CH 28

Olivia, who was watching the two of them, wrinkled her brows and clenched her fists in the sense of defeat. But she wasn’t qualified to stop them, so, there was nothing she could do.

Brandon wrapped his arm around Callie’s shoulder as if to show off to Olivia and escorted her to her bedroom. As they headed to the bedroom, Callie thought, ‘Are you conscious of Olivia’s eyes so you’re going to sleep in my room today?’

If Brandon wanted to do it, Callie had no intention of refusing. 

Step by step, closer and closer to the bedroom, Callie’s face turned red as her heart pounded.

The hallway, which felt short today, came to an end. They were right in front of her room.

Shall we go into that room now?

And then…

Although he wrapped his arms around Callie’s shoulder, he kept a reasonable distance, but now, he walked closer. A tall Brandon caught the lights in the hallway and cast a shadow over her face.

As Brandon’s face got closer and closer, Callie involuntarily closed her eyes, swallowing her breath. She couldn’t see him with closed eyes but could feel him smiling.

Thump, thump. The longer she stayed, the faster her heart beat uncontrollably.

Then his lips landed on her forehead.

Oh…not the lips.

I hate to admit it, but I felt sorry for the short forehead kiss. Shall I tell you not to go tonight?

As she thought about it, she heard a soft voice say, “Good night, Madam.”

Whether he knew her feelings or not, Brandon kindly opened the door. He had only intended to take me from the drawing room to the front door.

I don’t even know…

Callie was so embarrassed for being full of expectations that she couldn’t even bear to look him in the eyes. Instead, she avoided Brandon’s gaze and hurriedly pushed her body through the door.

After entering the bedroom, Callie stood leaning against the door, unable to leave the door easily. She felt sad and regretful that he sent her in like this and went back. 

Like Olivia said earlier, I don’t think I’ll be able to fall asleep easily tonight, sleeping alone.

Callie’s heart grew more lonely as she heard footsteps getting weaker and weaker over the door.

A week passed, and the rowing competition finally began. 

On the first day of the competition, Callie and Brandon walked around the lake and watched the action.

“The boats here are the boats that will compete.”

Nod. Brandon just nodded lightly without a lengthy explanation.

“There are various shapes.”

“A match isn’t just a competition; it’s also a kind of party. It’s also a way to show off.”

Expectations for the game increased even more just by seeing a boat anchored on the lakeside, decorated with various paintings.

“By the way, is there a boat over there?”

A couple of boats were visible at a distance from where the boats participating in the game were tied.

Brandon didn’t even know why the ship was there.

“I see.”

Callie looked at the ship in the distance for a moment, but she soon lost interest and turned away. 

Leslie, who had a preliminary match on the first day, approached the two with his characteristic smile. 

Callie congratulated and praised Leslie for coming in first in the group in the preliminaries. She said, “Congratulations, Leslie. You are good enough to come in first place, so why have you never participated? If you had, you would have been the most popular man of the year.”

“Being a man for all women is probably Hyung’s interest than mine. I’m very uncomfortable with that.”

“I guess it’s like you want to be loved by one person rather than everyone?”

“Oh, well, I guess you could say that.”

Maybe because he was happy to come first in the group, Leslie treated Callie more comfortably than the other day. 

I’ve heard from the servants that Leslie is much more comfortable to deal with than Brandon, who always smiles but has a somewhat overbearing atmosphere.

But not for Callie. 

There was nothing wrong with a polite speech or behavior, but there was something uncomfortable about Leslie’s attitude toward her. Unlike Brandon, who honestly and clearly expressed himself, Leslie felt somehow not transparent. 

Besides, on the day I came back from Anton’s house, he knew I had been there, but he didn’t say anything.

That’s why Callie always felt distant from Leslie, but today’s attitude was different from other days. Maybe Leslie’s distance is because Olivia, whom he loves, likes Brandon, and I’m Brandon’s wife.

After the first day of Leslie’s excellent qualifying performance, the second day of rowing followed.

Callie was as excited as someone who had just come down here to watch a rowing event. She asked, “Brandon, are you attending the rowing competition today?”

Brandon, sitting in a single chair in front of a round table in the library, reading the newspaper, turned to her. “Does my wife find rowing a lot of fun?”

Did a cool guy come out in the rowing match yesterday? Brandon knew women would cheer when they saw a young, healthy man paddling vigorously through the water. 

When he started acting as a brash flirt, he also participated in a few rowing events in hopes of winning the ladies’ favor. He didn’t like the idea that his wife was among the cheering women watching the event.

Not cool. What’s so cool about guys who participate to attract women’s attention?

Callie, who didn’t notice Brandon’s skewed question, answered honestly, “Yes, it’s my first time watching a rowing match. Seeing them rowing hard makes me so excited. It’s like I’m rowing.”

“Then I will say that I will enter the competition myself, Madam.”

“Oh, is that so? That would be fun, too. If I could get a boat, I would like to try it.” Callie’s eyes sparkled. 

Brandon hadn’t been with her long yet, but Callie was more curious and active than most women. With that kind of personality, it was natural for her to be curious about a game like this.

Callie said it even though she thought it would be impossible. While living with Brandon until their divorce, Callie did not intend to live only worrying about who tried to kill her.

She wanted to do as many things as possible that she hadn’t been able to do as a member of the Loris family. She thought that experience would help her in some way when she had to live on her own after her divorce.

“Brandon. Could you save just one boat?”

Huh! Are you really going to compete in rowing?

Brandon was stunned.

“I do a lot of housework, so my arms are stronger than they look.”

The count’s daughter mentioned how much housework she had to do. No one would believe such words…

Seeing Brandon’s bewildered expression, Callie felt bad but quickly gave up.

“It must be difficult, right? I should have asked you in advance.”

“Mrs. Strong arms. It may look easy to row, but going around the big lake is difficult even for a man.”

As expected, that was a no. That’s that.

“Alright. Then, I’ll take Lisa to look around.”

It would have been more fun if she had rowed herself, but just watching was exciting, too.

It seemed that the worries and concerns piled up in her heart were blown away if she watched the water flow to the rhythm and bounce under the sunlight.

But Brandon didn’t seem to like it. She didn’t ask if he’d go with her because she didn’t intend to force it on someone who didn’t seem to enjoy the event.

But that wasn’t the case with Brandon.

He wanted her to ask him to go with her, then he’d pretend to have no choice and follow her. But she didn’t even mention it once. What a heartless wife.

After completing her business, Callie turned around without regret. 

Just then, Olivia happened to be passing by the hallway. When she heard the conversation between Brandon and Callie, she stopped and put her ear to the door to listen.

‘Callie looks like she really wants to go rowing.’

A small smile crept across Olivia’s face.

As the afternoon sun shone overhead, Callie, dressed in street clothes, came down the stairs and bumped into Olivia.

“Callie, are you going out?”

“Yes. I’m going to see a rowing match with Lisa.”

“Isn’t Brandon going with you?”

“Yes. I don’t think he wants to go.”

“That’s too much. Sending his wife on her honeymoon alone.”

“It’s okay. It’s better to watch it alone than to forcefully drag someone who isn’t enjoying it and keep paying attention to them the whole time.”

Callie felt sorry for Brandon, who eventually offered to go with her, but she refused, but she didn’t want to make it obvious to Olivia. 

“Then come with me. I was just about to go to the rowing event.”

“With you?”