Chapter 1717


    "Callis."


    Raeleigh nudged him, rousting him out of bed, but he did not wake up. He opened his eyes a slit


    and sumbed to sleep again.


    She hadn''t a clue when he slept next to her, but she looked over at the photo on the wall. All for a


    picture?


    She got out of bed and gave the photo to him. "Here, take it. I''ll go to your room when I want to


    have a look. What do you say?"


    Callis opened his eyes andtched his gaze on Raeleigh. He seemed d about the arrangement


    and took it from her.


    Raeleigh breathed a sigh of relief and pulled him out of bed. "Go back to your room. Remember not


    to tell anyone that you slept here."


    Callis checked the time; it was five in the morning.


    Carrying the photo, he returned to his room downstairs.


    After entering his room, Callis did note out the entire day, not even for work. The servants


    brought it up with Raeleigh and asked if they should call for him.


    Raeleigh dismissed them and went to relieve his chores, letting him sleep.


    Soon, the whole manor learned that Callis had spent the night in Miss Raeleigh''s room and slept for


    an entire day the next day.


    Raeleigh didn''t know about the gossip, but those gossiping behind her back spun the story,


    changing the facts.


    When Callis came out for dinner, they watched as Raeleigh added more food to his te, saying he


    should eat more.


    With that, the servants in the manor felt more vindicated.


    Xanthus had also overheard the gossip.


    Xanthus waited downstairs that evening; he wanted to see if the rumor was true.


    In the end, when night fell, Callis clutched the photo in his hand and entered Raeleigh''s room


    without so much as a knock.


    Boiling with rage, he continued waiting only for Callis to finally emerge from Raeleigh''s room at five


    in the morning.


    Closing the door, Raeleigh sat back down on her bed, mulling over what to do.


    Callis wouldn''t stop visiting her room.


    It seemed that she would have to lock it.


    That evening, Raeleigh locked the door of her room, thinking that she would finally have a good


    night''s sleep.


    However...


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    She was greeted with Callis''s face next to hers when she woke up the next morning. They were


    even under the same nket.


    Raeleigh was no longer shocked at this point. She got out of bed and settled on a chair before she


    went back to check on him. She grazed her fingers across his face, only for him to open his eyes to


    look at her.


    "Do you like me?" Raeleigh asked Callis, who still didn''t answer.


    "I was once married and had given him a child."


    Callis sat up and looked at Raeleigh. She then continued, "I feel very muchfortable being with


    you; I don''t feel any stress. If we never step out of this manor, we will never be in danger. But it is


    impossible for us to detach ourselves from the outside world. Once we go out, there will be many


    dangers waiting for us, especially for you."


    "Jepherson will make sure I never get to see you again, and the Doyle family will also harm me,


    and..."


    Raeleigh let her sentence hang while Callis fixed his gaze at her. She asked, "If you want to, we can


    be a couple. If you want to stay in my room, then make yourself at home, but we can''t be like


    married couples..."


    Raeleigh chewed on her lips. "Forget it."


    With that, Raeleigh stood up, finding her thoughts ridiculous; she should forget it.


    Callis was gone when Raeleigh emerged from the bathroom after a shower. She thought he had


    figured things out. When she went down for breakfast, he had already changed into his day clothes.


    Breakfast was simple. Xanthus had to go to work and also to see Cynthia off at the airport. As he


    had to return to his busy schedule, he had no spare time to diss Callis.


    Xanthus reminded him to leave.


    But Callis showed no signs of doing so, leading Xanthus to think he had spent his time lecturing him


    for nothing.


    Callis was an albatross, living rent- free in his head.


    After Xanthus left, Raeleigh brought Callis outside to a remote ce, intending to have a good talk


    with him.


    To avoid prying eyes, Raeleigh led him to a shed in the back of the manor, where she stored


    belongings she was reluctant to throw away.


    There were some abandoned designs and also stacks of books.


    They finally reached the shed after a twenty-minute walk. As it was cold, she lit the stove inside.


    All things done, Raeleigh told Callis what she wanted to say.


    As they sat across from each other, Raeleigh said, "Have you ever thought of going back?"


    He stared at Raeleigh, a reply unforting.


    "Your passport has arrived. You can go back."


    Callis shook his head; it was a firm no. Helpless, Raeleigh put on a weak smile and said, "I know


    you want to stay, but I have someone living in my heart. Though he''s still alive, he''s dead to me.


    He''s someone I will never forget even if I spend my entire life trying."


    "I''ve been trying for thest three years, but for some reason, the more I try, the more he''s stuck in


    my head. And just like that..."


    "I''m sinking deeper and deeper."


    "I told you this morning, didn''t I? That we can live like this in secret. But when I chew it over, I


    haven''t fallen in love with you, and there is another person in my heart. I don''t want to do you


    wrong, so..."


    Before Callis could raise any objections, Raeleigh said, "You''re a decent man, Callis, make no


    mistake about it. I''ll give you my house in Waverly Vige, with all the apple trees in it. If you start


    managing it next spring, I believe you will seed, and there will be many girls who will dig you. At


    that time, whatever you want-"


    As Raeleigh spoke, Callis left his seat and got down on one knee before her, stretching his hand


    toward her face. Surprised, Raeleigh reflexively wanted to stand up only for Callis to already ce


    his hand on her face, caressing her. His eyes were filled with warmth.


    Shocked by his actions, Raeleigh had a nagging feeling that she had seen that pair of eyes on


    someone else before. However, Callis''s face was already imprinted in her mind, precluding her from


    deciphering who she had seen them on.


    After caressing her face, he took her hand and wrote in her palm.


    Raeleigh fixed her eyes on him. "You want to stay here with me?"


    Callis nodded. Raeleigh tilted her head slightly and said, "But I have someone I like. I was once


    married to him."


    He wore a smile and sat aside. Raeleigh thought of what to say, but none came to mind. After a


    long time, she responded, "I will send you back


    tomorrow."


    He shook his head; he wasn''t going to leave no matter what.


    "Callis..." Raeleigh pleaded.


    Before she could say more, Callis covered her eyes, and she felt his lips pressing on hers. Raeleigh


    felt her senses numbing as Callis deepened the kiss, closing his eyes as his breathing grew heavy.


    Raeleigh shifted and parted her lips. She slowly raised her good hand, trying to peel Callis''s hand


    away from her eyes but only to fail.


    Callis held Raeleigh with all his strength and hoisted her up, walking further inside.


    Raeleigh reached out to feel Callis''s face while his eyes searched her face. Then she felt


    something, and slowly...