Chapter 566 Jacob and Serafina's Wedding 3
About five minutes later, Serafina returned from the backyard, wrapped in a light gray wool coat and cradling an armful of vibrant flowers freshly cut from the greenhouse. A servant had already brought over a large vase.
"Home from work?" Serafina's tone carried the gentle politeness of a newlywed wife, though to Jacob's ears, it seemed almost too polite.
He watched as she glided across the room to arrange the flowers, every movement radiating a subtle grace. The quiet poise she carried reminded him, all too vividly, of the night before.
Last night had been their wedding night. He'd had too much to drink, yes, but he hadn't blacked out.
In fact, every detail of their intimacy was etched into his memory with unsettling clarity. For a fleeting moment, he drifted, caught in the vivid recollection.
"Jacob."
Her voice pulled him back to the present.
Serafina stood before him, gentle and composed, a quiet distance of mutual respect lingering between them. He couldn't help but let a small smile play at the corners of his mouth.
"Just got back," he said softly. "When you're done with the flowers, wash your hands and we'll have dinner together."
"Of course," she replied softly.
Their conversation felt routine, stripped of the passion one might expect from newlyweds. Instead, they seemed more like a couple who had spent years together, the spark between them long faded, sharing a life out of habit rather than affection.
Jacob's gaze grew distant as this realization settled over him.
Serafina, with her background in painting and embroidery, had an extraordinary eye for beauty. The floral arrangements she crafted were exquisite, often drawing admiring remarks from the household staff. Delighted by their praise, she would ask them to bring in smaller vases, then thoughtfully arrange individual bouquets for each bedroom in the house.
"Mrs. Windsor, you have such gifted hands," one servant remarked. "Having these by our beds will make for sweeter dreams."
Serafina smiled warmly. "If you enjoy them, I'll make more next time."
The servants beamed with delight.
She selected the two most beautiful arrangements for the master bedroom's sitting area and the bedroom itself, then went downstairs to wash her hands. When she emerged, Jacob was already seated at the dining table.
As Serafina approached, Jacob rose with practiced courtesy to pull out her chair. "Tonight we have the chef's signature escargot. You should try some."
She nodded graciously.
The long black-and-gold dining table groaned beneath the weight of twelve elaborate courses—far more than two people could possibly eat.
Serafina dined with graceful restraint, and as the meal drew to a close, she glanced at Jacob and spoke gently, "Twelve dishes, when we barely finish half, seems so wasteful. Maybe we could serve fewer next time and share the rest with the staff?"
Jacob dabbed his lips with his napkin.
The Windsor family had always maintained a twelve-course standard, and he hardly considered it excessive. However, Serafina was now the lady of the house, and her opinion deserved consideration.
"You're the mistress here now. Handle these domestic matters as you see fit."
Serafina understood the delicate balance—while Jacob was the true master of this estate, she needed his approval for any changes. Though grateful for his respect, she knew she would continue to consult him on such matters.
After dinner, Jacob retreated to his second-floor study while Serafina took a shower and settled onto the sofa with a book. Her damp hair cascaded over her shoulders, her face fresh and makeup-free, the loose nightgown still revealing her graceful figure.
This was the scene that greeted Jacob when he returned to their bedroom later that evening.
He was never cold to her; even after their lovemaking, he showed a gentleman's grace, holding Serafina gently and making sure she could relax comfortably in the bath.
Steam filled the bathroom as Serafina soaked in the warm water, quietly reflecting on their intimate moments. Jacob's tenderness felt almost mechanical in its perfection—like a programmed husband performing his duties flawlessly. Yet Serafina dared not ask for more. In their unequal marriage, demanding too much would be foolish.
She didn't linger long in the bath. There was something she needed to discuss with Jacob, so once her body had relaxed sufficiently, she rose and wrapped herself in a white bathrobe before stepping back into the bedroom.
The overhead lights were off, leaving only a reading lamp by the bed where Jacob sat propped against the headboard, speaking quietly into his phone with Anya about business matters. Seeing Serafina enter, he quickly concluded the call.
Serafina retrieved a tube of ointment and sat on the bed's edge, carefully applying it despite her embarrassment—without it, she wouldn't be able to walk tomorrow.
Her clumsy movements caught Jacob's attention, and after watching for several seconds, he gently took the tube from her hands. "Let me handle this."
Serafina bit her lip, unable to meet his gaze.
After a moment, she spoke softly, her voice carrying the intimate tone of married conversation. "Jacob, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"What is it?"
"I'd like to visit my family tomorrow. Father called this afternoon asking if you'd accompany me." Her request was tentative, almost fearful.
Jacob looked up, his deep eyes studying her carefully.
He already knew Ronan's motives—the man wanted scraps from the Miravania project, hoping to secure some small benefit.
For Jacob, granting this would be effortless while giving Serafina some dignity.
Rather than expose her father's scheming, he chose to show her respect.
He capped the ointment gently and spoke with warmth. "Of course."
A small spark of joy flickered in Serafina's eyes.
Despite her composure and maturity, she was still only twenty-four, and Jacob's kindness meant everything to someone who had grown up in the cold Penrose household.
Overwhelmed with happiness, she impulsively threw her arms around his neck. Though she made no further advances, the gesture was undeniably intimate.
Jacob was, after all, a normal man with normal desires, and Serafina was his beautiful new wife with an enticing figure and delicate features. Such physical contact inevitably stirred his blood.
He reached over and switched off the bedside lamp.
Dawn was breaking when Jacob's phone began ringing persistently. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was the Vesper City branch manager—clearly an emergency. He slipped quietly from bed and took the call in the sitting room.
The situation was dire, requiring his immediate attention. Jacob's expression darkened as he absorbed the details.
After hanging up, he went to the walk-in closet and changed into travel clothes, not even bothering to pack. However, he remembered his promise to accompany Serafina home, so before leaving, he sat on the bed's edge and gently stroked her face.
Serafina stirred awake.
"There's an emergency at the Vesper City branch," Jacob said quietly. "I need to go immediately. I'll take you home another time."
Serafina sat up, her loose bathrobe slipping off one shoulder, revealing the marks from their passionate night. Panic flickered across her features as she reached for him. "Jacob, what's happening there—"
He cupped her face tenderly. "I'll be back tomorrow if things go smoothly."
There was no time for lingering farewells. He left swiftly, unaware that his absence would cost Serafina dearly—that she would return home alone to face her father's disappointment and even endure a slap across the face for failing to capture her husband's heart.
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