Watching You Burn In Regret novel Chapter 218

Old Mr. Crestwell let out a mock-indignant huff, though a smile played on his lips. "Alright, you two go on. A walk will do you good. Get to know the place. Go on."

Seren nodded and didn't argue.

As they stepped out of the study, she walked slowly along the stone path, the tall figure of the man beside her matching her pace. Osmanthus trees planted in the courtyard filled the air with their faint, sweet fragrance. In a corner, a magnolia tree stood bare, its leaves long gone, leaving only stark branches against the white wall. The winter sun cast their shadows onto the wall, creating a simple, elegant image like a charcoal sketch. The courtyard also had several plane trees, their fallen leaves scattered across the stone path.

"Don't you sweep up the leaves?" Seren asked, curious. Rutledge Manor also had plane trees and ginkgoes, and in the autumn, the grounds would be covered in leaves, but the staff always kept it impeccably clean. In all her years at Rutledge Manor, she only remembered the grounds being spotless. The sight of a leaf-strewn path was unfamiliar.

"We used to," Lennon explained gently. "But then Grandmother said it didn't feel like autumn without the leaves on the ground. So Grandfather told the staff not to be so diligent with the sweeping."

"I see," Seren said, understanding. She remembered that the constant sweeping at Rutledge Manor was on Old Mr. Rutledge's orders because his wife had been a stickler for cleanliness. Even years after her passing, he maintained the habit of keeping the grounds immaculate.

A thoughtful expression crossed Seren's face. She had always thought of the older generation's marriages, like that of the Rutledges, as partnerships of mutual respect, devoid of grand passion. But now, she wasn't so sure. She couldn't recall ever hearing Old Mr. Rutledge say words like "love" or "like" to his wife, but his affection was evident in the small details, like the pristine courtyard.

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