บท 171: A Third Wheel

At Lancaster Ancestral Mansion

The autumn weather was perfect—cool and crisp, with a soft breeze and no harsh sunlight. It was the kind of day that made you want to be outside. Taking advantage of it, Rock invited Melanie to join him for a walk in the garden.

At first, Melanie was shy, and hesitant to fully engage. But with Rock and Ben making every effort to make her feel at home, she gradually warmed up to their company.

"Let's sit over there," Rock suggested, pointing toward a nearby table and chairs nestled in the garden's greenery.

"This is a lovely garden," Melanie remarked as she admired the scenery.

"It was my late wife's," Rock replied, his voice softening with nostalgia. "I'm not much for gardening myself, but before she passed, she made me promise to take care of this place. She said it would always remind me of her whenever I missed her. And she was right." He smiled gently, lost in memories of days spent with his wife.