Chapter 901

Because of the hard conditions in the disaster zone, it was a blessing to have a full belly.

For Sheryn to even cook some stew in the middle of the night was, to Charlotte, a waste of resources and a despicable act.

Sheryn looked morosely at her with eyes tinged red. “All right, then.”

Her tone was filled with disappointment. With her head bowed, she prepared to leave.

Suddenly, a violent coughing sound sounded behind her.

Sheryn spun around and saw Joseph awakened by a coughing fit. Charlotte hurried over, helped him sit up, and patted his back.

“What happened, Joseph? Are you unwell?”

“My head hurts,” he croaked as he massaged his brow. His husky voice, accompanied by the pattering of rain on the tent in the night, sounded rather charming.

Sheryn’s heart skipped a beat when she heard that. Her mind was again cast back to when the boulder came tumbling down. His lovely, soothing voice had sounded in her ear when he shielded her, which had made her feel so safe.

Unable to stop herself, Sheryn walked up to Joseph and Charlotte. “M-Mr. Field, I made you some stew. Thank you for saving my life. Have it while it’s hot.”

Joseph gazed up at the pretty girl before him. She looked to be around eighteen and was a beauty to behold, but he did not remember her.

“I saved your life? I’m sorry, but I don’t remember,” Joseph said with a bland expression. “Thank you for the gesture, but you can have it.”

Charlotte smiled at those words, her cheeks flushing pink. She blushed even harder at the recollection of the passionate kiss they had shared when the man was asleep.

The masculine scent that was uniquely his, in particular, wafted to her nose, causing her heart to race uncontrollably.

Upon noticing Sheryn’s increasingly tender gaze, she said with a smile, “Joseph needs rest. You should go.”

Gritting her teeth, Sheryn turned to depart aggrievedly.

What is she smiling at? Mr. Field must not dare accept the stew I made for him because of her.

Unaware of Sheryn’s vehement thoughts, Charlotte courteously escorted her to the entrance of the tent. “It’s late. You should get some sleep.”

“You too,” Sheryn said, trying to suppress her resentment. Holding her bowl of stew, she walked away.

She must not be happy about me being around my savior, so she said those disparaging things about me.

Sheryn felt more aggrieved the more she thought about it. Trying hard to ignore the throbbing ache in her heart, she returned to her tent.

The crowd in her tent and their mingled odor did not help matters. She grew even more frustrated.

As she could not bear to throw her stew away, she finished it herself.

Just as she swallowed her last spoonful, she heard the voices of several women.

“I heard that our town has suffered the most out of the entire city. Mr. Field plans to select several outstanding children to return to the city with him.”

“Life will be better in the city. There are good schools and houses there. I heard children in schools there eat better than the richest in our town.”

“If my child is selected, I will surrender myself to the Lord.”

Sheryn was lying on her mat. An idea occurred to her as she listened to the women’s conversation.

How nice would it be if I could live with him? I don’t care who Charlotte is. She won’t be as good as me by then. I heard that Charlotte isn’t even a member of the Field family but only an adopted goddaughter. How dare she pretend to be an heiress when she’s not?

At the thought of Charlotte’s fair skin, slender frame, and supple hands, Sheryn tossed and turned resentfully. Being the prettiest girl in the village, she refused to believe herself inferior to Charlotte.

I will put on makeup and dress better in the city, and I’ll be a beauty then.