Chapter 58
"Mrs. Hetfield, sorry about this. I got called in for an emergency surgery today. Stuart’s been swamped too and couldn’t swing by to pick up the lunchbox. Didn't mean to neglect you."
"Yeah, I saw."
"Saw what?"
"I saw Adelaide dropping off dinner for Stuart."
Fletcher was stunned and speechless. Adelaide had also brought a meal, and now he worried Stuart might have thought he was talking about Adelaide when he sent the message.
He felt genuinely remorseful for not communicating clearly with a rare feeling for him.
"Um, Mrs. Hetfield, you're not still waiting outside the Hetfield Group, are you?"
Morwenna looked around the dark surroundings, her voice slightly hoarse, "Yeah, no more buses. I'll wait a bit longer before heading back."
Damn, she was still there!
Fletcher thought about calling Stuart.
But he feared that if Stuart was with Adelaide, this call might stir up more trouble.
He quickly changed out of his lab coat and drove off.
When Fletcher reached the Hetfield Group, he immediately spotted Morwenna sitting on a corner step, clutching her lunchbox. The streetlights had mostly been turned off, casting her in shadow.
There she was like a dimmed star under the night sky.
Morwenna was usually vibrant and cheerful, a pure free spirit.
But Stuart had trapped her with his pretenses, pulling her into an anxious vortex as she struggled to shine through the uncertainty.
Yet, Stuart was too far away, no matter how hard she tried.
At that moment, Fletcher felt like cursing Stuart for his cruelty.
But then he recalled it was his bright idea that led Stuart to fake love to keep her around. He was in on it, so he reigned in the cussing.
around. He was an accomplice, so he held back the curse.
Fletcher walked up to Morwenna.
It wasn’t until he was close that she noticed him.
"Dr. Vaughn, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I just spotted you as I was passing by. It's getting late. How about I give you a lift home?"
"Thank you so much, but you don’t have to bother, Dr. Vaughn."
There were no more buses, but she could walk.
She hadn’t moved yet, just wanted some quiet time to herself.
Fletcher sat down beside her on the step.
He sensed her distraction and felt the weight of the unappreciated lunchbox.
Suddenly, Fletcher spoke up, "Wenna, I’ve had back-to-back surgeries today without a break to eat. Could I have your lunchbox?"
It was Morwenna’s thoughtful gesture, now unappreciated. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
Without hesitation, Morwenna handed it over, "Of course, though I’m not sure if it’s gotten cold."
"That's fine."
Fletcher opened the lunchbox. The food was still slightly warm.
He took a sip of the chicken soup first.
The soup was clearly simmered for hours, pure and rich without unnecessary spices.
Then he bit into a piece of fish and paused.
The fish, a common carp, was typically bony, yet there were no bones.
Someone had painstakingly removed every single bone before cooking.
The patience required for such a task was immense.
At that moment, Fletcher was deeply moved.
How could Stuart think she’s manipulative? What kind of schemer would do this? Did Stuart even understand her at all?
He was not being fair.