Chapter 725: A Heavy Heart

When they first got married, Rosalind Green was filled with trepidation, worried Ethan Hawthorne might be seeing other women. But he treated her exceptionally well—she could spend his money freely and didn’t have to do any housework. All she needed to do was dress up and look pretty, and so, Rosalind had relaxed.

Her mother said this good fortune was a blessing from a past life, urging her to cherish it and build a good life with Ethan Hawthorne. But then, everything changed unexpectedly. She began farming and raising pigs alongside him. And though it was hard and exhausting work, Rosalind didn’t mind the hardship. All that mattered was that her family was together.

But now, it seemed Ethan Hawthorne really did have another woman. He was sleeping with a stranger. Rosalind’s chest tightened at the very possibility. She could hardly breathe, and her eyes began to redden.

’What am I going to do?’

"Why are you standing by the door and not going in?" Old Master Tate asked with a smile as he approached.

Rosalind hastily wiped her eyes and forced a smile. "A bit of sand just flew into my eye. I was just getting it out."

Old Master Tate gave her a skeptical look. He could tell at a glance whether sand had gotten in her eye or if she was putting on a brave face. ’There hasn’t been any trouble lately,’ he thought. ’So why would Rosalind be crying?’

"Mr. Tate, have some ginkgo nuts. They’re freshly roasted."

Rosalind offered the ginkgo nuts to Old Master Tate, her voice thick with emotion. He didn’t call her out on it. Instead, he took a handful, peeled one, and popped it into his mouth. "Delicious!" he praised. "Are these the ginkgo nuts you, Aurelia, and the others picked before the New Year?"

"Mhm, we picked so many last time. There’s still a whole basket left to roast."

Rosalind felt a little calmer; she didn’t feel as awful as before. ’I’ll ask Phoebe Huxley and Phoebe Thorne for advice later,’ she decided. ’Three heads are better than one. They’ll definitely be able to come up with a good plan for me.’

Adrian Hawthorne came out as well. Seeing that Rosalind’s expression was back to normal, he finally felt relieved. He also grabbed a handful of ginkgo nuts to eat. The freshly roasted nuts were warm, tender, and had a uniquely fresh aroma; they were truly delicious. Goldie Thorne grabbed a handful too, peeling them as he walked home.

"I’m going to make dinner now." Rosalind calmly set down the ginkgo nuts, washed her hands, and went to prepare the evening meal. She seemed no different than usual.

Adrian Hawthorne felt even more at ease. ’Looks like Mom didn’t hear anything earlier,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, she wouldn’t be this calm. She’d definitely be a sobbing mess.’

The next day, Adrian Hawthorne went into the city to get some corduroy for making pants to sell. Phoebe Huxley and the others also got to work, starting on tracksuits. Adrian had brought back a sample, and Rosalind quickly drafted a pattern from it. She then sewed a finished product that looked identical to the one he had purchased.

"I’ve seen these tracksuits in the department store," Fiona Rhodes said. "They’re twenty-five yuan a set. It’s ridiculously expensive!"

"I’ve seen them too. I hear they’re all the rage in the city right now."

"I’ll make a set for my eldest to wear to school. He can wear it once the weather warms up," Phoebe Huxley said gleefully. She’d have to make two sets—one for her eldest son and one for her future daughter-in-law.

"I want to make one for my son, too. If he wears it for the school’s sports meet, he’ll definitely be the star of the show," Fiona Rhodes said, her interest piqued.

Everyone chattered excitedly, but Rosalind was cutting the fabric absentmindedly and nearly snipped her hand. Phoebe Thorne noticed something was off and asked with concern, "Are you not feeling well? Why don’t you go lie down and rest for a bit?"

"I’m fine."

Rosalind shook her head, but her complexion was pale, and she had dark circles under her eyes. She had barely slept a wink last night. Even when she had drifted off, she was plagued by nightmares. In her dream, Ethan Hawthorne was flirting with another woman whose face she couldn’t make out. Rosalind stood off to the side, but he completely ignored her and even told her to get lost.

"Fine, my ass! I can tell something’s wrong just by looking at you," Phoebe Huxley grumbled. "Did some idiot bully you again? Tell me who it is, and I’ll go chop them to pieces!"