Love Rents A Room
Chapter 163: She Always Surprised Him

Chapter 163: She Always Surprised Him

"The car’s here... Shall we leave?" Jeffrey peeked into the room, his voice soft but full of quiet excitement.

Joanne turned toward him, a gentle smile lifting her lips. "Yeah," she said, brushing a hand over her dress as she walked to him.

She was ready—at least that’s what she kept telling herself. A new Chapter awaited her, and though not all her battles were over, there was comfort in knowing she didn’t have to fight them alone anymore. For the next few days, she could breathe. No chores calling her at dawn, no orders to check, no worries weighing down her chest. Just peace.

That was the promise.

Still... the farm girl in her already missed her responsibilities. The rhythm of her life—the routines, the animals, the quiet mornings—had become so ingrained in her that breaking free from it felt like leaving a piece of herself behind.

Jeffrey must’ve sensed it. He squeezed her hand. "Everything will be fine. The world won’t stop without you here," he said—again. Probably for the hundredth time.

She smiled at him and nodded, then stepped into the car that Philip had sent. As if lending them a private jet wasn’t extravagant enough, he’d also arranged a sleek, black luxury car to pick them up. It felt surreal.

As they walked across the tarmac, her heels tapping softly on the ground, Jeffrey couldn’t stop watching her. She adjusted her sunglasses with elegance, her steps calm, shoulders relaxed—but there was a subtle confidence to her now that hadn’t been there before.

To him, she was breathtaking. There were more glamorous women in the world, no doubt. But Joanne’s beauty wasn’t the loud kind—it was quiet, dignified, wrapped in kindness and humility. He’d seen the way she spoke to the hostess, warm and gracious even after the woman accidentally stepped on her foot. She didn’t flinch or raise her voice.

Jeffrey had seen people gain power and lose manners. But Joanne—she remained grounded.

She was... classy.

Watching her in this new environment, so far from her farm, only confirmed what he had started to realize long ago. His grandfather had seen something in her—something rare. She wasn’t just suitable. She was right for him.

If they had married back when they were supposed to, without knowing each other... he still would’ve fallen in love with her. Eventually, he would’ve come to see what his grandfather saw from the start. But now, they were doing it their way. The way. Love first, then marriage.

Joanne, for her part, had expected a hotel. That’s what she thought Philip meant when he said their accommodations were arranged. But as they arrived at the estate nestled in the English countryside, she froze.

It wasn’t a hotel.

It was a mansion.

No—scratch that. It was a literal aristocratic estate. The kind she’d only seen in movies like Pride and Prejudice. There was a sprawling driveway, a grand fountain bubbling in the center like something out of a period film, towering windows with ivy creeping up the stone walls, and ornate wrought-iron railings framing wide terraces. Inside, the furnishings looked like they belonged in a museum—antique paintings, gold-leaf frames, rich drapes, grand staircases that curved like something out of a royal dream.

Joanne stood there, her mouth slightly parted, taking it all in.

Wow... she thought. So this is how the other half lives.

She felt like a character who’d stepped out of her paperback life and into a dream.

And yet, beside her, Jeffrey laced his fingers with hers.

Suddenly, the grandeur didn’t feel intimidating. It felt warm. It felt like adventure.

"The game is day after tomorrow. We have this whole place to ourselves," Joanne said, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she turned and winked at Jeffrey.

Jeffrey let out a quiet chuckle. Behind her, he subtly motioned to the butler, who had been preparing to address him in the usual way—young master. With a small shake of his head, Jeffrey leaned in and whispered, "Just call me Jeffrey."

The butler blinked, caught off guard. He’d been told the young miss knew the identity of the heir already. Was this some kind of secret game between them? Whatever it was, it wasn’t his place to ask questions. He simply nodded and left the room.

After a quick shower, Joanne emerged with damp hair curling at her shoulders and a fresh glow on her skin. There was a spark in her eyes that made Jeffrey’s breath catch. She radiated excitement—like a child discovering a new world and a woman embracing something just out of reach.

Without another word, he reached for her, pulling her into his arms. Their lips met, and in the quiet luxury of the estate, the kiss deepened, growing with the hunger of days missed. They had the whole mansion to themselves—aside from the quiet presence of the staff, who knew how to vanish when needed.

He guided her to the bed, his movements gentle but charged with longing.

He had expected the travel would wear her out, especially with how tired she often got. But Joanne... she was radiant. Energized. Curious. She always found a way to surprise him.

"Jeffrey!" she said, breaking the kiss with a laugh, "I want to look around the mansion. Steal some ideas for our new house."

Her eyes danced with ambition. She may not have come from a line of nobles, but that didn’t matter. She could be the one to start a legacy—to build a home that her children would one day inherit, a place etched with warmth, memories, and dreams.

But Jeffrey... was in no mood to let her leave the bed just yet.

"Jo..." he murmured, holding her closer, "it’s been a while... I missed you."

That one look in his eyes undid her completely. Her protest dissolved before it could form. She leaned in, surrendering to his embrace, and he made love to her with all the quiet intensity he carried in his heart.

Over and over, he reminded her how much he adored her—until the only sounds left in the room were the soft rustle of sheets and their whispered names.

Later, she lay tangled in the silk sheets, her head resting on his chest. He traced slow, tender circles on her bare back, and for a moment, all felt perfect.

But as she studied the ornate carvings above her, the tall windows, the weight of history wrapped in luxury—doubt crept into her heart.

Jeffrey looked so natural here, like this place was made for him. But her... was she out of place?

He noticed the shift in her breath before she could voice the thought. Lifting her chin, he kissed her deeply—as if to swallow every ounce of doubt trying to take root in her heart.

And just like that, the question faded.

Like the last blush of daylight slipping behind the horizon, her fears disappeared into the warmth of his arms.