Arwen halted. Old room, she repeated.And Mr. Jones nodded, Yes, Madam, he said. An old room. This room is the one that Master used as his study before when he was young. It holds some of his old things that we didn’t feel right to throw away.She paused at that. Her gaze darted again to look around the room. She has guessed it right. So, this was his room? she mumbled the question to herself as a soft smile crept up her lips.Suddenly she remembered the frame in her hands and she pulled it up. So, you mean this frame is also a part of his childhood? she asked.But before Mr. Jones could say anything, or stop her, she already flipped it to look at it. Her smile froze and her eyes stilled at the image of the two figures standing together. This … she tried to ask but then realized something and phrased it just to confirm. Is this his mother?Although there was no resemblance between Aiden and the woman, Arwen could not help but think of her as his mother because as far as she has known Aiden hadn’t been close to any woman other than his mother. And if he left this photo frame in his childhood memories then it only meant that the lady was very important to him.Mr. Jones paused for a few moments but then replied. She is the late lady, young master’s birth mother.Arwen’s gaze never left the lady’s face. She looked so beautiful, so elegant, yet so familiar. She felt like she had met her somewhere. But then no matter how she tried she couldn’t bring herself to remember meeting her anywhere.How could she have met her?She didn’t know Aiden before. And when she didn’t even know him, how could she have known his mother?She is beautiful, she said, before looking up at the butler. Aiden seems to be very close to his mother, then why had he left her picture here?The butler understood what Arwen meant. Smiling softly, he said, Master had a difficult time moving on after the lady left her with the family. He was too young at that time and even resented her for sending him back to the family. And in her young rage, he decided to abandon her the same as she did him. He never carried her picture, neither did he care to visit her cemetery.But even so, he never forgotten her. He still respects and loves her the same. Although he didn’t carry her picture anywhere, she always there in his thoughts, Mr, Jones said and Arwen understood what he meant.Smiling, she nodded. One thing that I understood about you Master is that it is quite stubborn.Mr. Jones didn’t understand at first. And when Arwen saw the confusion on his face, she added, What I mean is that once he decides to take something as his, he won’t let go no matter how mad he gets. And that’s something that makes him cute, doesn’t it?She asked looking back at the picture. It was adorable. Aiden seemed to have gotten angry at his mother for leaving him, yet even in his anger he never let go of her. He kept her in his heart … always. Regardless of how abandoned he felt.This picture seemed to have blurred over the years, Mr. Jones, Arwen said again as her hands moved over the young boy’s face which wasn’t very clear because of the blurriness. She could make his face but not very clearly.Looking up at the butler, she asked Can you ask someone to fix it?Mr. Jones hesitated. Madam, Young Master wouldn’t like it and—Mr. Jones, believe me, Aiden wouldn’t say anything, Arwen said confidently. Instead he will like it if we fix this. The young Aiden might have thrown a fit in anger, but the mature Aiden now would understand what his mother did back then. He won’t blame her for making sure that he lived well after she is gone.Mr. Jones nodded and took the photo frame in his hand. I will ask someone to get it done.Thank you, Mr. Jones, she said. She was about to turn back towards the desk when the butler stopped her in the hurry.Madam!Arwen turned to look back at him and slight furrow on her brows. What happened, Mr. Jones? she asked.And the butler’s gaze moved to look towards the drawer once, but it darted back to Arwen before she could notice. It’s already time for lunch, Madam. If you say, I will ask someone to get it served for you.Arwen paused and looked at his face. Although she had missed his gaze that darted behind her, she didn’t miss the worry written clear on his face. I don’t think I will have the lunch this early, Mr. Jones. How about we take some time there? Furthermore, she briefly looked around the room and added, I have yet to fully explore this room. So, I will take some time here.With that, she turned to look back at the desk.Mr. Jones wanted to stop her, but he couldn’t find any valid reason there.Arwen didn’t mind his presence behind her. She knew that he was trying to hide something from her. But the more he was trying to hide it, the more she wanted to know about it.Was it something related to Aiden’s past? His life?Her gaze scanned again the desk. But except for the books, there wasn’t anything that seemed to be there. Her gaze darted back to the drawer. But she had checked them earlier. They all were empty.Not finding anything there that could explain Mr. Jones’s hesitance, she almost believed she was overthinking it. But right then she caught a glimpse of something from the corner of her eyes and she remembered the drawer that she had opened earlier didn’t only have one photo frame. There was also something else in there.
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