From Ashes of Scandal to His Embrace (Laurinda) novel Chapter 138

“I have some herbal congee warming up for you in the kitchen. Eat a little to settle your stomach. We can have lunch soon.”

Adolphus took Laurinda’s hand and led her toward the dining room. She couldn’t help but stare at his hand, feeling like she couldn’t look at it without her mind running wild.

He placed the bowl in front of her and sat across the table, watching her cheeks turn pink. All he wanted was to pull her close and kiss her.

“I picked up the herbs Eaton prepared for you. When I get back, I’ll make them into pills. You said the liquid medicine made you feel sick, right? Pills should be easier to handle.”

The word “pills” snapped Laurinda out of her daydream. She wrinkled her nose, looking at him with a mix of dread and pleading.

“Do I really have to take them? I feel fine now. I’m eating, drinking, everything’s good. Isn’t the medicine kind of... optional? I really don’t want to.”

Just thinking about swallowing those huge, bitter pills every day was enough to ruin her mood.

She was already pushing her limits with this bland diet. If she had to choke down pills too, all her happiness would vanish.

“You have to take them. You still haven’t recovered from the surgery, and your energy is way too low. Just the herbal congee won’t be enough to fix that. Please, give me three months. I promise I’ll help you get better.”

Laurinda looked up and met his confident eyes. The words she wanted to say just wouldn’t come out.

Thinking about her past and what was waiting for her ahead, she gave a reluctant nod.

“Alright. I trust you.”

Once she’d finished her bowl, Adolphus didn’t push her to eat more. They left the dining room together. Laurinda flopped onto the couch and started playing games while Adolphus tended to herbs by the big window.

“What are you so nervous about?”

Laurinda looked up and caught Adolphus’s anxious expression. She couldn’t help but laugh a little.

“Relax. I’ve come to terms with everything about my parents. I’m just curious whether Aiken was really involved back then.”

She glanced at her hand, checking if the ointment had dried, then leaned her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her palm.

“Honestly, I don’t think Aiken ever had it in him to hurt my parents. When they were still alive, I doubt he even realized who they really were. All his family cared about was money and status. The only thing that mattered to them was what kind of life my parents could give them. They were just greedy for comfort.”

“Then why go see him? Isn’t that just making trouble for yourself?”