MTLNOVEL Chapter 537: I had all the right to do it, husband.
Mr. Jones.
"Sir, you are back," the old butler softly whispered. "I came back to check something when I saw Madam sleeping here. Leaving her alone like this wasn't appropriate, so I stayed to watch over her."
He then turned to glance towards Arwen, a trace of sympathy in his expression. "She had been waiting for you. But when even after hours, you didn't come, she fell asleep, getting tired. Even she had returned quite late from work today. And coming back, she went to the kitchen to prepare a few dishes for you."
Aiden's heart sank a little.
She made dinner for him —and he hadn't shown up to eat it. She must have been mad at him. Disappointed, at the very least.
Realizing how easily he had let down her efforts, his fingers curled into fists, and his jaws tightened.
Mr. Jones noticed the subtle shift in his expression and took the cue to leave the two alone. Bowing slightly, he said, "Since you are back now, sir, I will take my leave for the night."
With that said, he turned and quietly left.
The house returned to silence, broken only by the faint hum of the wind outside and the steady rhythm of Arwen's breaths. Aiden's gaze remained fixed on her. The lights were off, but the moonlight streaming through the windows lit the room with a faint silvery glow.
Under its gentle touch, Arwen's jade-like skin shimmered faintly, making her appear ethereal —like a dream he didn't want to wake from.
He stood for a long moment, as if afraid that even a breath too loud would disturb her. Then slowly, he stepped toward the sofa, his movements quiet as a whisper. Lowering himself to his knees beside her, he studied her face.
She was wearing a cardigan, but it didn't look warm enough. One side had slipped off her shoulder.
Was it even keeping her warm?
His chest tightened.
If only he had returned earlier … she wouldn't be sleeping here, curled up like this in discomfort.
He was at fault.
Reaching out with gentle hands, he adjusted the cardigan back over her shoulder, then retrieved the throw blanket Mr. Jones had left nearby. Carefully, he draped it over her, tucking it in to shield her from the chill.
He considered carrying her upstairs straightaway, but when he saw her face —so serene, so quiet —he froze. She looked peaceful. And he didn't want to disturb that.
But was it real?
Her peace?
His thoughts drifted back to the reports Jason had read out to him earlier. To the weight that had settled in his chest ever since.
And in that moment, he realized that no matter how peaceful everything appeared on the surface, it was just a well-crafted illusion.
A fragile facade.
He reached out and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his touch trembling slightly.
"I am sorry," he whispered, his voice hoarse from guilt.
His fingers lingered on her cheeks for a second, and as if that was the touch she recognized too well, Arwen shifted in her sleep, leaning in closer to his warmth instinctively.
Aiden paused at her unconscious response. It warmed his heart to see her so comfortable around him. This was exactly what he had ever wanted —to see her making him her second nature.
But then, when he thinks about all she had to go through, even with him on her side, he feels he was not good enough to deserve her such trust.
With that thought, he was about to retrieve his hand when a shadow moved, holding it back in place. It was swift, and since he didn't see it coming, it momentarily took him off guard.
He blinked and watched only to find Arwen slowly opening her eyes to look at him.
"What?" she asked, raising her brow a little. "Aren't you going to continue?"
Aiden didn't understand what she was asking about, and his brows furrowed a little in confusion.
Reading which, she said, "I heard you say sorry, faintly in my sleep, and I almost took it as a dream. But then I realized it wasn't. You were here for real, so now, I am waiting to hear what more you have got to say." She shifted in her position so that she could get a better picture of him. "So, continue. I am all ears."
"I asked you not to wait," he said, looking at her. "Aren't you too stubborn?"
Arwen squinted her gaze before easing it casually. "That runs in our blood. Tell me something new."
Aiden took in her stubborn look and sighed. "You didn't have to do that," he said, sounding defeated —a tone that she quite didn't like coming from him.
"I had all the right to do it, husband," she said, and then slowly straightened up her posture to sit up. "Being your wife, I have all the rights to wait for you, cook for you and do every little thing for you that feels unessential. Neither you nor anyone can stop me from it. Same as I can't stop you from doing things for me —no matter how unneeded it feels."
Aiden watched her expression, staring into her eyes. A hint of hurt flashed in her gaze.
He didn't want to hurt her, but unknowingly, he did.
Cupping her cheeks, he was quick to make amends. "I am sorry, Moon. I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted you to be comfortably sleeping in the room, tucked in warmly under the blanket."
Arwen knew what he meant. But she wanted to wait for him the same way he always did for her. She didn't want to give him any less.
"Will you tell me what's wrong with you today?" she asked, not waiting any longer.
She had previously thought that she would have this conversation with him with a fresh mind, not tonight. But noticing his strained expression, she couldn't hold herself back from asking anymore.