Chapter 372
Unquestionably, this was the answer.
Thalassa maneuvered two chairs together to serve as her bed.
The chairs were of mahogany, devoid of any cushioning.
Sleeping on such a hard surface was frigid and uncomfortable.
But she had no choice. She couldn’t sleep on the floor.
Even though it was spring, the nights were still chilly.
Thalassa lay on the icy wooden surface without a blanket to cover herself.
She was so cold that goosebumps rose on her skin. Wave after wave of cold permeated her, chilling her to the bone.
Unable to sleep, she got up and rubbed her arms as she paced about, generating heat through friction to warm herself.
At first, this helped a bit, but as the night wore on, she grew colder, more tired, and hungrier.
With a grumbling stomach and her energy spent, she didn’t have the strength to continue.
She sat on the chair, leaning against the backrest. She remained still to conserve as much heat as possible.
She endured the night in this manner.
As dawn broke, the sun’s rays bathed everything in a cool and radiant light.
Thalassa, having spent the entire night freezing and starving, was weak and lethargic.
The morning light entered her eyes as she opened them.
She squinted, unused to the brightness, and opened her eyes again.
It took her a couple of tries to adjust to the light.
Daybreak had arrived.
She had not slept a wink the entire night.
Her spirit was low, and her mind was extremely fatigued.
But even amidst the harsh cold and hunger, she couldn’t sleep.
With the dawn, she decided to get up. She opened the door of the cottage and stepped out.
The morning air was chilly, causing her to wrap her arms around herself for warmth.
The previous night had been too dark to make out the layout of the backyard.
Now, with the daylight, she could see clearly.
She looked around to find that the backyard was enclosed by a high, smooth wall. Climbing over the wall would require a ladder, and the wall was topped with sharp spikes.
Clearly, it was designed to prevent anyone from climbing over it, either in or out.
Escaping by scaling the wall seemed impossible.
Lowering her gaze, she saw the well-maintained garden with its orderly arrangement of flowers and trees.
The garden was beautiful, the tulips in full bloom. Their vibrant colors and fragrant scent filled the air with the morning mist, creating a sweet and lingering aroma.
The backyard was indeed beautiful, as the butler, Fitch, had previously suggested she would find it.
But in her current state, she had no inclination to appreciate the beauty around her.
She walked to the back gate and pulled on it, but it was securely locked.
She raised her hand and knocked.
At first, no one answered, but she persisted.
Presumably, her knocking had become too annoying, and the door finally opened. Fitch stood in the doorway, politely saying, “Ms. Everhart, you cannot enter.”
Thalassa frowned, “Where is Lysander?”
“Mr. Sinclair is still sleeping,” Fitch replied.
“Has he woken up? I need to talk to him,” Thalassa said.
“At this hour, he is usually still asleep,” Fitch informed her.
Thalassa attempted to bypass Fitch and enter, intending to negotiate terms with Lysander and find a way to leave.
As soon as she moved, Fitch blocked her path, saying apologetically, “Ms. Everhart, Mr. Sinclair is not a morning person. If you wake him up now, it will not end
well.”
Thalassa found herself stuck in the backyard, unable to enter.
And Lysander was still asleep.
She wasn’t foolish enough to provoke him while he was still in bed.
But she needed to understand Lysander’s intentions. What did he want?
Due to the sleepless night and a day without food or drink, her lips were turning a dark shade, and her face was pale.
She was feeling restless and anxious.
With a cold expression, she asked, “Has Lysander told you anything? When can I leave?”