Chapter 104 - Guilty

During lunchtime, Laura didn't leave the room. Instead, Graven ordered Sally to bring her food to her room. He was getting worried of her condition, he thought she was just faking it due to what transpired between them in the morning.

Rebecca entered the room after Sally left. She went to bed. "Oh, my dear...are you sick?" she asked worriedly.​​

Laura nodded her head. "Yeah, I'm not feeling well today, my whole body is weak. I think I'm going to have a fever," she replied.

"Oh, it must be the weather here in the countryside," Rebecca commented. She looked at the food on the bedside table. "You want me to feed you?" she offered.

Laura shook her head. "No, need. I can manage it," she said.

"Do you need anything?" Rebecca asked, offering her assistance before she will leave the room.

"No thanks, I'll be fine. I just need to rest so that I can finally go to the cave tomorrow," she responded.

"Okay, rest well. I'll get some medicine downstairs," Rebecca said and exited the room.

After Rebecca left, Laura get up from the bed and began eating her meal.

She finished consuming her food within thirty minutes.

A few minutes later, Sally returned with a tray to retrieved the dirty dishes.

Laura looked at the maid and the empty flower vase. "Sally...can you put some flowers in the flower vase please?" she requested.

Sally smiled. "Okay, Miss. I'll go to the garden and get some flowers and bring it here," she replied. She put the empty dishes in the tray and left the room.

Laura went to the window and looked outside, scanning the surrounding area of the house. Graven told her that he will give this land to his twin brother so that they can live here peacefully and raised a family, then he will not show his face anymore. He will stay away from them so that the three of them can continue to live their lives in peace.

She released a deep sigh - until now she had a hard time reconciling with the fact that she and Graven engaged in sexual intimacy even if they both know it's wrong, they both betrayed Luke! Maybe she will just stay around for a while until Luke has fully recovered his body, then say goodbye to him, and leave going back to her hometown.

She stayed beside the window for a few minutes.

Then she returned to bed for her afternoon nap. She covered her body with the blanket and closed her eyes.

A moment later, she heard a knock outside the door.

"Miss Laura, I got the flowers!" Sally said.

"Just push the door, it's open," she replied.

Sally entered the room. She put some tablets on the bedside table. "Here's some medicine that is given by Miss Rebecca," she said. She put the flowers on the table and picked up the vase, she went to the bathroom and filled the vase with water, then she went back to the table and began her flower arrangement.

Laura watched the maid's activity - wearing a smile on her face. She found Sally's flower arrangement therapeutic to watch. "The flowers are beautiful," she commented. "And your flower arrangement is awesome!" she praised her.

Sally smiled, proud of her effort. "Thank you, Miss!" she said.

After putting the last flower on the vase, Sally rose to her feet. "I'm taking my leave now. Would you like me to bring you a cup of chamomile tea or juice?" she offered.

"A cup of tea will do," Laura responded.

"Okay, I'll be back in a few minutes," Sally said and left the room.

When Sally returned, she brought the cup of chamomile tea with her. "Here's your tea, Miss Laura," she said and placed the cup on the bedside table within her reach.

She was about to leave...

"Sally sit on the chair for a moment, please. I want to ask you something," she said.

Sally obeyed and lowered herself on the chair. "What is it that you want to ask, Miss?"

Laura cleared her throat. "Hmm...I want to ask about Luke and Graven. Are the twins close to each other?" she asked.

"Yes! They are very close to each other," replied Sally.

"Does Graven have a girlfriend or did he brought a woman here?" she asked.

"No. The only woman Lord Graven brought here is only you and no other, ah there's Miss Rebecca who is like a sister to him. As for your question about his girlfriend, I don't know about that," Sally answered.

"How about Luke? Did he brought a woman here?" she inquired.

Sally shook her head. "No, never even once," she replied. "Sir Luke likes traveling to different places...I don't know if he had a girlfriend left somewhere. When he died, nobody comes to visit him. Which means he has no girlfriend," she said.

"I see...Sally, thanks for answering all my questions. You may go now," Laura said.

"Okay, Miss," Sally replied and exited the room. She walked into the hallway and met Graven near the stairs.

"How is she?" Graven asked.

"My Lord, Miss Laura is still not feeling well. She was lying in bed, her body wrapped in a blanket when I left her," Sally responded.

"Okay. Let me check on her," Graven said.

Sally bowed her head and proceed downstairs.

Graven walked into the hallway going to his bedroom which Laura currently occupied. He was deeply worried about her. Did he hurt her when they make love earlier? He has to admit to himself that he got carried away with wild abandon when he was nearing orgasm and pumped hard in her softness blindly as if there's no tomorrow.

He arrived at the door and knocked twice.

"Come in, the door is not close," came Laura's voice.

She was expecting her visitor to be Rebecca or Sally, she did not expect that it's going to be Graven. She released a deep sigh. "Why are you here?"

Graven went to the bed and inspected her face. "Are you okay?" he asked worriedly.

"I'm fine..." she replied avoiding his eyes.

"I'm worried...did I hurt you earlier while we make love? Are you sore down there?" he asked in a serious tone.

Laura's eyes widened. Her face blushed crimson red. How dare he ask her such an embarrassing question! She picked up the extra pillow and flung it to him. "Shameless! Get out!" she said in a horrified voice.

Graven sighed when the pillow hit his face. "Why are you getting angry? I'm just asking you because I'm worried," he said softly.

Laura sighed and gave him her back. She stared at the wall, wanting to send him a message that he is no longer welcome in the room.

Graven picked up the pillow from the floor and cleaned it with his hands to get rid of dust that clung to it when it fell on the floor. Then he placed the pillow near the headboard. He can't help it. He placed his hand gently upon her head giving her a gentle caress. "Rest well... I'll take my leave now," he whispered.

Laura didn't say a word, she bit her lip. He was increasingly showering her with affection and she was slowly affected by it.

Graven left the room with a sigh. He walks in the hallway absentmindedly, thinking about Laura. He shouldn't get so close to her, he would find it difficult to stay away from her if his twin is finally resurrected. Those acts of tenderness he had shown to her would surely create tension between him and his twin. And it's something that he can't allow to happen.

If they will stay here and raised a family, he won't be visiting this place anymore to avoid seeing Laura. He released a conflicted sigh. He reached his room and went inside. He sat on the bed.

The intimacy that happened earlier between him and Laura although he has no regret - it should not happen at all! He's feeling guilty about it but he won't change anything. Maybe, that was also what Laura is experiencing right now, the guilt. They both feel guilty for betraying Luke.

He took a deep breath.

Oh, why did he has to fall for a woman who is also his brother's love?

Things are getting complicated in his mind and heart. From now on, even if the opportunity presented itself, he must refrain from touching Laura to avoid ending up in bed with her.

He lies in bed, closing his eyes to sleep.

~

Hours went by.

Darkness blanketed the entire land and evening has started. The two-story house was flooded with lights as the fluorescent lights and lamps outside were turned on by the servants.

The cook was busy preparing food in the kitchen.

Rebecca was with Horace, they're outside the house in the veranda, as he strums the guitar, serenading her with a country-folk song.

Graven was inside his room thinking about Laura and reminiscing about their hot and wild impromptu lovemaking in the morning.

Meanwhile, inside Laura's room.

She was standing in the window, listening to Horace's singing, wondering where is Graven at this point?

She remembered one time when she was talking to her father telling him that she would rather marry Cooper's older brother, who turns out to be Graven and also Luke's twin.

Sigh, her life is not so ordinary after all, she was getting entangled with mysterious people outside her comfort zone.

She wonders if her life will return to normal. And when?