The two of them walked all the way back amid laughter and chatter, then returned to the villa.

Mildred immediately came out to greet them. "Master, Miss Crawford, you’re back?"

Miss Crawford?

Willow Crawford felt her form of address ought to be changed. She shot a look at Morgan Ashworth, meaning: you say it.

But Morgan Ashworth acted like he hadn’t seen anything and didn’t cooperate with Willow.

Willow found that very strange. From the start she’d already suspected Mildred’s identity, and now she was even more suspicious.

She trusted Morgan Ashworth completely, unless he had some special reason.

"Master, let me help you change your shoes." Mildred took out a pair of slippers, then squatted down to help Morgan change shoes.

Willow was displeased. She spoke up, "Young Master Ashworth, the moment you walk in you’ve got someone waiting on you to change your shoes. How come no one’s changing mine? I’m a little unhappy about that. How about letting Miss Mildred change my shoes first?"

Trying to flirt with her husband right in front of her—did this woman think she was dead or what?

Willow felt she’d already been provoked by an external enemy. Could she chicken out?

No, she had to hit back hard and defend her sovereignty.

This man was hers.

Mildred looked wronged. She cast a pitiful look at Morgan Ashworth. "Master, this... how about I change yours first, and then I’ll help Miss Crawford change hers later?"

"No, I want Miss Mildred to help me first." Willow insisted.

At that moment, Morgan Ashworth pushed Mildred aside. He slowly knelt on one knee in front of Willow. "Lift your foot, I’ll help you change your shoes."

He personally waited on her.

Sweetness bloomed in Willow’s heart. Now that was more like it.

Mildred, over there, gaped in shock. The expression wasn’t an act; it was real. She never imagined the dignified Young Master Ashworth would kneel down and change a woman’s shoes.

Morgan Ashworth reached out and wrapped his hand around Willow’s slender ankle. The calloused pads of his fingers pressed against her tender skin, sending tingles through her.

Her little foot was as lustrous as jade, toes pink and plump with a healthy flush. If Mildred weren’t there, Morgan would’ve really wanted to give it a kiss. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Holding back the impulse, Morgan finished putting her slippers on. "Your Highness, Princess, is that alright?"

His voice was gentle as he asked with a smile.

Willow hummed in acknowledgement. "You can get up now."

Morgan rose at her word.

Willow went upstairs.

...

As soon as Morgan Ashworth entered the room, he pulled Willow into his arms. Willow arched a brow and asked, "What, Miss Mildred didn’t follow you in? I bet she was looking at you with teary eyes again, wasn’t she?"

Morgan kissed Willow’s forehead. "So, my dear wife, you’re jealous?"

"As long as you know. Now spill it—who exactly is that Mildred? If you don’t give me a clear explanation, I’m not letting you off tonight." Willow put her hands on her hips, pretending to be fierce.

Morgan said, "She knows the Demon Bell Charm Skill."

What?

"Was she the one who put the demon bell on you five years ago?"

"That was her mother. But her mother is already dead; she’s the only heir."

Then Willow understood. No wonder he kept Mildred at his side.

"So what’s your plan? I’ve been here this whole time; Miss Mildred hasn’t even had a chance to make a move." Willow said with a laugh.

A sly, fox-like glint flashed in her pretty eyes—she clearly had an idea. Morgan chuckled. "What brilliant plan does my dear wife have?"

"Come here."

Morgan leaned in, ear lowered to her.

Willow whispered her plan into his ear.

Morgan frowned. "No."

"It’s a good plan. This time you have to listen to me."

"But..."

"No buts." Willow slipped her arms around Morgan’s neck. "I really want to find the source of that Broken-Heart Grass poison from back then. That way my mommy will have a way to save you. Your body can’t be dragged out any longer—we’re out of time."

Morgan thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Alright."

"That’s my good boy~"

The next second, the world spun, and Morgan had already swept Willow up in a bridal carry. Willow started in surprise. "What are you doing? Put me down, quick."

"My dear wife, today is our wedding day. Did you forget the next step? We still have our wedding night to get to."

Willow’s little face flushed. "You’re awful~"

...

A long time later, Willow was lying bonelessly in Morgan’s arms, not wanting to move at all.

Morgan stroked her soft hair and suddenly said, "Wifey, do you... want to have a baby?"

Have a baby?

That touched on Willow’s taboo. Her uterus had been damaged; she couldn’t get pregnant again.

And right now Morgan’s health was the priority. She simply didn’t have the time to nurse her own body to prepare for pregnancy.

"Wife, I know I shouldn’t bring up having a child, because with my body like this, if it can’t be cured, I won’t be able to stay by your side or our baby’s. But I still really want to have a child with you—to have a baby that belongs to the two of us. A girl like you, a boy like me, either is fine. That would be the continuation of our bloodline, and the proof of our love."

Willow could tell Morgan truly wanted a child. Otherwise, with his personality, there’s no way he would have brought it up at a time like this.

If he had a child, even just one, it would count as leaving an heir.

But she hadn’t had the chance to tell him about her body yet, and she didn’t know how to start.

"I haven’t really thought about having kids yet. Honey, we just got married. I want to enjoy some couple time first, and then focus on treating your illness. We can think about children later." Willow gently turned him down.

The light in Morgan’s eyes dimmed quickly. So she didn’t want to have one.

Morgan’s thin lips curved faintly. "Alright, we’ll talk about kids later. Let’s sleep first."

"Mm." Willow closed her eyes in Morgan’s arms.

Willow soon fell asleep, but Morgan couldn’t sleep at all. He greedily watched her sweet, peaceful face. In truth, he really did want to have a baby with her.

But she was unwilling.

...

Mildred had been trying to find an opportunity to get close to Morgan Ashworth. But either Morgan wasn’t home, or the moment he came back he was glued to Willow, inseparable. She simply had no chance to act.

At dawn, she suddenly heard heated arguing from inside the room. Morgan and Willow were fighting.

They were actually arguing.

Mildred stood by the doorway watching. Inside the room, Willow said willfully, "No way. Today you have to fire that maid Mildred for me. Just seeing her annoys me. Also, you’re not allowed any female secretaries around you. No women at all. Replace them all with men."

Morgan frowned, looking somewhat displeased. "Enough, Willow. I’ve found you’re getting more and more unreasonable lately."

"I’m being unreasonable? Fine, I’m going home right now. I never want to come back again."

Morgan said impatiently, "Fine, go. I won’t come after you. Just never come back."