Returning to their room, Jepherson carried Raeleigh to the bathroom, intending to bathe her, but she stirred and tugged at him as soon as they stepped into the bathroom. "I'm dead on my feet. Let me rest. I'll fall apart if you don't."
Only then did Jepherson place her on the bed, change her, and watch as she took her rest.
Raeleigh laid still, casting an apathetic look at him. "See this? I can't be at ease whenever I'm with you, just like now."
"Your health is too poor."
Jepherson wouldn't admit it even if he regretted it.
Raeleigh pressed on, "Are you going to release Cynthia or not?"
Gnashing his teeth, Jepherson grumbled, "Don't you have anything else to say to me other than this?"
Raeleigh remained still. "I can't think of anything else."
It wasn't that she couldn't but rather because she was on her last legs, she felt too enervated to talk to him.
She did not even have the strength to speak.
She tugged at the covers and closed her eyes.
Seeing Raeleigh closing her eyes, Jepherson walked away. He removed the necktie and placed it aside but headed back to stuff it into his pocket as though it would be stolen if he didn't do so.
Turning around, he stripped off his shirt and laid on the bed. He stayed up throughout the night.
The next day, Jepherson was still sleeping by the time Raeleigh woke up. She shifted and found something clinging to her foot. Lifting the covers to check, Jepherson had tied their feet together with the necktie.
Raeleigh landed her eyes on Jepherson, who was awakened by her tugging. "I need to go to the washroom."
Jepherson moaned, still lying.
Raeleigh undid the tie and went to the bathroom. When she returned, Jepherson was still lying in bed, unwilling to get up.
Raeleigh inquired if they were heading home that day, and Jepherson affirmed the flight the next day. The couple stayed in bed all day.
Jepherson spent the night lying in bed in silence. He would occasionally steal glances at Raeleigh, uneasy despite his drowsiness.
Raeleigh spent the night tossing and turning, as did Jepherson.
At daybreak, Jepherson washed up, changed into a new set of clothes, and checked out of the hotel with Raleigh after packing their luggage. Following that, they headed for the airport.
On the flight back home, the four of them had their seats side by side; Raeleigh spent the flight sleeping while Jepherson shut his eyes. Stuart and Lucy planned their wedding invitation and wedding favors upon arriving back home as well as sharing their thoughts on buying a new house for Lucy's family.
They busied themselves with what they had to do. After they disembarked from the plane, Jepherson granted Stuart a ten-day break and instructed him to settle his business within that period. Only then did Stuart leave with items they had bought abroad.
Raeleigh then followed Jepherson to the hotel, where she sorted her things out and asked for the number of the courier service before making a call for it and sending the items she had purchased home.
"It's so far away. Aren't you worried?"
Raeleigh replied, "It's merely a few pieces of garments; nothing to worry about. There's parcel insurance, no?"
"Is there anything for me?" Jepherson sat aside and surveyed all her stuff. Everyone apart from him was on the list.
"What do you want?"
"What can you give me?"
He rendered Raeleigh speechless.
The courier messenger stood aside and observed them, sensing an inharmonious atmosphere.
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