She pulled Chloe Quinn and turned to walk in the other direction.
Luke Gardiner lowered the car window, his gaze following Florence Fuller. He saw that she didn't look his way at all but occasionally glanced at the black velvet box in her hand.
It was the watch she had just bought.
"President Gardiner." Edward Johnson came over: "Mrs. Gardiner said she has other matters."
"Go back." He withdrew his gaze: "Return to TJ Bay."
Edward Johnson was stunned for a moment, glanced in Florence Fuller's direction, then went to the driver's seat.
TJ Bay was the marital home where Florence Fuller and Luke Gardiner had wed, but Luke Gardiner could hardly return there throughout the year. The staff in the villa was caught off guard by his sudden return.
"Sir is back."
Upon entering the villa, Luke Gardiner distinctly felt a sense of emptiness. Aunt Sunworth approached him: "Sir, have you eaten? Would you like me to prepare some supper for you?"
"No need." Luke Gardiner took off his coat and went upstairs.
Luke Gardiner entered the bedroom and turned on the light, immediately seeing the large wedding photo on the wall beside the bed.
Florence Fuller, holding her bouquet, stood in front of him with her head slightly bowed, her side profile delicate and gentle.
He gazed at it for a while, seemingly recalling that this photo was taken casually on their wedding day, with neither of them speaking a single word during the entire process.
He shifted his gaze away and turned to the bathroom.
After showering, Luke Gardiner came out to find the room still empty, devoid of any signs that someone had returned, glanced at the time—it was half past nine. He looked downstairs into the living room; it was still quiet and empty.
He turned around and went back to his room to rest.
Eastern Imperial Splendor Residence.
After dining with Chloe Quinn, Florence Fuller returned home, already past eleven.
After tidying up, she found she was not in the least sleepy. She took out the designer watch she'd brought back and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, inspecting it closely.
Obsidian.
He will surely like it.
Florence Fuller thought.
——
The next day, the sunshine after the rain was particularly warm.
Luke Gardiner went downstairs toward the dining room, fastening his cuffs while the servant had already prepared breakfast.
Only his place setting was arranged.
He sat down: "Where's she?"
Aunt Sunworth paused: "Mrs. Gardiner?"
Doesn't Sir know Mrs. Gardiner moved out?
"Madam has moved out." Aunt Sunworth cautiously replied: "She moved out last year, only coming back occasionally."
Luke Gardiner stopped his hand holding the chopsticks: "Moved out last year?"
"Yes, she said it was for work convenience."
Luke Gardiner suddenly thought of something, picked up his mobile phone, walked outside, and dialed a number.
The other end answered quickly: "What are you doing calling so early?"
"Check if Florence Fuller is keeping someone outside."
The person on the other end paused: "Impossible, you think she's like you?"
Luke Gardiner was choked: "Stop with the nonsense and check for me."
"Did you find something?"
"No discovery, just a guess. I came back to TJ Bay last night and only learned from Aunt Sunworth this morning that she moved out a year ago."
"You don't go back much in a year and expect her to wait at home for you?" The person on the other end laughed: "Rest assured, she's not that kind of person."
Luke Gardiner hung up the phone and turned to find Aunt Sunworth: "Where does she live?"
Aunt Sunworth shook her head.
Luke Gardiner was about to say something when his phone rang. He remembered there were important meetings today and, feeling pressed for time, decided not to speak further and left immediately.
Aunt Sunworth saw him off: "Sir, how about I call Mrs. Gardiner and ask her to come home tonight?"
Luke Gardiner nodded and briskly got into the car.
Nq Design Company.
Florence Fuller had been busy with meetings since she arrived at the company early in the morning, so busy that her feet didn't touch the ground. When she had some free time and glanced at the clock, she realized Aunt Sunworth had made several calls.
Lily Lancaster checked the time on her iPad: "Boss, last night I contacted Virgil's assistant. Virgil is now settled in Ireland. I checked the schedule with them, and his assistant told me the master is free until the end of the month, so let me know when it's suitable for me to go."
"No need." Florence Fuller looked at her: "Check my schedule; I'll go myself."
Lily Lancaster paused: "Isn't it a waste of time for you to handle something so simple yourself?"
"No waste." Florence Fuller replied: "As soon as possible is best."
Lily Lancaster stared at the schedule on her iPad: "If as soon as possible, then it means going tonight. But a week later, you must be back; that night is Old Mr. Gardiner's birthday banquet.
Florence Fuller furrowed her brow slightly; in their two years of marriage, she hadn't attended Old Mr. Gardiner's birthday banquet. She was supposed to go last year but missed it due to a car accident on her way to the airport in Cloudsea City.
"I understand. Help me pick out a gift; I'll go straight upon returning that day."
Lily Lancaster nodded and booked a flight for her to Ireland tonight.
Florence Fuller found some time to return Aunt Sunworth's call. Upon receiving the call, Aunt Sunworth breathed a sigh of relief: "Mrs. Gardiner, Mr. Gardiner came back last night."
"He went back." She put down the pen in her hand: "Did he say anything?"
"Nothing last night, but he only asked this morning and found out you'd moved out a year ago."
"Anything else?" Florence Fuller was still expecting something: "Did he ask you to call me?"
"Yes," Aunt Sunworth replied: "Mrs. Gardiner, would you not consider coming back tonight?"
"Tonight's not possible." Florence Fuller was vaguely thrilled: "I'll call him instead."
She hung up the phone and quickly flipped to Luke Gardiner's number to dial.
At this moment, Luke Gardiner was in a meeting. Seeing the incoming call display, he didn't answer.
Florence Fuller called a third time before Luke Gardiner picked up.
A low female voice first came from the other end: "Do you want to meet and talk?" Luke Gardiner felt a long-missed familiarity as he listened.
He paused, confused: "Talk about what?"
The other party was silent.
A few seconds later, Florence Fuller's voice continued: "Didn't you go back to TJ Bay last night?"
Luke Gardiner snorted: "If I hadn't, I wouldn't have known you'd moved out a year ago."
"So what." Florence Fuller disliked his tone: "Do I have to guard that place?"
"Weren't you so set on marrying into those places?" Luke Gardiner's tone was lightly mocking: "Didn't you insist on marrying into the family back then?"
Florence Fuller could hear the mocking tone and retorted: "The person I married doesn't necessarily have to be you; if there were other sons in the Gardiner Family, I could marry them instead."
Luke Gardiner's eyes darkened: "Florence Fuller, you've gotten too comfortable playing Mrs. Gardiner these past two years; do you know that trouble comes from speaking?"
In his memory, their meetings were few and far between. He was out indulging, while Florence Fuller never inquired about him. Barring the necessary occasions to deal with Old Mr. Gardiner, they faked it a few times.
"Hmph." Florence Fuller sneered: "Comfortable? I don't even know how to spell those two words."
During these two years, she was well aware of others' idle gossip about her. Luke Gardiner clearly had no regard for the wife he married. She didn't need to care, but neither did she want to spend all her time on the Gardiner Family.
Luke Gardiner held the phone, his eyes slightly narrowed: "What do you mean?"
"If you have time, you'd better check your study." She finished speaking and immediately hung up.
Study?