with worry. But Dominic didn't answer; his silence felt like a cold blade to Caleb's chest. Without looking back, Dominic shut the door behind him, leaving Caleb to his uneasy thoughts.

"Ah!" Caleb groaned, running a hand down his face in frustration. "What is he doing?"

Dominic walked briskly through the grand hallway of the mansion, his footsteps echoing off the marble floors. He made his way to Evangeline's bedroom, a sense of urgency driving him. When he reached her door, he knocked softly but received no response. Heart pounding, he hesitated for a moment, then gently turned the doorknob and pushed the door open.

Inside, Evangeline lay on the bed, her face peaceful in sleep. She was wearing a light, delicate dress, and her arm and ankle were wrapped in bandages. Seeing her so vulnerable made Dominic's chest tighten with a mix of guilt and longing. He approached her quietly, the jewelry box clutched in his hand. He reached out, his hand trembling, wanting to touch her arm but hesitated, afraid of waking her.

"She's so exhausted. She must have cried herself to sleep," he whispered to himself, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. His heart ached with every beat. Slowly, he reached out and gently stroked her hair, his touch soft and tender. As his fingers brushed through her hair, Evangeline stirred, mumbling Richard's name in her sleep. She reached out and grabbed Dominic's hand, holding it tightly, mistaking it for Richard's.

A surge of jealousy and sorrow washed over Dominic, but he couldn't bring himself to pull away. He just stared at her, his eyes tracing every feature of her face, every curve of her body. She was beautiful, even more so when she was lost in dreams. "Look at her," he whispered, his voice breaking with emotion, "sleeping like an innocent child."

Dominic leaned in closer, his lips hovering just inches from hers. For a moment, he considered kissing her, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, then her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin against his lips. He left the jewelry box and a small note on the bedside table, then slipped out of the room, careful not to wake her.

As he stepped into the hallway, he saw Magdalene approaching with a tray of dessert and tea. "Ah, Magdalene," he said, attempting a smile as he ran a hand through his hair, but the gesture was strained.

"Good afternoon, Mister Dominic. It's always a pleasure to see you," Magdalene replied politely, bowing slightly as she balanced the tray.

"I just came to check on Evangeline before I leave for my trip to Eardoznia," Dominic explained, nodding toward the tray. "Is this for my wife?"

Magdalene blinked in surprise. "You're leaving? Yes, it's for the lady," she said, her voice laced with curiosity.

Dominic nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, there are some urgent business matters that need my attention…" Before he could finish, Caleb came rushing down the hallway, his face pale.

"Sir Dominic, you have a visitor," Caleb announced, bowing his head slightly, still reeling from Dominic's earlier dismissal.

Dominic raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. "A visitor? I wasn't expecting anyone." He turned back to Magdalene, offering a small bow. "We'll talk later, Miss Magdalene. Please make sure Evangeline eats well." With a final glance at Evangeline's door, he followed Caleb back toward the office.

Magdalene watched them leave, her mind swirling with questions. She then turned and walked toward Evangeline's room. As she entered, her dress brushed against a small table, knocking a jar to the floor with a loud clatter. Magdalene gasped as Evangeline's eyes snapped open, startled awake by the noise.

"Magdalene?" Evangeline yawned, rubbing her eyes as she tried to wake up. "What's going on?"

Magdalene quickly set the tray down beside Evangeline. "I'm sorry, my lady. Richard asked that this be brought to you." She bent down to pick up the fallen jar, setting it back on the table.

Evangeline stretched and glanced at the tray, a small smile spreading across her face. "Oh? Send him my thanks," she said, picking up a beautifully decorated dessert. "This looks exquisite." She took a bite and closed her eyes, savoring the taste. "Mmm… Who made this?" she asked.

"Mr. Charles, the officer," Magdalene replied. She couldn't help but notice the bandages on Evangeline's arm, a reminder of Richard's earlier concerns.

*Flashback:*

Earlier, Magdalene had returned to the kitchen to hand over a tray when she spotted Richard leaning against a counter, his expression dark and brooding.

"Richard, I saw you with Dominic in the garden earlier. Is something the matter?" she asked gently.

Richard's face twisted with anger. "He hurt Evangeline. She got injured because of him, and he didn't even apologize," he spat, clenching his fists. Magdalene's eyes widened in shock, but she remained silent, sensing there was more to the story.

Charles, who was preparing a dessert for Evangeline under Richard's orders, listened intently. He sighed, shaking his head as he continued to work. The female servants in the kitchen, however, were more interested in Charles than the conversation, giggling and blushing as they complimented his cooking skills. One of them playfully caressed his shoulder, causing Charles to laugh nervously, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment. Richard chuckled softly, amused by the scene.

*Back in the bedroom:*

"He's really talented at cooking," Evangeline remarked, dabbing her lips with a napkin. She glanced around and noticed a small, familiar box on the table. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized it—the same box that Caleb had given her earlier at Dominic's request, containing the emerald jade. Her fingers tightened into fists, and her jaw clenched with anger. "After everything, he still thinks he can buy me off with jewelry? Who does he think he is?" she fumed silently.

"My lady, is something wrong?" Magdalene asked, noticing the sudden shift in Evangeline's mood.

"Get that thing out of here! I don't want to see it!" Evangeline snapped, pointing to the box. Magdalene hurriedly picked it up, but as she did, a small note slipped out and fluttered to the floor. Bending down, Magdalene picked it up and read the heading.

"'Zard's Request'," she read aloud, looking up at Evangeline with a puzzled expression. "My lady, it mentions your brother's name."

Evangeline's eyes widened in surprise and disbelief. "What?" she whispered, her voice trembling. She motioned for Magdalene to bring her the note. Taking it with shaky hands, she opened it and began to read:

"Evangeline, I want to apologize for what happened in the garden. The item in the box was your late brother Zard's last request. He told me how much you wanted that jade. I intended to get it for you, but my father had other plans for me, and I couldn't. Now that we are married, I went to the place Zard had mentioned to find it, but I learned that someone else had already bought the jewelry. After my conference meeting, I attended an auction to clear my mind, and there it was—the jade. I bid for it; many people were after it because of its value. The original buyer had died in a tragic accident, and the jade was found among his belongings. It was sold to the auction house, and I managed to acquire it. Your brother wanted to give it to you himself, but he never got the chance. I'm fulfilling his wish, hoping you will accept it this time. Please, get well soon."

The letter was signed with Dominic's name and signature.

Evangeline's eyes filled with tears as she held the paper close to her chest. Magdalene noticed her lady's sorrowful mood.

"Magdalene, don't get rid of the jewelry. Let it stay here. Keep it in my dressing drawer," she instructed. Magdalene nodded and carefully put the jewelry away.

"You can go, Magdalene. I'll call for you later. Send my thanks to Richard and Charles for me."