Chapter 16 What More Could I Ask For?
Stella froze for a second.
She hadn’t noticed when Moses came in. He took the poetry book from her hands and returned it to its place on the shelf, a flicker of something complicated passing through his eyes.
She couldn’t read him.
All she felt was that her curiosity might’ve overstepped a boundary.
“Sorry… I shouldn’t have touched your book.”
“It’s alright.”
He had told her to treat this as her own room.
So no-this wasn’t exactly a violation.
Just… poor timing.
Moses’s fingers tensed slightly as he adjusted his sleeves, trying to look casual.
Seeing no signs of anger on his face, Stella relaxed. She stepped closer and asked,
“The bookmark inside-it’s really pretty.”
“Just something I picked up off the street.”
“…Really?”
But that silver ginkgo leaf bookmark had been one of her prized possessions back in high school. It had been a rare prize from a niche event.
How had it ended up with Moses? And how could he say it was just something random?
Still, Stella wasn’t the type to press for answers.
They were married for practical reasons.
Rummaging through his bookshelf already felt a bit too personal.,
No need to dig deeper, Maybe… it really was just a coincidence.
She returned to her seat, planning to distract herself with something else-when she spotted a book on the shelf nearby.
Ceramic Wear Encyclopedia.
“You’re into ceramics too?”
The book was a comprehensive guide to famous porcelain pieces-those housed in museums and many
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rare folk artifacts passed down through generatic
Stella loved that book.
After her mother passed, there was no one left to talk to her about old ceramics. The words in that book had become a source of quiet comfort.
Moses followed her gaze.
“Fragile as they are, ceramics carry civilization and history. Every intricate design tells a story of its time. It’s hard not to appreciate them.”
“That’s exactly why these pieces have stood the test of time… Wait-you like this blue-and-white porcelain too? I always flipped to this page. Once, I even traveled across provinces just to see it in a museum.”
The moment she started talking about ceramics-
Stella visibly relaxed. Her fingertips brushed over the slightly curled page.
Who knew how many times Moses had read it?
As she flipped through the book, it felt like she was flipping through a page of Moses’s unknown past.
No one would ever guess that cold, distant Moses loved ceramics-
Or that he knew so much about them.
Moses moved closer, stepping behind her. The space by the cabinet was narrow, so when he leaned in to turn the pages, his long arms nearly wrapped around her.
“And this one-I saw it in a museum once and was in awe of the craftsmanship.”
“These skills are almost extinct now. But I heard there’s a master abroad trying to bring them back…”
Stella followed along, talking easily.
Unaware of just how close they stood.
Unaware that while she was looking at porcelain-
Moses was looking at her.
Sunlight streamed in through the window.
Their shadows, overlapped on the floor, looked like they were holding each other.
Behind the door, a pair of eyes watched them, quite satisfied.
Homer Landon stroked his chin.
“Moses is finally figuring things out.”
“Sir, if you keep eavesdropping, Mr. Moses won’t be pleased,” his assistant said, helpless.
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When the door creaked open.
Moses stood there, face cold.
“Grandpa. Something you needed?”
His eyes were sharp with displeasure.
Peaceful moments never lasted long. Someone always had to interrupt.
Even if that someone was his most beloved grandfather.
Homer could see it instantly and chuckled, whispering low enough that only Moses could hear.
“You’ve got all the time in the world to spend with Stella. What’s a few minutes for your poor old grandpa?”
Moses went quiet, but his expression finally softened.
Stella had seen Homer’s lips move, but hadn’t caught what he said. She looked puzzled.
“Grandpa?”
“Stella, it’s too noisy downstairs. It’s giving me a headache. Come take a walk with me in the back garden.”
Homer was head of the Landon family. If he wanted peace, who would dare make noise?
He just wanted some time to chat alone.
Stella smiled and walked over.
“Sure. I was curious about the garden anyway.”
“Wonderful, wonderful.”
Homer was clearly pleased with her.
Moses watched the two of them go, a touch of helplessness in his eyes. Liam asked at just the right
moment,
“Should I follow, sir?”
“Grandpa’s with her. No one in the front hall would dare make trouble.”
Moses waved him off and stepped outside.
From the second-floor balcony, he looked down at the relatives gathered in the lobby. Everyone was exchanging pleasantries-
But all their eyes kept sneaking glances at him.
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The Landon family wasn’t much different from a den of wolves.
They just wore human masks.
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