Chapter 11
After finishing their spaghetti, Stuart hadn't left the house. He sat on the couch, eyes closed, appearing mentally drained.
Morwenna felt uncomfortably dirty when still covered in dirt and sweat from a fever.
Yet, she hesitated to take a cold shower.
It wasn't the illness she feared but the inconvenience it might cause others.
Tentatively, Morwenna approached Stuart and whispered, "Stuart, can you please... show me how to get the hot water running?"
Stuart wasn't asleep, but he reclined on the couch with his eyes shut, clearly not in the mood to interact.
Morwenna couldn't continue.
Usually bright and cheerful, she felt awkward and constrained, alone with a man for the first time in many years.
Ignored by Stuart, she quietly retreated to her room.
In the bathroom, Morwenna called Zoe for help while she fumbled with the taps.
Eventually, she looked at the tub full of cold water and blushed with embarrassment. She felt foolish for not learning even after calling Zoe, who would have to come over and help.
Morwenna waited for Zoe.
Suddenly, Stuart strode into her room.
After seeing her standing in the bathroom, Stuart walked straight toward her without hesitation. Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.
His demeanor came with the irritability of insomnia. He had come to see why Morwenna seemed calmer after planting flowers the previous night, only to find a bathtub filled with cold water. His gaze turned icy.
Sarcastically, Stuart sneered, "Oh, playing the sick and pitiful card in front of me by taking cold showers? You know how to play your part."
Morwenna was tough, but being wrongly accused was something she couldn’t stand.
"You got me wrong!" she protested, puffing up her face. "I just don’t know how to get the hot water."
Before she could finish, Stuart turned on the cold shower, drenching Morwenna from head to toe.
Caught off-guard, she shielded her eyes and asked, "Stuart, what are you doing!"
Cold as ever, Stuart scoffed, "You like cold showers, huh? I’ll ensure you get enough."
The icy water seeped into her clothes, uncomfortably hugging her under-the-weather body.
Stuart was like a cruel villain.
But Morwenna wasn’t one to take bullies.
She lunged at Stuart, attempting to snatch the shower head from him.
But Stuart was too tall, and she couldn't reach them.
Instead, Morwenna charged and pushed him hard, causing them to tumble into the bathtub, which was half-filled with cold water.
As Stuart fell, he grabbed Morwenna, dragging her down with him.
Furious yet restrained, Morwenna remembered how Stuart had looked after her when she was sick the day before. She valued his kindness.
But as she found herself pinned under him in the cold water, Stuart’s mocking gaze infuriated her, and she bit him on the shoulder.
Stuart was infuriating.
At that moment, Zoe knocked and entered.
Stunned, Zoe surveyed the scene.
In her mind, Stuart had never been in such disarray since he was a teenager. Usually, his methods were harsh and ruthless if he had to deal with someone, leaving no chance for retaliation.
Seeing them, Zoe hesitated before saying, "Mr. Hetfield, I came to teach Ms. Winslet how to run the hot water."
While feeling wronged and still sick, Morwenna's voice wavered with emotion. "Stuart, it's also my first time living with someone else. I want to take good care of you, to treat you well. If I’m messing up anywhere, just let me know. Can’t we talk instead of this?"