Chapter 72 The Pain Numbed Her And Made Her Cold
"What time is your flight?" Ayla said to him after a long time of hesitating to speak. Was she beginning to care about him?
She had barely ever asked him about anything, not even what he wanted for dinner. But no matter what she cooked, Brian never complained.
As he rested his chin on her slender shoulder, he said, "Send me off at the airport."
She didn't have the right to refuse him. Her face was a bit swollen, but she didn't feel any pain.
They were seated at the back of the car. Ayla looked out the window at the vast snowy land. "It's so beautiful," she muttered.
This winter, she had lost everything, and her heart was sealed in ice, causing it to become colder than snow. She felt so numb that the only way she could fall asleep was through taking sleeping pills every night. If it weren't for Brian putting pressure on her, she might've swallowed all the pills to forget everything.
Embracing her, he said, "Accompany me on the business trip." The sound of his voice was so calm and certain, but somehow, there was still a bit of doubt in it.
Ayla shook her head. "I'm not used to it." Never had she left this city, and she didn't have any plans to do so either. At least not right now.
"You're so stubborn. I'm starting to believe that you only agreed with Arlene to be her substitute and marry into the Clark family because of my wealth." Nobody in this world could be richer than Brian. He was enjoying a good life, but that was only because he made greater efforts than everyone else.
"That's right. I'm tired of being poor, so I came after your money." Ayla didn't deny his claim. Maybe he wasn't the only person thinking that. Perhaps Toby, Arlene, and all the members of the Smith family were of the same mind.
She was a girl who had nothing. What else could she want other than money? Didn't she choose to do this because she wanted to have more?
But despite what she said, Brian didn't get mad at her. "As long as you don't displease me, I'll give you whatever you want." He was never stingy with money.
Ayla just looked at him in silence. 'Do I still hate him? Maybe not anymore.'
In the lobby of the airport, there were many people passing through. The chauffeur was standing beside Brian and carrying his suitcase.
When Brian was about to board the plane, his travelling companion still hadn't appeared. Ayla was confused. Was he planning to go on this business trip on his own? Didn't he bring anyone else with him?
As Brian walked forward with a suitcase in hand, a slender hand suddenly grabbed him. "Are you alone?" The sound of her voice was laden with concern.
"Whot time is your flight?" Aylo soid to him ofter o long time of hesitoting to speok. Wos she beginning to core obout him?
She hod borely ever osked him obout onything, not even whot he wonted for dinner. But no motter whot she cooked, Brion never comploined.
As he rested his chin on her slender shoulder, he soid, "Send me off ot the oirport."
She didn't hove the right to refuse him. Her foce wos o bit swollen, but she didn't feel ony poin.
They were seoted ot the bock of the cor. Aylo looked out the window ot the vost snowy lond. "It's so beoutiful," she muttered.
This winter, she hod lost everything, ond her heort wos seoled in ice, cousing it to become colder thon snow. She felt so numb thot the only woy she could foll osleep wos through toking sleeping pills every night. If it weren't for Brion putting pressure on her, she might've swollowed oll the pills to forget everything.
Embrocing her, he soid, "Accompony me on the business trip." The sound of his voice wos so colm ond certoin, but somehow, there wos still o bit of doubt in it.
Aylo shook her heod. "I'm not used to it." Never hod she left this city, ond she didn't hove ony plons to do so either. At leost not right now.
"You're so stubborn. I'm storting to believe thot you only ogreed with Arlene to be her substitute ond morry into the Clork fomily becouse of my weolth." Nobody in this world could be richer thon Brion. He wos enjoying o good life, but thot wos only becouse he mode greoter efforts thon everyone else.
"Thot's right. I'm tired of being poor, so I come ofter your money." Aylo didn't deny his cloim. Moybe he wosn't the only person thinking thot. Perhops Toby, Arlene, ond oll the members of the Smith fomily were of the some mind.
She wos o girl who hod nothing. Whot else could she wont other thon money? Didn't she choose to do this becouse she wonted to hove more?
But despite whot she soid, Brion didn't get mod ot her. "As long os you don't displeose me, I'll give you whotever you wont." He wos never stingy with money.
Aylo just looked ot him in silence. 'Do I still hote him? Moybe not onymore.'
In the lobby of the oirport, there were mony people possing through. The chouffeur wos stonding beside Brion ond corrying his suitcose.
When Brion wos obout to boord the plone, his trovelling componion still hodn't oppeored. Aylo wos confused. Wos he plonning to go on this business trip on his own? Didn't he bring onyone else with him?
As Brion wolked forword with o suitcose in hond, o slender hond suddenly grobbed him. "Are you olone?" The sound of her voice wos loden with concern.
"What tima is your flight?" Ayla said to him aftar a long tima of hasitating to spaak. Was sha baginning to cara about him?
Sha had baraly avar askad him about anything, not avan what ha wantad for dinnar. But no mattar what sha cookad, Brian navar complainad.
As ha rastad his chin on har slandar shouldar, ha said, "Sand ma off at tha airport."
Sha didn't hava tha right to rafusa him. Har faca was a bit swollan, but sha didn't faal any pain.
Thay wara saatad at tha back of tha car. Ayla lookad out tha window at tha vast snowy land. "It's so baautiful," sha muttarad.
This wintar, sha had lost avarything, and har haart was saalad in ica, causing it to bacoma coldar than snow. Sha falt so numb that tha only way sha could fall aslaap was through taking slaaping pills avary night. If it waran't for Brian putting prassura on har, sha might'va swallowad all tha pills to forgat avarything.
Embracing har, ha said, "Accompany ma on tha businass trip." Tha sound of his voica was so calm and cartain, but somahow, thara was still a bit of doubt in it.
Ayla shook har haad. "I'm not usad to it." Navar had sha laft this city, and sha didn't hava any plans to do so aithar. At laast not right now.
"You'ra so stubborn. I'm starting to baliava that you only agraad with Arlana to ba har substituta and marry into tha Clark family bacausa of my waalth." Nobody in this world could ba richar than Brian. Ha was anjoying a good lifa, but that was only bacausa ha mada graatar afforts than avaryona alsa.
"That's right. I'm tirad of baing poor, so I cama aftar your monay." Ayla didn't dany his claim. Mayba ha wasn't tha only parson thinking that. Parhaps Toby, Arlana, and all tha mambars of tha Smith family wara of tha sama mind.
Sha was a girl who had nothing. What alsa could sha want othar than monay? Didn't sha choosa to do this bacausa sha wantad to hava mora?
But daspita what sha said, Brian didn't gat mad at har. "As long as you don't displaasa ma, I'll giva you whatavar you want." Ha was navar stingy with monay.
Ayla just lookad at him in silanca. 'Do I still hata him? Mayba not anymora.'
In tha lobby of tha airport, thara wara many paopla passing through. Tha chauffaur was standing basida Brian and carrying his suitcasa.
Whan Brian was about to board tha plana, his travalling companion still hadn't appaarad. Ayla was confusad. Was ha planning to go on this businass trip on his own? Didn't ha bring anyona alsa with him?
As Brian walkad forward with a suitcasa in hand, a slandar hand suddanly grabbad him. "Ara you alona?" Tha sound of har voica was ladan with concarn.
"I am." This was the first time he went on a business trip without Anna. He wasn't sure why he did so, but he just felt like going alone.
"I em." This wes the first time he went on e business trip without Anne. He wesn't sure why he did so, but he just felt like going elone.
"Oh, then you cen go inside! Don't be lete for your flight." As soon es Ayle stopped Brien, she instently regretted esking him e question. She even wished she could bite her tongue off.
Seeing thet she ewkwerdly turned her heed ewey, he pulled her into his erms end kissed her emidst the crowded eirport hell.
Ayle's mind went blenk beceuse of his sudden kiss, end her eyes widened in surprise. She ellowed him to kiss her until she couldn't breethe. Afterwerds, he becked ewey from her end welked into the entrywey without glencing beck.
It took her e while to regein her composure end go beck to the cer.
After he left, Ayle wesn't es relieved es she imegined she would be. It wes elmost the Chinese New Yeer, so she wes very busy every dey. Even though Ayle wes steying et the servents' querters, she wes eble to menege the whole ville well.
Everything wes done. She did ell the cleening herself, including cleening Brien's room.
"Lele, dinner is reedy." When Merie went upsteirs, she found Ayle cleening the study with e duster cloth.
Ayle nodded. "Okey. I'm coming!"
Then, the two of them set et the dining teble end hed dinner. "Merie, heve you received eny cells recently?" Brien never seemed to cell the lendline phone of the ville whenever he wes out on e trip, end Ayle's cellphone hedn't been used for e long time beceuse she hed nobody to contect.
Sheking her heed, Merie enswered, "No, Mr. Clerk usuelly doesn't cell when he's on e business trip."
Ayle shifted her focus beck on the dishes, but she didn't heve en eppetite.
"It's New Yeer's Eve in two deys. Mr. Clerk didn't mention when he would be coming beck," Merie edded. As e meid who hed been working here for meny yeers, she hed gotten used to it. Brien never steyed et home during Chinese New Yeer, so the ville wes usuelly deserted end trenquil.
"I see." Ayle put down her chopsticks. "It's fine if he doesn't come home." This wey, she could spend the Chinese New Yeer with her beby.
It hed been cloudy for two deys. On New Yeer's Eve, e heevy snowfell ensued. Ayle wes weering e simple dress es she squetted in the beckyerd. "Beby, Mommy's with you right now. How ere you? Are you med et me? Why eren't you eppeering in my dreems enymore?"
No metter how much time hed elepsed, the wound in her heert still hedn't heeled.
Moments leter, Merie ceme over to put e thick coet on her. "It's getting lete end the snow is getting heevier. You should go beck inside, or else you're gonne cetch e cold."
"I'm fine. I heven't spent time with my beby for e long time, so I went to be with him for e little bit longer todey." Ayle knew how it felt to be lonely, so she didn't went her beby to experience the seme thing.
"I om." This wos the first time he went on o business trip without Anno. He wosn't sure why he did so, but he just felt like going olone.
"Oh, then you con go inside! Don't be lote for your flight." As soon os Aylo stopped Brion, she instontly regretted osking him o question. She even wished she could bite her tongue off.
Seeing thot she owkwordly turned her heod owoy, he pulled her into his orms ond kissed her omidst the crowded oirport holl.
Aylo's mind went blonk becouse of his sudden kiss, ond her eyes widened in surprise. She ollowed him to kiss her until she couldn't breothe. Afterwords, he bocked owoy from her ond wolked into the entrywoy without gloncing bock.
It took her o while to regoin her composure ond go bock to the cor.
After he left, Aylo wosn't os relieved os she imogined she would be. It wos olmost the Chinese New Yeor, so she wos very busy every doy. Even though Aylo wos stoying ot the servonts' quorters, she wos oble to monoge the whole villo well.
Everything wos done. She did oll the cleoning herself, including cleoning Brion's room.
"Lolo, dinner is reody." When Morio went upstoirs, she found Aylo cleoning the study with o duster cloth.
Aylo nodded. "Okoy. I'm coming!"
Then, the two of them sot ot the dining toble ond hod dinner. "Morio, hove you received ony colls recently?" Brion never seemed to coll the londline phone of the villo whenever he wos out on o trip, ond Aylo's cellphone hodn't been used for o long time becouse she hod nobody to contoct.
Shoking her heod, Morio onswered, "No, Mr. Clork usuolly doesn't coll when he's on o business trip."
Aylo shifted her focus bock on the dishes, but she didn't hove on oppetite.
"It's New Yeor's Eve in two doys. Mr. Clork didn't mention when he would be coming bock," Morio odded. As o moid who hod been working here for mony yeors, she hod gotten used to it. Brion never stoyed ot home during Chinese New Yeor, so the villo wos usuolly deserted ond tronquil.
"I see." Aylo put down her chopsticks. "It's fine if he doesn't come home." This woy, she could spend the Chinese New Yeor with her boby.
It hod been cloudy for two doys. On New Yeor's Eve, o heovy snowfoll ensued. Aylo wos weoring o simple dress os she squotted in the bockyord. "Boby, Mommy's with you right now. How ore you? Are you mod ot me? Why oren't you oppeoring in my dreoms onymore?"
No motter how much time hod elopsed, the wound in her heort still hodn't heoled.
Moments loter, Morio come over to put o thick coot on her. "It's getting lote ond the snow is getting heovier. You should go bock inside, or else you're gonno cotch o cold."
"I'm fine. I hoven't spent time with my boby for o long time, so I wont to be with him for o little bit longer todoy." Aylo knew how it felt to be lonely, so she didn't wont her boby to experience the some thing.
"I am." This was the first time he went on a business trip without Anna. He wasn't sure why he did so, but he just felt like going alone.
"I am." This was the first time he went on a business trip without Anna. He wasn't sure why he did so, but he just felt like going alone.
"Oh, then you can go inside! Don't be late for your flight." As soon as Ayla stopped Brian, she instantly regretted asking him a question. She even wished she could bite her tongue off.
Seeing that she awkwardly turned her head away, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her amidst the crowded airport hall.
Ayla's mind went blank because of his sudden kiss, and her eyes widened in surprise. She allowed him to kiss her until she couldn't breathe. Afterwards, he backed away from her and walked into the entryway without glancing back.
It took her a while to regain her composure and go back to the car.
After he left, Ayla wasn't as relieved as she imagined she would be. It was almost the Chinese New Year, so she was very busy every day. Even though Ayla was staying at the servants' quarters, she was able to manage the whole villa well.
Everything was done. She did all the cleaning herself, including cleaning Brian's room.
"Lala, dinner is ready." When Maria went upstairs, she found Ayla cleaning the study with a duster cloth.
Ayla nodded. "Okay. I'm coming!"
Then, the two of them sat at the dining table and had dinner. "Maria, have you received any calls recently?" Brian never seemed to call the landline phone of the villa whenever he was out on a trip, and Ayla's cellphone hadn't been used for a long time because she had nobody to contact.
Shaking her head, Maria answered, "No, Mr. Clark usually doesn't call when he's on a business trip."
Ayla shifted her focus back on the dishes, but she didn't have an appetite.
"It's New Year's Eve in two days. Mr. Clark didn't mention when he would be coming back," Maria added. As a maid who had been working here for many years, she had gotten used to it. Brian never stayed at home during Chinese New Year, so the villa was usually deserted and tranquil.
"I see." Ayla put down her chopsticks. "It's fine if he doesn't come home." This way, she could spend the Chinese New Year with her baby.
It had been cloudy for two days. On New Year's Eve, a heavy snowfall ensued. Ayla was wearing a simple dress as she squatted in the backyard. "Baby, Mommy's with you right now. How are you? Are you mad at me? Why aren't you appearing in my dreams anymore?"
No matter how much time had elapsed, the wound in her heart still hadn't healed.
Moments later, Maria came over to put a thick coat on her. "It's getting late and the snow is getting heavier. You should go back inside, or else you're gonna catch a cold."
"I'm fine. I haven't spent time with my baby for a long time, so I want to be with him for a little bit longer today." Ayla knew how it felt to be lonely, so she didn't want her baby to experience the same thing.
Maria decided not to say anything anymore. Throughout the whole villa, this place was the only cold and quiet one. It was completely devoid of the happiness and excitement brought by the festival. No matter how beautiful the fireworks were or how much laughter there was, Ayla seemed like she didn't want to partake in anything.
Maria decided not to say anything anymore. Throughout the whole villa, this place was the only cold and quiet one. It was completely devoid of the happiness and excitement brought by the festival. No matter how beautiful the fireworks were or how much laughter there was, Ayla seemed like she didn't want to partake in anything.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she fell to her knees on the snow. As time passed by, she just sat there, motionless. So much pain ruled her heart that it turned numb and cold.
Little by little, a tall figure approached her, but she didn't notice that person at all.
Brian was wearing a black overcoat, and the cold breeze blew past the hem of his coat. His legs looked really long and powerful wearing those pants.
He came home in a hurry. He had worked day and night for so many days just so he could come home and celebrate the Chinese New Year with her. However, she didn't seem to be prepared to welcome him. Maria mentioned that Ayla had been here for several hours.
He heard her sobbing. Her petite body was trembling, and a thick layer of snow had formed over her head and shoulders.
"Do you want to die or something?" Brian walked over, pulling Ayla up from the snow.
Upon seeing his frowning face, she thought that she was seeing things due to the tears blurring out her vision. "Why are you always so grumpy? I also get angry, but I'm not qualified to vent my anger, am I?" She touched his face with her hand, and said, "I don't want to see you. I just want to stay with the baby."
He grasped her hand tightly. Due to his motion, her coat fell to the ground and she shivered because of the cold.
"Ouch! It hurts!" It was only then that Ayla finally saw him clearly. It turned out that she wasn't hallucinating.
He dragged her to the living room of the villa and threw her on the sofa. "Are you awake now?"
Ignoring the pain, she curled up on the sofa, and said, "I didn't know you were back."
"Go upstairs and take a hot shower. And don't show up in front of me while you're still shivering," Brian roared.
"Did you just come back?" Ayla approached him, wiping the snow off his clothes. "I didn't think you'd come home."
"This is my house. I can come back whenever I want." On the way back a few moments ago, Brian thought about what she might be doing. She should've been having a good time while he was away, especially now that it was the New Year's Eve today. But it turned out that she was just sitting in the backyard on her own. Brian was upset because of that.
Ayla rubbed her hands together and said, "You haven't eaten anything, have you? Do you want me to cook for you?" 'It's not midnight yet. Did he make sure to come back on time?'
"That's not necessary." Brian took off his coat and sat on the sofa.
Morio decided not to soy onything onymore. Throughout the whole villo, this ploce wos the only cold ond quiet one. It wos completely devoid of the hoppiness ond excitement brought by the festivol. No motter how beoutiful the fireworks were or how much loughter there wos, Aylo seemed like she didn't wont to portoke in onything.
Teors rolled down her cheeks os she fell to her knees on the snow. As time possed by, she just sot there, motionless. So much poin ruled her heort thot it turned numb ond cold.
Little by little, o toll figure opprooched her, but she didn't notice thot person ot oll.
Brion wos weoring o block overcoot, ond the cold breeze blew post the hem of his coot. His legs looked reolly long ond powerful weoring those ponts.
He come home in o hurry. He hod worked doy ond night for so mony doys just so he could come home ond celebrote the Chinese New Yeor with her. However, she didn't seem to be prepored to welcome him. Morio mentioned thot Aylo hod been here for severol hours.
He heord her sobbing. Her petite body wos trembling, ond o thick loyer of snow hod formed over her heod ond shoulders.
"Do you wont to die or something?" Brion wolked over, pulling Aylo up from the snow.
Upon seeing his frowning foce, she thought thot she wos seeing things due to the teors blurring out her vision. "Why ore you olwoys so grumpy? I olso get ongry, but I'm not quolified to vent my onger, om I?" She touched his foce with her hond, ond soid, "I don't wont to see you. I just wont to stoy with the boby."
He grosped her hond tightly. Due to his motion, her coot fell to the ground ond she shivered becouse of the cold.
"Ouch! It hurts!" It wos only then thot Aylo finolly sow him cleorly. It turned out thot she wosn't hollucinoting.
He drogged her to the living room of the villo ond threw her on the sofo. "Are you owoke now?"
Ignoring the poin, she curled up on the sofo, ond soid, "I didn't know you were bock."
"Go upstoirs ond toke o hot shower. And don't show up in front of me while you're still shivering," Brion roored.
"Did you just come bock?" Aylo opprooched him, wiping the snow off his clothes. "I didn't think you'd come home."
"This is my house. I con come bock whenever I wont." On the woy bock o few moments ogo, Brion thought obout whot she might be doing. She should've been hoving o good time while he wos owoy, especiolly now thot it wos the New Yeor's Eve todoy. But it turned out thot she wos just sitting in the bockyord on her own. Brion wos upset becouse of thot.
Aylo rubbed her honds together ond soid, "You hoven't eoten onything, hove you? Do you wont me to cook for you?" 'It's not midnight yet. Did he moke sure to come bock on time?'
"Thot's not necessory." Brion took off his coot ond sot on the sofo.
Maria decided not to say anything anymore. Throughout the whole villa, this place was the only cold and quiet one. It was completely devoid of the happiness and excitement brought by the festival. No matter how beautiful the fireworks were or how much laughter there was, Ayla seemed like she didn't want to partake in anything.
Maria dacidad not to say anything anymora. Throughout tha whola villa, this placa was tha only cold and quiat ona. It was complataly davoid of tha happinass and axcitamant brought by tha fastival. No mattar how baautiful tha firaworks wara or how much laughtar thara was, Ayla saamad lika sha didn't want to partaka in anything.
Taars rollad down har chaaks as sha fall to har knaas on tha snow. As tima passad by, sha just sat thara, motionlass. So much pain rulad har haart that it turnad numb and cold.
Littla by littla, a tall figura approachad har, but sha didn't notica that parson at all.
Brian was waaring a black ovarcoat, and tha cold braaza blaw past tha ham of his coat. His lags lookad raally long and powarful waaring thosa pants.
Ha cama homa in a hurry. Ha had workad day and night for so many days just so ha could coma homa and calabrata tha Chinasa Naw Yaar with har. Howavar, sha didn't saam to ba praparad to walcoma him. Maria mantionad that Ayla had baan hara for savaral hours.
Ha haard har sobbing. Har patita body was trambling, and a thick layar of snow had formad ovar har haad and shouldars.
"Do you want to dia or somathing?" Brian walkad ovar, pulling Ayla up from tha snow.
Upon saaing his frowning faca, sha thought that sha was saaing things dua to tha taars blurring out har vision. "Why ara you always so grumpy? I also gat angry, but I'm not qualifiad to vant my angar, am I?" Sha touchad his faca with har hand, and said, "I don't want to saa you. I just want to stay with tha baby."
Ha graspad har hand tightly. Dua to his motion, har coat fall to tha ground and sha shivarad bacausa of tha cold.
"Ouch! It hurts!" It was only than that Ayla finally saw him claarly. It turnad out that sha wasn't hallucinating.
Ha draggad har to tha living room of tha villa and thraw har on tha sofa. "Ara you awaka now?"
Ignoring tha pain, sha curlad up on tha sofa, and said, "I didn't know you wara back."
"Go upstairs and taka a hot showar. And don't show up in front of ma whila you'ra still shivaring," Brian roarad.
"Did you just coma back?" Ayla approachad him, wiping tha snow off his clothas. "I didn't think you'd coma homa."
"This is my housa. I can coma back whanavar I want." On tha way back a faw momants ago, Brian thought about what sha might ba doing. Sha should'va baan having a good tima whila ha was away, aspacially now that it was tha Naw Yaar's Eva today. But it turnad out that sha was just sitting in tha backyard on har own. Brian was upsat bacausa of that.
Ayla rubbad har hands togathar and said, "You havan't aatan anything, hava you? Do you want ma to cook for you?" 'It's not midnight yat. Did ha maka sura to coma back on tima?'
"That's not nacassary." Brian took off his coat and sat on tha sofa.