He smiled and took the bowl of chowder from me, then he sipped from it. He nodded, probably thinking it was fine. “Do you cook a lot in the past?”
I could never understand how he managed to shift the topics that fast. I shook my head. “No. I often saw my grandma making this when I was little.”
He nodded and sipped the chowder in silence, as if reminiscing the past. I didn’t want to break the silence, so I observed him. A short while later, he looked up at me. “Was it hard living in R Province?”
I stared at him, stupefied. “How did you know that’s where I lived?”
He found that question amusing. “That’s not too hard to figure out. I told you I helped you out so I can get my hands on that sandalwood box. Is it that surprising that I’d look into your past then?”
Well, that argument was sound, so I nodded. “I see.” He waited for me to continue, so I said, “Not really. I didn’t starve or die out in the cold. At least it was better than how I live now.”
He smiled at me again and put the bowl away. “Have you ever regretted at choosing Ashton?”
That question took me by surprise, and I couldn’t answer him. “There’s still some in the kitchen. Do you want more?”
He squinted at me and shook his head, then he stopped asking any more questions.
I went back to my bedroom, spaced out. Have I ever regretted marrying Ashton? Nope. Never.
Midnight came, and thunder rolled in the skies as rain poured. I thought of Armond and his wound, and I wondered if the curtains in his room were closed.
I went to his room and knocked on the door, but nobody came to open it, though I heard something crashing inside. Surprised, I went inside, but Armond was nowhere to be found, though the night light was on. Then I heard sounds from the bathroom.
The lights inside were on, so I heaved a sigh and went to knock on it. “Are you alright, Mr. Murphy?” He didn’t answer, and I started to worry. “Mr. Murphy, are you—”
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