When Mrs. Eriksen found me in the study, I was staring at the shelves without really seeing them. The quiet of the villa felt steady, almost heavy in a calm way.
"Mr. Ashton left early this morning," she said gently. "There was something urgent at the company. He prepared your soup again, boiled eggs, and reminded me you should take a walk after breakfast."
I smiled and nodded.
The thought of him handling everything while still thinking of me warmed something deep inside. It felt like a quiet pull, steady and constant, like the bond between us was always there even when he was gone.
After breakfast, I walked into the kitchen and paused at the sight of neatly packed fruit boxes covering the counter. There were many of them, organized with care.
"Why are there so many fruits?" I asked.
Mrs. Eriksen set her cleaning aside and glanced at them. "Mr. Ashton brought them in last night. He said someone sent them for you. I've washed a few, the rest are in the fridge."
