Chapter 85
The next morning, Rain woke up early, still feeling uneasy after the bad news Brandon had shared with her the night before. The sun had yet to rise, so she headed straight to the kitchen, hoping to distract herself. The staff was already busy preparing breakfast, and just as she was about to walk in and greet them, she paused, overhearing their conversation.
“Sir Alexander’s wife is very beautiful. I prefer her looks over Miss Carla’s. But… Miss Carla is very kind, and her family is powerful. She’s the president’s granddaughter and a close family friend of Senior Lancaster. I still believe Miss Carla is the perfect match for Sir Alexander,” one of the women remarked.
Rain leaned back against the wall, sighing softly. She positioned herself where no one inside the kitchen could see her, but if any servant were to walk out, they would notice her.
“I heard she’s a lawyer and now working in the prosecution. Senior Rock is very proud and fond of her. I haven’t seen him smile like this when Miss Carla was around,” another voice chimed in. Rain couldn’t help but smile at the positive comments.
’Since when did I become an eavesdropper?’ she wondered. She knew she should leave, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot.
“There will be chaos once Miss Carla finds out about that vixen! Isn’t it obvious that the woman is just a substitute? More like a rebound for Sir Alex! His true and only love is Miss Carla. He wouldn’t be alive if not for her! I’m sure he will divorce his wife now once Miss Carla returns p>
Rain’s heart sank as she listened to the conversation unfold. The harsh words from the last commenter stung more than she cared to admit. She knew entering Alexander’s life wouldn’t be easy, especially with someone like Carla still lingering in the shadows, but hearing it voiced so bluntly made it all too real.
Taking a deep breath, Rain forced herself to move. She couldn’t let them know she had been eavesdropping, but she also couldn’t just walk away and let those words fester.
She straightened up, brushed off her thoughts, and walked into the kitchen with a smile. “Good morning, everyone!” she greeted brightly as if she hadn’t heard a thing.
The women froze, their conversations abruptly ending as they turned to face her. Rain noticed the nervous glances exchanged among them.
“Mrs. Lancaster, good morning!” the head chef greeted her with a warm smile, trying to ease the sudden tension in the room.
Rain approached the counter, her smile unwavering. “I couldn’t go back to sleep and thought I’d come and see what you all were up to. Breakfast smells amazing,” she complimented, her tone light and friendly.
“Thank you, ma’am,” another chef replied, relief evident in her voice.
“I’d like to prepare breakfast for my father-in-law and husband, but I’m afraid I’m not much of a cook,” Rain said as she glanced around the kitchen, her gaze briefly landing on a woman who was avoiding eye contact.
“You’re up early, Rain,” Ben suddenly appeared in the kitchen, his presence comforting. Rain smiled at him, though a bit awkwardly. “Since I’m not going to work today, I thought I might observe in the kitchen and see if I can learn something new p>
“Of course,” Ben replied with a nod. “But first, Sir Rock wants to formally introduce you to all the staff here on the estate. He’s planning to do it this morning after breakfast. It was supposed to happen last night, but he wanted you to rest after your accident p>
Rain nodded in understanding, then playfully added, “Alright then. I suppose it’s better to have Father-in-law formally introduce me before I start pestering everyone p>
Ben chuckled and said, “Ah, but you can pester them anytime you want or need them. After all, you’re now the Mistress of the Lancaster Estate p>
Rain blushed at Ben’s words, but she couldn’t help feeling a sense of satisfaction as she noticed the sudden loss of colour on the faces of those who had been talking negatively behind her back.
In the end, Rain decided to leave the kitchen untouched and excused herself to return to her bedroom. The sun was just beginning to rise, and she wanted to greet the new day from her balcony.
Stepping onto the balcony, she took in the view of the front yard and noticed Alexander was already awake, out for his morning run. She bit her lower lip, admiring how fit he was. A mischievous smile spread across her face as she murmured to herself, “I should start doing wifely duties p>
With that thought, she quickly grabbed a towel and a bottle of water before hurrying downstairs and heading outside to meet him.
Rain made her way outside, her steps light and quick as she searched for Alexander. The cool morning air brushed against her skin, making her feel more awake and energized. As she rounded the corner of the house, she spotted him running along the gravel path that wound through the estate’s gardens.
She paused for a moment, watching him. There was something captivating about the way he moved—focused, determined, and completely at ease.
Alexander slowed as he noticed her, a look of surprise crossing his face. “What are you doing out here so early?” he asked, panting slightly.
Rain waved the towel and water bottle at him. “Just doing my wifely duties,” she declared with a cheeky grin. “Thought I’d bring you some refreshment. Keep you hydrated and all that p>
He took the towel and water from her, wiping the sweat off his forehead with the towel. Rain, unable to resist, reached out and gently wiped his sweat with her own towel, her fingers brushing his skin.
Alexander raised an eyebrow. “Do you know what you’re doing p>
Rain’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked up at him. “Of course. It’s all part of my wifely duties,” she replied her voice light and teasing. “You’re the one who demanded it p>
There was a brief, tense silence before Rain quickly continued, “Should we revise the contract and remove it p>
Alexander raised an eyebrow and replied with a smirk, “No, Rain. The clause stays in the contract. I’m looking forward to seeing you fulfill your wifely duties consistently p>
Rain’s playful smile faltered for a moment, replaced by a look of mock surprise. “Oh, is that so? Well, if the contract says so,” she said with an awkward smile.
Alexander’s eyes gleamed with a mix of mischief and determination. “Absolutely. I expect nothing less,” he said firmly.