“From now on, your basketball and I are now rivals. You’re only allowed to hug me to bed. No basketballs allowed!”

“I’m not that stupid anymore.” He pinched her cheek. “You’re soft and adorable. Basketballs are hard and smell bad. I’d rather die than hug a basketball.”

“Hahaha.” She burst into laughter while cradled in his arms.

“I’ll go get you some hot chocolate.” He kissed her. “Just lie back. I’ll be right back.”

“Mm-hmm.” Emmeline nodded happily.

He gave her another kiss before leaving downstairs.

Kendra was helping the chef with preparing the meals when Abel walked in.

“Mr. Abel.” Kendra startled. “The food isn’t ready yet.”

“Oh, there’s no hurry. I’m just here to get some hot chocolate.”

“Hot chocolate?” Kendra immediately understood. “I’ll prepare that and have it delivered to Ms. Louise when I’m done.”

“I can do it myself,” Abel said. “I can get a handle on how it’s done.”

“Let me help you then.” She found some dark chocolate.

The chef also prepared some milk.

“This much chocolate should be enough.” She used a spoon to measure the amount of chocolate needed and tossed it into a saucepan.

“Okay.” He nodded. “How much milk?”

“One cup should be alright.”

“We can add a pinch of cinnamon too. It’ll add depth to the flavor.”

“Okay. Let’s do that.”

Kendra handed him the glass jar of cinnamon to which he added some to the saucepan.

It barely took ten minutes for the hot chocolate to be ready.

Abel brought it upstairs himself.

Sure enough, Emmeline was no longer in pain after she finished the hot chocolate.

She felt warm all over. The chill she felt in her palms and feet was gone.

She got up and got out of bed to pack Abel’s luggage.

“I can do that myself.” He held her from behind. “You should just stay in bed and rest.”

“I’m not that delicate,” she said. “I’m feeling much better now.”

“Nope. The one who’s going to end up hurt is me

“You’re going on a business trip tomorrow. I have to help you pack.”

“Leave it to me,” he said. “I always packed my own bags. Even Luca doesn’t do it for me.”

“That’s the past.” She smiled gently. “You have me now.”

He gave her a peck on her cheek.

“But you’re my wife. A wife and an assistant are different things.”

If Luca were here, he’d say, “I’m just an assistant. It’s not like I’m your wife.”

Emmeline jabbed a finger to his forehead. “Quite the tongue you got on you.”

“We’ll do it together then.” He gave her a small peck on her lips.

Emmeline stood on her tiptoes to return the gesture.

They packed the suitcase together.

That was when Daisy knocked on the door. “Mr. Abel, Ms. Louise. Dinner is ready.”

Kendra watched the children play in the garden after dinner.

Abel and Emmeline left the home and wandered along the path outside the courtyard wall that led to the mountainside.

The path was bumpy with jagged rocks littered everywhere.

They slowly climbed up the mountain hand in hand.

“Emma,” he started. “This is something for you and the kids to keep in mind while I’m gone.”

“What is it?” She asked. “Tell me.”

“Don’t get into contact with Adam.”

“I’ve never involved myself with him. I never liked him.”

“Don’t go to Grandad’s too.”

“That’s a funny thing to say.” She stood atop a rock. “Why would I go to Grandad’s when I have no business with him? He never liked me in the first place. What are you trying to say?”