Chapter 81 Lingering in Bed

Luke placed the glass of milk onto the bedside table. "Drink this milk when you wake up," he said gently. After a while, thinking that Luke had left, Charlotte peeked out from under the covers. To her surprise, just as she was about to sit up and change her clothes, she discovered that Luke had returned to the bed. Noticing her awakening, Luke moved closer, and they lay together. His voice, filled with masculine magnetism, was alluring. "Darling." Charlotte quickly shielded herself with the blanket and asked, "Why haven't you left yet?" "Isn't it perfectly natural for me to lie here with my wife, in my own room?" Feeling somewhat shy, Charlotte retreated further under the covers. "I need to change my clothes now. Could you please step out?" "I can't," Luke said with evident fondness. "Go ahead and change; I won't look." Charlotte found it hard to believe his words and looked at Luke, who was gazing at her, making her feel bewildered. Despite their shared nights, she still felt shy. Although Luke's feelings were apparent, Charlotte's bashfulness made her oblivious. Charlotte hesitated, but just as she mustered the courage to change, Luke gently pulled her back. Whispering in her ear, he said, "If you don't feel like getting up yet, then let's stay in bed a bit longer." Charlotte realized Luke was doing this on purpose. They lingered in bed until noon, rising leisurely. Denise had prepared a lavish lunch because Carol would not be coming tomorrow. Charlotte went downstairs with a bright smile on her face. "Sorry for being late. I was quite tired last night and overslept a bit." "It's alright, Mrs. Allen. Tomorrow I won't be coming. But if you need anything, please call me, and I'll be there to help," Carol said. Charlotte felt genuinely reluctant to see her go. Carol's admirable professionalism in child education gave Charlotte no worries. Before Carol's arrival, Lilya sometimes whimsically refused to eat independently, preferring to be fed by others. Now, Lilya obediently used her utensils, and her meals were no longer a messy ordeal. The clear improvements in Lilya were the reasons why Charlotte felt so reluctant to part with Carol. Charlotte expressed her gratitude warmly, "Thank you so much for your help during this time. With my busy work schedule, I've been somewhat negligent in educating the children. Without you, I really wouldn't know what to do." Carol modestly replied, "It's all part of my job. After all, the proper education of the children is what matters most." They enjoyed the meal together, a cheerful atmosphere enveloping them. Charlotte seized this opportunity to seek some parenting advice from Carol. As Carol was about to leave, Charlotte presented her with an expensive bracelet as a token of appreciation. Carol appeared hesitant. "Mrs. Allen, this is too valuable. I can't accept it." But Charlotte, taking advantage of Carol's distraction, quickly slipped the gift into her bag. "Please take it as a token of my gratitude, and as recognition of the excellent work you've done here. I hope your next employer treats you well. You can't refuse this, especially since I still have so much to learn from you." Carol, still looking somewhat conflicted as she was unaccustomed to receiving such valuable gifts, finally acquiesced. "Alright, I'll accept it for now. And if you have time later, I'd like to invite you out for a meal." Charlotte's smile broadened. "I'll definitely take you up on that offer. I'm also very happy to have made a friend like you." "Me too." Charlotte quickly gathered her children and said, "Come say goodbye to Ms. Poernomo. You'll be going to preschool from tomorrow, and she won't be coming over anymore." Lilya, always adept at endearing herself to others, had developed a fond fondness for Carol over their short time together, considering her the next best person after her parents. "Ms. Poernomo, do you really have to go? Will I see you again?" Carol knelt down and embraced Lilya warmly. "Of course! If you miss me, you can always call, and I'll come to visit." "Okay! I'll be good and not make Mommy angry," Lilya promised. "You are already very sensible," Carol remarked. "In my years of experience, it's rare to see children as understanding as you." Charlotte frequently received compliments about her children's sensibility and charm. "Actually, our role is just to assist," Carol said. "Children grow up emulating the adults around them. Mrs. Allen, you've done an excellent job raising them." Charlotte replied with a smile, "Having experienced a hard upbringing myself, I wanted to ensure my children are raised in a loving environment." After exchanging farewells with Charlotte, Carol said, "Well, it's getting late. I should be going. We'll meet again." Goodbye, Ms. Poernomo," Lilya and Andy said, waving as she departed. Observing Andy's quiet demeanor, Charlotte was reminded of what Caelan had said about Luke's once aloof nature. Andy, a child of few words, seemed to have inherited this trait from Luke. "Were you like Andy as a child?" she asked. Luke pondered for a moment, then glanced at the stoic Andy. "Quite similar. As a child, I wasn't very outgoing either. I preferred immersing myself in my own world, tinkering with things others couldn't understand." "That explains it. Ever since he learned to walk and talk, Andy has rarely interacted with other children. When I take them out, Lilya quickly makes friends, while Andy is engrossed in his own observations," Charlotte said. "Then our daughter must take after you." The two children seemed to have inherited the best traits from both parents. "Yes, but as a child, other kids didn't want to play with me. They labeled me as 'the child without a mother'. Though I tried hard to make friends, they never really wanted to play with me," Charlotte said. Luke led them back to the living room and poured a glass of water for Charlotte. "You have me by your side now; no one will bully you again. And remember, it's not about having many friends, but having the right ones. Having Sofia as a confidant is more than enough."