Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty-Three

Everyone was getting ready for bed, and the room was silent. The first thing that broke the silence was the sound of Condon brushing his teeth standing in front of the sink.Then there was a loud cracking sound to his left, violent vibrations running up his ankles to his knees, and finally a muffled scream. There are six bedrooms on the second floor of the farm, Mrs. Roland's room is on the east side, and the other five rooms are arranged in a row facing south.Condon's room was closest to Mrs. Rowland, and Jiaqi was at the far end. The screams came from the direction of Jiaqi's room.

He spat out the tooth powder and hurriedly opened the door.A few seconds later Mrs. Roland's door opened.God, what happened?she exclaimed. Probably the ceiling is broken. Jiaqi also ran to the corridor, her face was extremely pale against the backdrop of the black and blue burqa.What's up with your house.She questioned her mother fiercely. Condon opened the doors of the various rooms.The room next to his seemed to be alright except for a few paintings that had fallen to the floor.As soon as the central room was opened, a puff of smoke and dust rushed in.The roof has almost collapsed, the floors and furniture are covered with concrete blocks and wood, and there is a thick layer of dust, and the attic is like a dark cave above.

God!how so?Mrs. Rowland wailed.The house is very solid. It's best not to sleep on this floor until the ceiling is fixed, and the structure of the whole house needs further inspection, Condon said. The two of us can sleep in the teacher's room on the first floor, Jiaqi said to Mrs. Roland.Just find a cot for Condon to sleep on. How could this be!Mrs. Roland tsk tsk.Sir Tremaus is here for the first time, and I can't let him resign himself to the cot in the drawing room, and he's not a casual worker.I went to ask Mrs. Moreland to take me in for the night. She lived a little further down the lane, and her two daughters often came to see her, so she always had a room ready.You and Condon sleep in the teachers' room.

I'll sleep on the cot in the living room, Jiaqi said.It's not the first time I'm here, it's the same everywhere I sleep.Otherwise, I can also go with you to Mrs. Moran's house. Both are too crazy to do. 1 Mrs. Roland looked dramatically terrified.The news of your divorce may be well known in London, but I have a reputation here.People would ask me why my daughter refuses to share a room with her husband even though she is legally married?I seem to hear Hollis's footsteps, and I will discuss accommodation arrangements with him.Listen up, Jiaqi, don't embarrass me.Never sleep on a cot!

Mrs. Rowland hurried downstairs, full of energy and jumping on her feet.Jiaqi cursed in a low voice.Accommodation?What a shame, she gritted her teeth angrily.She let the ceiling come down on purpose!I only had a thorough inspection a year ago because I was concerned the house was too old and dangerous.Experts say that the construction knot is very solid.Such a house will not have its ceiling collapse suddenly.It's even more unlikely that this happened to happen in an empty room, so no one was hurt. We underestimated your mother's determination too much. She should have a good relationship with the Duke, that's what she should do, Jiaqi said angrily.Look at her, in order for us to sleep in the same room, she even sacrificed her own roof, but in fact we have already pretended that I didn't say anything.

Cong Deng felt his heart start beating wildly. Originally, he didn't intend to ask Jiaqi to fulfill his obligations. After all, this is his mother-in-law's house.However, since they are forced to live in what may be a cramped bedroom, and have to share the same bed, then Is there something I can help you with?he asks. She glared at him suspiciously, and through the light cast by the open door, he could see that her complexion had recovered a little.No thanks.you first. He came downstairs, and Hollis took him to see the teacher's room.Condon found the room larger and more handsome than the one he had been assigned, with beige brocades on the walls, elegant arabesques of persimmons and moss.On the bedside table is a precious French painted porcelain vase with pink and white lilies in it.The bed itself was rather large, and the white summer bedding was neatly spread, as if beckoning to him.

Mrs. Rowland would nap here in the afternoons in the summer, Hollis told him.It's cooler here than upstairs. Condon turned off the lights and opened the shutters.The evening breeze is gentle, cool and humid, carrying the rich fragrance of honeysuckle flowers, and a crescent moon hangs high in the sky, sprinkled with white crystals.He took off his nightgown, hesitated for a moment, and then stripped off all his clothes.Who is he trying to fool?Napoleon's ambition to conquer Russia was not equal to his desire for her. Just fifteen minutes later, Jiaqi came, her footsteps stopped outside the door, and there was no movement for a long time.The silence expanded and pervaded, oppressing him layer by layer, draining his patience and composure.

The doorknob turned at last, very lightly.She came in and closed the door, but didn't move on, just leaned her back against the door, her feet just out of the moonlight.He thought of a night many years ago, in another house that also belonged to Mrs. Roland, the same bright moon cast a silvery white on the floor of the room, that was the prelude to the end, the end of the prelude. After a full minute, he finally spoke: Reminiscent of the old days, right? Longer silence.When she finally answered, her voice was hoarse.What's the meaning? Stop pretending. She moved a little, and the silk forge rubbed against her body and the door panel, making an almost inaudible rustling sound.It turned out that you were awake at that time, and she spoke accusingly.

I was a light sleeper, not to mention that I lived in a strange house and slept on a strange bed that day. You take advantage of me. He sneered.You touched me all over my body, that's normal.Actually I can go further and you won't stop me. I can also go further.I almost crawled back into your bed that night, which is the shortcut to the red carpet. Not really.he murmured.Why not do that. I think that kind of method is too dishonorable and will lower my style.Ironic, right?She pushed the door panel away, walked forward to the bed, and stood on the side farther away from him.The moonlight halo outlines her lines, the burqa sees through the light, and the delicate body inside is looming.

He swallowed. I shouldn't have held back that night, she said.That way, even though you have to be forced to marry me, at least you won't be too angry and run to the United States, and will only refuse to give me happiness because you despise me.We will live ordinary lives like all couples in the social circle. No, his tone was too harsh, but he didn't want to be so fierce.You should stay aboveboard.The day before our wedding, Xiudora got married.If you can wait a little longer, you will be able to get your wish when I return to England over the Easter break. The mattress sagged under her weight.She got under the covers and curled up on the other side of the bed.I have learned my lesson.

Yeah? Instead of answering, she asked another question.Why do you want to catch up with me financially? Fool, because I married you.You are the richest woman in Britain, second only to Her Majesty the Queen.As a man who still dreams of being in bed with you, what else can I do? He reached under the sheet and grabbed the front of her burqa, pulling her over.She exclaimed.She gasped again as his teeth grazed the curve of her neck. It felt heavenly when he rolled over to her, and he couldn't help but hum.After returning to China, he had seen her naked and had an orgasm inside her, but he did not allow himself to feel her, the delicate and smooth skin, the tight and exquisite curves, he pinched her burqa and pulled it up.take off. don't want.What you want to do, you can do with your clothes. I want you to be naked, naked. The terms of my promise do not include this.You didn't ask me to undress. how?He whispered in her ear, enjoying her tremors.Don't dare to strip naked and lie under me. It should not be like that.I don't want to be sorry to Ferdi, so I can't allow you to push your limits. He suddenly burst into anger, angry at her stubbornness, angry at her slowness. Frederick couldn't give her happiness, she would be as miserable as a clam in soup.He grabbed the collar of the burqa and tore it off, and the sharp sound savagely cut through the night.Well, although I don't think it's Lord Frederick's business, but in case he asks, you can say in good conscience that I didn't allow me to make further progress. She gasped as if she was suffocating, and her panting drowned out the chirping of sleepless crickets in the garden. He lowered himself close to her, and the feeling of being close to her skin was very special, so familiar that he was shocked, and so strange that he was nervous, as if he had never left her bed in these years, as if this was the second night of their honeymoon, he was crazy Staring at her all day long, I can't wait for the sun to go down quickly, and the endless beautiful nights will come quickly. He is a fool.At first he was stupid enough to fall in love with her, and now he is stupid enough to return to England.He is clearly aware of his weakness and has been wrestling with it for ten years. Too late. He let himself indulge in her delicate touch, admired the feeling of her skin moving on her collarbone every time she took a breath, printed a series of kisses along her shoulders, refused to let go of any piece of beautiful skin, and so on. Can't taste the whole of her. She held his upper arm, but didn't push it away.She just let out a sweet, helpless moan as he kissed the bottom of her throat.The heaviness in his heart eased a little, but he knew it was just a moment of madness, and if he thought there was another meaning, then he was really crazy. He kissed all the way to his chin, crawling to the tender place at the bottom of his lower lip.He stood there hesitating.Kissing her lips was tantamount to claiming possession, and she would never marry Lord Frederick unless he died. He felt her heartbeat, as fast, messy, and hesitant as his own.Does he want to go down this road?Does he dare?If he embarks on this foolish path, will the end be nothing but bitterness? I want to tell you one thing, she seized the sluggish moment to speak, in fact, it is useless for you to sleep with me, it is completely useless.I used the IUD and the period was never interrupted, there's no way you'd get me pregnant, so why don't you touch me. When he was six years old, he was playing ghost hunting in the hallway of his grandfather's house, and he hit the wall because he was so happy.The next thing he knew he was lying on the ground, too shocked to understand what had happened, and he felt like that now.She suddenly dropped a bomb, pushing the situation to a desperate situation, and he didn't know what to do with it. He looked down at her, under the faint moonlight, he could only vaguely see her facial features, her high cheekbones cast shadows, only the dark plump lines could be seen on her lips, and her eyes were like the bottom of a deep well, with dots reflected in the deep darkness. Starlight. Why tell me?Why don't you keep wanting me.Then you can achieve your goal. As I could bear it no longer, she lay motionless.You should be very proud, right?It's finally proven that you're right about me, but I don't care anymore.I can't go on like this. Why?His fingers combed her hair, which was the ultimate luxury.Her hair was thick, smooth, shiny, and as cool as morning dew.No other woman's hair had ever haunted him so much.Where is your most famous ruthless calculation? She closed her eyes and turned her head. The feeling of being stroked by him on the head was so comfortable, it even reached the point of absurdity.His movements were soothing and gentle, pausing first at her temples, then sliding down her ears, down her head, and finally her lips.His thumb rubbed against her lower lip, pulling it down slightly, touching the moist lining. His reaction puzzled her.She really wanted to ask him if he heard what she said just now. She hadn't changed her ways to be good, hadn't learned her lesson at all, and tried to deceive him again.But his touch seemed to have a hypnotic effect, warm and curious, without any hatred at all.She couldn't speak, and she became very sensitive, empty, hungry, almost unbearable. He kissed her earlobes, her jaw joints, the tip of her jaw.He kissed her neck, shoulders, and everywhere between her collarbone.She kept her eyes closed.In the darkness, he became the source of all heat and feeling, his lips were like cool flames, igniting fires wherever he went, awakening waves of desire to rush through her body, leaving her mind blank and limbs weak. He suddenly closed her nipples.She gasped, startled by pleasure.He licks her and she wants to puff her breasts, sway, beg for more attention.Her nails dug into the bedspread.He held the tip of the other side between his thumb and forefinger and rubbed it. She tried to hold back, but his strength was just right, and she couldn't help moaning. His hands moved down to her side, rested on her hips for a while, and then separated her legs.She tried feebly to clamp her legs together, but with a flick of his tongue on her nipples, she immediately forgot all about it. He found her secret place, which may be the easiest place in the world to find, just follow the source of moisture.His fingers penetrated into her body, and more than one. Speak if you want me to stop, I will stop, and after he finished speaking, he sucked her nipples again. In the back of her mind, vaguely aware of what he was doing, he was going to pull out the contraceptive.She wanted to protest, but she couldn't speak, only moaning and whimpering excitedly. He easily took out the contraceptive device and threw it beside the bed.She trembled all over. There is no barrier between us now, he said. She was paralyzed by sudden fear.She was completely at his mercy, her womb, her future, her entire life.The same sudden desire consumed her completely, she wanted him to enter her, to possess her, to crush her, to fill every emptiness, to destroy all defenses. With a moan of despair, she reached out and grabbed him and pulled him down, her kiss so hard their teeth collided and grated.He backed away slightly, held her face in his hands, and kissed her in his own way, slower, more gentle, and extremely delicate. She spread her legs wide and he entered her as he kissed, thick and hot.Her legs wrapped around him, urging him, wanting to make love so fast, so hard, that she'd forget everything.But he refused to cooperate. He tortured her in great slow motion, possessing her leisurely while teasing her nipples.He made her jump, spin, cry, sob.When she was completely overwhelmed, anxious and desperate, convinced that she was going to be in this trembling, feverish state of excitement forever, he finally surrendered, and released her with a rapid advance, making her lisp, wild, and ecstatic.She cried out her own satisfaction. How she wished that time could stop.How she wished she would never have to leave his warm embrace, never have to bid farewell to the joy and beauty after lingering.How she wished that this dark room was the whole world, soaked with the sweet musk of love, with an unbreakable wall of eternal night to block tomorrow, and every tomorrow to come. If every regret in life could be exchanged for a gold coin, then she would have paved a golden road from Liverpool to Newfoundland. His breathing was still rapid and disordered, and her husband left her and lay on his back without touching her.She bit her lower lip, the cold and wet tentacles of reality had already sneaked up her limbs and burrowed into her heart. He would never say hurtful words.But the silence itself was a reminder, reminding her of the things she swore never to do when he first returned to China.She vowed to declare that she loves Ferdy, is it just talk?Is it just meaningless nonsense? When you were in Copenhagen, I went to the hotel to meet you, he said. It took her a full minute to realize.Even so, she still didn't understand.You didn't leave a business card. You had already left to board the Marguerite. Intense joy engulfed her, but it was quickly replaced by disbelief, and she could only sigh helplessly.I missed the Marguerite, she said blankly.When I got to the port, the ship had already sailed. What are you talking about? This is the first time she heard him say something about you?This syntax.He's too perfect to use this faux pas, always with the more correct and polite embarrassment?Instead; but at this moment, he was at a loss for words. Then where did you go? The original hotel, I left the next day. He laughed, bitter and unbelievable.Didn't the hotel counter tell you?Some fool came to you with a bouquet of flowers? It felt like when she discovered Youxi back then, but it turned into a puddle of blood three weeks later, the difference was that this time it happened in a burning instant.By the time I decided to go back and stay an extra night, the day shift counter was probably closed. He goes to her.Although the reason is unknown, he went to find her.They didn't meet each other by accident, just like the plot of Shakespeare's play, and he was in a particularly bad mood on the day of writing. What kind of flowers did you bring?she asked because she couldn't think of what to say. A bunch of his voice was a little choked, and this was the first time she heard it.A bouquet of blue hydrangeas.It's almost withered. Blue hydrangea.her favorite flower. I should be very happy.She kept talking to keep the tears from falling.I was very sad at the time, and went to see Phillis as soon as I got back to England, only to find out that he was married during the time I was abroad, but I still came to make trouble like a fool. He let out a strange deaf sound, which was half a sneer, half a cold snort.I can hardly bear to ask. Don't worry.He did not succumb to my despotic power, and then I came to my senses.that's all. After a while, I too woke up.he said slowly.I convinced myself that what had happened between us could never be undone, could never be undone. And there has never been such a thing as a fresh start in the world, and there are still shadows anyway.She agrees, tears welling up in her eyes, the dark room becoming hazy. Back then, she was determined to get him, even if she used insidious means, it was the first time she really realized what she had given up.She decided that she cheated on the marriage to save him. At this moment, for the first time, she really understood deeply that what she did was actually belittle him, thinking that he was like a stupid turtle who couldn't make his own decisions.When she was young, she was reckless, short-sighted and selfish, but she always refused to admit it. I shouldn't have done that kind of thing, sorry. I'm also not open enough.I should confront you face to face, no matter how unpleasant it is, I shouldn't run away.In the end, I chose insidious means, mistakenly thinking that revenge is to seek justice. She smiled wryly.The two of them are obviously smart people, but they both made the worst decisions, and they were still stubborn. How I wish she would stop.What's the use of saying it?They've missed their chance. me too.If only I could find you that day.He sighed heavily, full of regret.He turned to her, turned her around, and squeezed her arm tightly.But it is not too late. She didn't understand for a while, and then suddenly realized that it felt like five thunderbolts, making her blind and dizzy.Once upon a time, she was willing to reconcile with him at all costs, even if she had to walk a mile barefoot on broken glass without hesitation.When she heard this sentence at the time, she might have had a heart attack on the spot. Too many, too many years have passed, and it has long been difficult to recover.Yet her stubborn heart still leaped with joy, clumsily doing somersaults in celebration. But immediately hit the wall. She has promised to marry Ferdi.Ferdy loves her unconditionally, far more than she deserves.Every time she met, she repeatedly emphasized that she wanted to marry him and firmly promised to marry him. The last time was just two days ago. How could she betray Ferdi in such a low-level way?Doing so would be tantamount to slapping him in the face. Although I kept telling myself not to think about it, Condon's eyes were shining like two lights in the dark night.But I often can't help but imagine, if I chose not to give up in 1988 and chased all the way back to the UK, would there be a turnaround. Why didn't you come here.She shouted secretly in her heart.When I was lonely and sad, why didn't you come to me, why did you wait until I made a promise to another man? She covered her eyes, but her mind was still turbulent, crazy thoughts devouring each other, chaotic emotions kicking at each other.Suddenly, a singing voice full of seductive magic sounded, so sweet and irresistible that it overwhelmed all other voices. new opportunity.new opportunity.new opportunity.The dead and cold winter is gone, and the new year is ushered in.After the phoenix was burned to ashes, it spread its wings and was reborn.The chance to start all over, the magical chance, the chance she had so craved for, was brought to her now, on a golden tray on a bed of roses. She just reaches out Ten years ago, because he couldn't quench his desire for him, he made a mistake.Ten years ago, because of impulsive recklessness, she decided to ignore anyone and anything.The same situation repeats itself again at this time.Back then she abandoned principles and made completely selfish choices.Look at the consequences, not only did she not get happiness, she even couldn't respect herself ever since. But that magical song became more and more moving as I listened to it.remember.You once chatted and laughed together, talking about everything, even if you didn't talk, you were very happy.remember?Those plans you have made, climbing the Alps and sailing the Riviera together.remember?You agreed to curl up in a hammock together in the summer, side by side, with Croyce lying on top of both of you. No, those are just phantoms, memories and wishes distorted by romance.Her future belongs to Ferdi.Ferdi was a good man and didn't deserve to be thrown aside to suffer the disgrace.She should do her best to treat him well, not to let him down.He entrusted his life's happiness to her.If she tramples on that trust, even she will cast aside herself. But No, even if she had to struggle like the Odyssey, tying herself to a post in order to endure temptation, she must do it.She would never abandon Ferdy, never abandon her conscience.Not this time, never. She looked at Condon.No, her voice was almost inaudible.I have promised to marry someone else. His hands clenched a little, almost imperceptibly.He let go of his hand, the warmth was no longer there, only the cold night remained.He still stared into her eyes, but the light disappeared, leaving only endless darkness.Why on earth are you telling me about the contraceptive? Why exactly?If I had a riding whip by my side, she would definitely give herself a good whipping.I thought you would be very angry and never want to talk to me. It turns out that it is like a jade for Lord Frederick. His tone became icy.Her heart also froze, and in the ice field, there was only one burning heart. So why didn't I stop me when I took out the IUD and put you in real danger of getting pregnant? What can she say?As long as he shows a little tenderness, approval, she will forget all important things, from before to now?As soon as she got into his bed, she became a complete idiot. I am not thinking.Feel sorry. The bed made noises.He was sitting on the edge of the bed, with his hands on his sides, his head bowed, and she caught a glimpse of his deeply sunken back.The next second, he left the bed. I wish you had realized earlier that there was a torrent of anger hidden under his flawless etiquette.He put on his dressing gown and fastened the belt with a rough movement. She sat up, clutching the sheet over her chest.don't go.She wanted to say, stay with me, don't leave me.But the mouth spoke crazy words.It was you who said that what happened between us could not be erased, could never be made up. Since I'm so wise, it seems I should have listened to myself, he said firmly, striding towards the door. Wait a moment!she shouted.where are you going?The rooms upstairs are not safe.It was not possible to determine if anything else was damaged. I am willing to take risks.He said.No bed is more dangerous than yours. Condon returned to the room he had been assigned and lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, half-hoping that he would simply collapse and knock him unconscious. In fact, his sanity had already run out.I am not thinking.she said so.She wasn't the only one who wasn't thinking about it. Last September, she received a letter from her lawyer asking for an annulment of the marriage. From that moment on, his mind hadn't been completely cleared up. Marriage had long been regarded by him as a state of toleration.The reason why they can tolerate it is because as long as the legality of this marriage is still unbreakable, she will be his wife. In the distant future, maybe they still have a chance to let go of the ups and downs of their youth and get a fairly acceptable happiness.Although he refused to admit that he had such thoughts, after working fourteen hours a day, it was inevitable that he would be too tired to control his mind at night. When she decided to officially end the marriage, letters from lawyers arrived one after another, like an army of locusts covering the sky in the Bible.The situation took a turn for the worse, and the stillness he had relied on suddenly became unbalanced and chaotic.Unprepared, he could only throw the letter into the fireplace, feeling more and more bad and nervous. An annulment of a marriage is very different from a divorce.When she further filed for divorce, he was furious, not ordinary anger, but the kind of fury that wanted to kill and leave nothing behind.This marriage was a sin they both borne together. Although it started with a lie, they made an oath after all.How dare she break free from the chain that bound them together?They are not eligible to be released. How narrow-minded he was before, he didn't expect that the resentment she had endured for so many years would explode in one breath this time.How blind was his plan, and during the transatlantic voyage, when his anger subsided a little, he thought he had thought of a reasonable and mature solution, promising to release her from marriage on the condition of an heir. In the end, all he got was disaster. The bestial desires he had spent years taming came out like a tiger.The beast had eaten her to the brim, but this time it was him who was devoured. He actually begged her directly not to give up everything the two of them had. I really don't know whether it was courage or madness.He only knew the dark pain of being rejected by her, and the heavy loss made him almost unable to breathe. For some reason, he couldn't believe that this was the end, their story was about to end in such a heart-wrenching way, like Hans and Gretel finally became the candy house witch's dish, Sleeping Beauty's master was killed by the dragon in the enchanted forest Gnaw to the bone.Although her voice was small, her tone was firm and clear.Although she clings to him in his arms, responds passionately, and even temporarily loses her mind, her big goal remains the same, and she still intends to cut off all connections with him. Maybe she's right.Maybe he really was still stuck in 1883.Maybe their story is destined to end like this, she becomes another man's glamorous bride, and he becomes a dusty footnote in her life journey. She was sitting in the dining room, staring blankly at the cold tea, when he suddenly appeared, dressed on a horse, with hair blown in a mess by the wind. Will we know in a few weeks whether our actions last night will have consequences?He said it straight away. Maybe.She continued to look at the tea, caring too much about his presence.The breath of morning mist still remained on his body, and she had already started to panic. At the end of this month's cycle, she didn't know what the answer would be.If not, will you promise me to marry Ferdy? If there is, you still insist on marrying him. In case, her throat was blocked and she forced herself to make a sound.I will do what I promised at the beginning, and I hope you will not break your promise. He laughed out loud, but it was cold and emotionless.He squeezed her chin and slowly lifted her face, forcing her to look him directly. I hope Lord Frederick does not live long, or he will regret it sooner or later, he said.Your love is terrible.