Basil Smith rushed into the dormitory.
He saw Young Master Shaw lying peacefully on the edge of the bed, unconscious…
How did Young Mrs. Shaw manage this?
A trusted aide carried Godfery Shaw on his back, while another sensibly took Amelia Wright's packed luggage.
Basil Smith, with a complicated expression, said to Amelia Wright, "Young Madam, let's go back to the Imperial Garden."
Amelia paused for two seconds, suddenly recalling the coldness with which Godfery Shaw asked her to get off the car yesterday. For some reason, she felt a desire to avoid it.
But she still said, "Okay."
She was now the Young Mrs. Shaw, so she had to return.
As for Godfery's attitude toward her, what did it matter? In her past life, Godfery was always cold and kept a distance from her for five years.
Now, what was so hard to accept about it?
Amelia, with her head down, walked alone at the front, her thoughts unknown to others.
Basil held Emma Lewis back from behind.
He lowered his voice and said to Emma, "Miss Lewis, you're a friend of the Young Madam, right? Could you please not tell others about what happened with Young Master today?"
Hearing him address her as Miss Lewis made Emma shiver. She asked in confusion, "…Why?"
Basil apologized and said, "Young Master Shaw protects the Young Madam and doesn't want others to know she's married to the Young Master. You know, being married to the Young Master comes with many dangers and plots, while being married to the Young Master Julius is much safer."
Emma understood it instantly, "Oh, that's how it is. Amelia is married to Young Master Shaw, but for her safety, it's announced as being married to Young Master Julius. I was wondering why things felt off today. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
Basil continued, "It's best not to bring up today's events in front of the Young Madam either."
"Why not mention it in front of Amelia?"
Basil adjusted his glasses and said with a straight face, "The Young Madam hasn't fully accepted the Young Master. She's a bit upset about today's incident. If she hears too much, she might impulsively ask for a divorce."
Emma thought about it. Amelia has always been fond of Marsh Smith, but Godfery Shaw is better than that scumbag Marsh Smith in every way. She's finally married to a big shot; she absolutely cannot divorce and become a fool for that scumbag again.
So Emma nodded righteously, "Okay, I agree to this. I'll pretend nothing happened today."
Basil nodded in gratitude, "Thank you."
Emma patted Basil's shoulder, saying confidently, "We're friends, it's no big deal. Don't worry about it."
Basil's shoulder hurt from the pat, but he endured it…
After persuading Emma, Basil chased after them.
The Young Madam's attitude just now made Basil realize that the Young Madam probably hadn't guessed the truth. The Young Madam thought the person who appeared today was Young Master Julius!
Basil recalled that Young Master had a burn mark scar on his palm and further abrasions up his wrist. Those were the injuries from saving the Young Madam at the Wright family yesterday, and it was tough to stop the bleeding.
Now, the wound was merely hidden by the sleeve. The palm injury wasn't very noticeable. If Young Master didn't open his hand, it would be hard to spot.
Unperturbed, Basil took off his own coat and draped it over Young Master, covering the injured hand.
If Amelia wasn't feeling somewhat groggy today, she might have noticed the palm injury and guessed something.
But "if" never happened.
...
Amelia returned to the Imperial Garden.
The Imperial Garden was excessively quiet; the new housekeeper and maids weren't around.
Only Hailey Smith stood at the entrance like a sentry.
Seeing Basil and the others arrive, Hailey immediately rushed over, looking worried.
Basil nodded to Hailey.
Hailey finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Young Master Julius was swiftly sent back to his room.
As Amelia was about to go upstairs, she glanced at Godfery's room on the second floor and then said to Hailey, "Could you arrange another room for me?"
Godfery required distance, so she needed to be sensible and not force him to tell her to leave.
Hailey froze, thinking that Young Master Shaw had certainly offended the Young Madam badly this time.
Just two days after the wedding, and they were to sleep apart!
Just as Hailey was about to refuse, Basil agreed, "Okay, Hailey, please immediately arrange a room for the Young Madam."
Considering the current state between Young Master and Young Madam, it was indeed unsuitable for them to stay together, or else Young Master's injuries would be too easily discovered.
They couldn't keep saying Young Master wasn't home until the palm injury healed completely.
Hailey, who initially planned to reject, fell silent. Although he didn't understand why his brother arranged it this way, his brother was never wrong with his arrangements.
As the housekeeper and maids were not around, Hailey personally escorted Amelia to choose a guest room.
Throughout the journey, Hailey kept talking, "Madam, don't worry, all the guest rooms are kept clean. We have plenty of rooms in the Imperial Garden. Moreover... Madam, there's one more thing, could you let Joyce return? Everyone is not used to being without Joyce."
Amelia, with her eyes half-closed and feeling lethargic, said, "I don't have such power, and I don't interfere with any matters of the Imperial Garden."
Hailey quickly shook his head, "That's not what I meant. Joyce was sent back to the old house because… for the reason of having the Young Madam meet Young Master Julius, if the Young Madam is willing to let Joyce return, Young Master Shaw definitely wouldn't oppose."
Amelia didn't respond.
Hailey's enthusiastic voice suddenly turned somber, "Young Master... doesn't trust many people. Joyce watched Young Master grow up, and for years, it was Joyce who took care of Young Master's daily life. Young Master deeply trusts Joyce, so... that's why I made this request. If Young Madam doesn't wish to, it's okay, just pretend I didn't say anything."
Amelia thought of that elder-person in her past life who devoted himself wholeheartedly to Godfery Shaw, even willing to die for him.
Her steps paused on the stairs, and she said, "If my words still count, then let Joyce return."
In Amelia's heart, she felt she owed Godfery Shaw enough in her past life.
No matter how cold and distant Godfery Shaw might be, he was indeed the only person, besides her family, who was good to her.
How could she let an elder, who was loyal to Godfery Shaw, be forced to leave because of her?
Even if Joyce hated her, it didn't matter.
In her past life, Joyce resented her for five years as she constantly argued with Godfery Shaw.
Hailey immediately beamed, "Thank you, Young Madam. Oh, by the way, yesterday… when Young Master made you get off the car, it wasn't because he had an issue with you, but rather..."
"You don't need to tell me these things. I don't care." Amelia interrupted Hailey.
Then she entered the guest room with an indifferent expression.
Leaving Hailey standing there, mouth agape, full of melancholy.
Young Master Shaw cares so much about the Young Madam, but from the looks of it, it seems there's still a long way to go…
...
Not long after Amelia went to her room, Hailey brought her dinner.
The meal was sumptuous with a variety of fish and meat, but Amelia felt nauseated after just a glance and only had a few bites of plain white rice before setting it aside.
Not feeling emotionally stable, she picked up drawing paper, adjusted the paint, and started painting.
It was her first time holding a pen after reincarnation, and after several years of practice in the past life, her skills had matured significantly. However, the despair and madness in her artistic conception were even more intense.
Brush and ink traveled over the paper as Amelia's emotions gradually calmed down.
Two hours later, the work was completed.
Amelia silently gazed at the painting on the paper.
Her painting seemed devoid of hope, full of darkness and hostility.
She felt tainted by the blood and hatred in hell, even though she wore white clothes and dresses every day now, she still felt unclean, tainted to the core.
She couldn't see the light anymore…
A sudden, sharp pain twisted in her stomach.