The General's Wife Wants to Leave-Chapter 249: Brushing off the spilled tea

And today they gave an enormous surprise to suddenly appear and behave as if that not-short period of time of absence were nothing, and that surprise did not only affect her but also her father, as she had noticed him losing words for a moment.

Joanna’s gaze was back to falling on the scene near the fireplace. It was right that before their absence, every time they came to her home, she would play with Valerie, whose age was not far different from hers. They would happily giggle here and there together, being cheerful from the morning to the night, behaving as if there was nothing to worry about in life.

Yet it was long ago. Their childhood time had passed. They had not met each other for six to seven years. So many things should have happened during that period of time. She even now had held a status as a wife.

Through today’s meeting, she realized that those attachment feelings were not there anymore. They had shown their familiar warm way in greeting her and her family, yet she could not feel that anymore, as if there were something that restrained them from going back to that bright childhood moment. And she was not sure if she could act the same as when she was a kid, particularly after she saw them in that dream, the dream that she had that night.

Joanna stared at the blushing, shy face that talked with her brother, and she gripped the cup that she held in her hands as if to steady her nerves that did not quell yet since the first moment she saw them in the dining room.

"Since when were you here, Aunt Camille?" Joanna asked, unwillingly drifting her gaze toward her aunt.

"Well, we arrived here on Friday, dear. But sadly, we only met naughty Phillip here." Aunt Camille let out a sigh before a chuckle followed after.

So, today was their third day to be at her home, Joanna counted in her mind.

"I wish brother Phillip had hosted you and Valerie well," Joanna said, facing the older lady.

A low chuckle again resonated from Aunt Camille. "There is always a reason for me to call him a naughty boy, but he has indeed grown up into a reliable gentleman," she remarked, turning her head towards the direction of the place that attracted Joanna’s attention the most.

Joanna slightly nodded her head before saying, "I am glad to hear that, Aunt Camille. I have never seen my brother have a preference to be engaged with hosting guests."

"You should worry not, dear." While saying that, Aunt Camille turned to see the Duke, who was still sitting but could not be said to be leisurely, listening to the conversation between the ladies of different generations.

"Phillip has indeed understood and is knowledgeable about the responsibility for the Dukedom. Don’t you think it is time for him to settle in marriage, John?" Aunt Camille inquired, drawing all the eyes toward the place where Joanna’s eyes had been mostly set during their time in the drawing room.

Joanna’s heart missed one beat upon hearing what she had just heard before it paced up, which made her add strength to grip on the cup in her hands. Now she knew what their main purpose in stepping back into her family’s peaceful dwelling place was.

"Don’t you think they will make a good couple? Since they share no blood and flesh, I always believe that they are made for each other. Valerie has never told me the gentleman that has a special place in her heart, and she may not dare to tell me that. But when I arrived here, I knew that what I guessed wasn’t wrong." She smiled at what she was seeing. Her blue eyes sparkled. "I can see how happy she is now that she can meet Phillip again."

Joanna looked at her father, attempting to not miss any detail of expression that was written on his face. She wanted to know what his reaction would be, and she was currently seeing him having his attention on her brother and Valerie.

Duke de Lara watched a young lady giggle, covering her mouth, in front of a young gentleman. He could not hear what conversation they made that made the atmosphere surrounding them seem to be bright.

The idea of having his son tie a knot in a marriage was not never present in his mind, as his son had already been at an age that was more than could be called marriageable age. However, his son had said that he wanted to focus on his studies, and there would be time for that matter after he graduated. After that, he had never asked him about that matter anymore.

"It is Phillip who can answer that question," Duke John simply answered. He refrained from forcing his demand on his children, and he would not change his mind as long as he saw his children were fine with every decision that they made.

Unknown to him, his answer had put relief in the heart and mind of his daughter, who had been waiting for his response anxiously. But before she could take a breath of relief, the anxiety that had grown inside her returned at what she heard and saw next.

"And we’ll soon get that answer. Don’t you think so, John?" Aunt Camille replied with a wide smile on her lips as she watched Phillip hold Valerie’s hand.

"Ahh..."

All the eyes were now shifted toward the source of the gasping sound and motion that came from none other than Joanna.

Standing up in haste, Joanna put the cup of tea that she had religiously held on the table before she brushed off the wetness that came from the moderate amount of tea she spilled on her skirt.

"No, it is fine." Joanna grabbed Canillas’ hand, stopping him from helping her wipe her skirt with his handkerchief.

Her father and Aunt Camille had also stood up, approaching her in a dash. Her brother and Valerie followed suit almost immediately.

"I am fine." Joanna smiled, taking a little step backward to avoid Valerie’s helping hand as well. "The tea was not hot. So I am fine." As she spoke to her, she looked down at Valerie, who stood with a bit of bending down her body before her as she was about to help her.

"I think it is a call for me to rest. I am too tired," Joanna reasoned. "I am sorry if I take my excuse earlier." Her words were aimed at all of those who were in the room, but she directed her gaze at her father. When she saw him nod his head, she walked toward him.

"Good night, Father." Joanna lightly kissed her father’s cheek before doing the same for her brother. "Good night, brother."

"Are you fine?" Phillip asked Joanna with a frown, studying her pale complexion that he had noticed since the dinner.

"I am, brother," Joanna answered, offering a reassuring smile.

Spending a few seconds to look into the face of her brother, she made her way toward the door after offering a slight bow toward the two guests.

Joanna kept looking ahead as she walked toward her room. She knew that she was not walking alone. Someone was behind her, following her diligently.

Her mind was already full of numerous things that had happened since last night, and now it was becoming fuller with surprising occasions that had happened since she arrived in the house where she was born and had spent most of her life with her family there. Her home.

As she walked, Joanna suddenly felt her head spinning. She felt dizzy.

"I am fine," Joanna said when a muscular arm wrapped around her waist from behind, preventing her from falling down as she suddenly stumbled from dizziness.

Gently pushing away the hand that did not resist following her request, without turning to face Canillas, who stood close against her back, Joanna whispered, "I hope you have a good rest, Sir Canillas. Good night."

Joanna resumed her walk, looking straight ahead while gripping her skirt as a pair of eyes pierced a hole in her back.

In the long corridor, Canillas watched his wife getting further and further away until he could not see her figure anymore. Once again, he stood alone in the deserted, dimly lit, cold corridor without the warmth enveloping his entire being.