The first day of the weekend was going splendidly for Morwenna, her heart fluttering with a tiny leap


    of joy. It was her first time being smitten with someone, seeing and feeling only him in her heart and


    mind.


    It didn’t matter to her that Stuart wasn’t responding; just a small acknowledgment from him could


    keep her happy for hours. Unfortunately, she was unaware that often reality was quite different from


    what she perceived.


    By the time the two of them returned to Hetfield''s Homestead, the sky had already darkened. Stuart


    led the way, while Morwenna,den with a mishmash of shopping bags, followed behind.


    Norbert watched the scene with a slightly raised eyebrow, pondering if the two had gone out


    shopping.


    "Has thed finallye to his senses?" he wondered silently.


    Looking around, Morwenna noticed that only Norbert was in the grand hall; the rest of the Hetfield


    family was busy elsewhere. Phineas and Sabrina were tied up with work, Yara was busy out


    shopping or at the beauty salon, and her husband rarely visited. The younger generation consisted


    of two cousins; one was woking at Hetfield Group and the other was still in sixth grade. Yara’s four


    daughters were all enrolled in various dance and piano sses over the summer break.


    So, most of the time, the mansion was quiet, upied only by Norbert.


    Suddenly, Morwenna felt a pang of sympathy for Norbert, alone in the vast, silent house.


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    “Norbert, I’m back!” she called out with enthusiasm, breaking the quiet.


    Norbert, usually stern, replied with a rare touch of lightness, “Stuart,d, making ady carry all the


    bags, where are your manners?”


    Stuart paused mid-step on the stairs.


    Jumping to his defense, Morwenna cut in, “Norbert, I insisted on hauling them myself. I''ve got more


    muscle than I look; I could even lift Stuart if I had to!”


    At this, Stuart was speechless, and Norbert couldn’t help but chuckle.


    Realizing her faux pas, Morwenna quickly changed the subject, “Oh, I need to check on the malt in


    the kitchen; it should be ready by now.”


    She dropped her bags and hurried to the kitchen. Indeed, the malt had grown nicely and was ready


    for making malt syrup the next day. Morwenna washed her hands and began soaking some


    glutinous rice and corn for the syrup. It needed to soak for several hours before she could steam it


    the next morning. Making malt syrup was a lengthy process.


    After she was done, Morwenna returned to find that Stuart had gone upstairs and Norbert had


    resumed his reading.


    Morwenna approached him, plucked the book from his hands, and dered spiritedly, “Norbert, too


    much reading is bad for the eyes. Come on, let’s go to the yard. I’ve got some baby spinach


    sprouting. What vegetables do you like? We can buy some seeds and nt them in the garden.”


    Without waiting for a response, she pulled Norbert toward the yard.


    With permission, Morwenna had taken over a small section of the Hetfield Homestead’s garden and


    nted various vegetables there. She was always bursting with energy, even when she barely had


    time to sleep, she remembered to water her nts.


    Showing off the tender spinach shoots, she boasted, “Norbert, look how great they’re doing! I’ve


    been gardening since I was five. Back in the mountains, the old folks used to say I grew the biggest


    and best veggies.”


    “Indeed, they’re looking good,” Norbert replied, a touch of pity in his voice for the hardships she had


    endured, yet neverined about.


    Then, taking charge, Morwenna suggested, “Norbert, why don’t you start weeding this small plot


    while I loosen up the soil? It’s all empty here. What do you think about nting some tomatoes and


    peppers?”