"Sir, here’s the medicine brewed for you. You’ve caught a cold recently, so drink it while it’s hot," Butler Thorne said. Shortly, Jude Crawford’s voice came from inside, "I know." Outside the door, Serena had already placed her hand on the doorknob, intending to push the door open and enter. But upon hearing this, her heart quickly settled; it turned out he had caught a cold. She initially thought there was something wrong with his health. Serena turned and left. In the study, Butler Thorne listened to the gradually fading footsteps outside, "Sir, the young madam has left." Jude Crawford nodded. Earlier in the corridor, he had already sensed Serena had noticed something was amiss, so he had called for Butler Thorne to stage a little act for her. No matter how wise and unmatched Serena was, in front of his deep and seasoned self, she could only appear naive. "Sir, do you really not plan to tell the young master and young madam about your illness?" "No need." Fresh chapters posted on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝙣𝙚𝙩 The family had dinner together one last time. Hayden Crawford was preparing to leave with Serena and little Pip. "Grandpa, Grandma, we’re leaving," little Pip waved her small hand. Jude Crawford and Isabelle Willow stood together, "Go on, have a safe trip." Hayden and Serena each held one of little Pip’s hands, turning away and walking into the distance. As he watched the family of three’s departing silhouettes, Jude Crawford knew in his heart this was the final farewell. He stepped forward and softly called out, "Hayden, Serena." Hearing the call, Hayden and Serena stopped and turned to look at Jude Crawford. "Mr. Crawford, do you have more to say to us?" Serena’s bright almond eyes looked over. In Jude Crawford’s sharp, handsome eyes was a soft expression. He curled his thin lips, "Serena, are you still calling me Mr. Crawford now?" Serena’s red lips curled sweetly as she corrected herself, "Dad! Mom!" Isabelle Willow laughed. Satisfied, Jude Crawford nodded. He slowly extended his hands, grasping both Hayden’s and Serena’s hands, placing them together in an overlapping manner, "Hayden, Serena, from now on, you two take good care of this Crawford family. It’s yours now." Hayden nodded, "Dad, I understand." Hayden took Serena and little Pip into the car, and the luxury car sped off. Through the rearview mirror, Serena glanced back. Far away, Jude Crawford still stood there, watching their car drive away. The light elongated his shadow, imbuing it with an inexplicable sense of loneliness. Though his lifelong love stood by his side, why did he still harbor such sadness during this time of supposed happiness? At this moment, Serena didn’t know that tonight’s brief warmth would be forever etched in her memory. Every time she recalled Jude Crawford, an emperor of the business world, she couldn’t remember how dazzling his life was. What she remembered was only his life’s loneliness, and the stationary figure sending them off... her father’s back, filled with deep and unspoken paternal love. At this point, tears would always stream down her face. After Hayden, Serena, and little Pip left, Isabelle Willow entered the kitchen to clean up the dishes. At this moment, the maid saw a tall and straight figure at the doorway. Jude Crawford had arrived. The maid was surprised because they had never seen the master enter the kitchen before. Someone like Jude Crawford, a Crown Prince of a wealthy family, typically abstained from such domestic chores. The maid wanted to speak, but Jude Crawford raised a hand, directly signaling her to leave. The maid quickly and respectfully retreated. Jude Crawford drew near with long strides, moving close to Isabelle Willow’s back and pressed up against her. Isabelle Willow’s hand paused, holding a pair of chopsticks, as she felt a tall and strong man’s body pressing up from behind. "Where are you going?" Jude Crawford extended a strong arm, wrapping around her soft waist, embracing her from behind into his arms. Isabelle Willow’s face turned crimson; she twisted, trying to break free from him, "Don’t do this, this is the kitchen, someone might see." "I sent them all away," Jude Crawford kissed her silky hair. In the middle of the day, acting so affectionately, disregarding others’ views, truly... thick-skinned. "Let go of me and go wash the dishes," Isabelle Willow teased with a smile, commanding him. Jude Crawford raised an eyebrow. Regarding washing dishes, he truly was a novice, having never done it and unsure whether he could do it well. Jude Crawford actually let her go, then rolled up his sleeves and began to wash the dishes. Isabelle Willow was stunned, having said it as a joke, never expecting him to actually wash them. These hands, meant for signing documents, were now humbly washing dishes. "Jude Crawford, what’s wrong with you? I feel like you’re acting strange?" Isabelle Willow looked at him suspiciously. Jude Crawford finished washing a dish surprisingly clean, "Mrs. Crawford, I washed this dish so well. Do you have any reward for me?" As he spoke, Jude Crawford leaned over, aiming to kiss her. Isabelle Willow immediately popped a small grape tomato into his mouth, "Is it sweet?" Jude Crawford tasted it, "Not as sweet as you." She had been outsmarted by him. Isabelle Willow deliberately put on a stern face, "I’m ignoring you!" She turned and started to walk away. But after taking two steps, Jude Crawford wrapped his arms around her from behind, easily lifted her, and spun her around. Her navy cheongsam flared into a beautiful arc in the air, her heart tightened, frightening her, "Ah! Jude Crawford, what are you doing?" Isabelle Willow blushed; youthful couples loved spinning around, but at their age! The two of them goofed around in the kitchen for a long time. In the deep night, Jude Crawford slept and had a long, long dream. He dreamt of the past again, Isabelle Willow leaping off Jill’s room high platform, and for the long twenty years afterward, he had been searching, waiting for her. Jude Crawford suddenly opened his eyes, awakening from the dream, drenched in cold sweat. Reaching out to feel beside him, he wanted to hold Isabelle Willow, but his hand quickly froze as it touched emptiness. Isabelle Willow was gone. Jude Crawford sat up abruptly, his eyes filled with confusion, unable to distinguish whether this was a dream or reality. Isabelle Willow was gone again. The happiness he had longed for was so close, yet it shattered like a bubble. In this lifetime, he suffered the loss of his love. The barren part of his heart grew larger, suddenly becoming unbearable, prompting him to throw off the covers and get out of bed. With a clatter, he accidentally knocked over a glass. Not wearing shoes, he stepped barefoot, and countless shards of glass pierced into the soles of his feet, embedding deeper with each step. "Yara!" he called out. "Yara, where are you..."