Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire
Chapter 327: Any Plan to Return in Winter Break

Chapter 327: Any Plan to Return in Winter Break

After breakfast, Lariette and Ruediger settled onto the couch, their plates cleared. The scent of cinnamon and maple butter still warm, lingering in the air.

Both of them had another serving of the French toast. Ruediger separated the ones he wanted to give to the Campbells in a paper box.

Through the windows, they saw the bare branches swaying gently in the breeze and the dried fallen leaves scattering across the yard. The late autumn sunlight cast a pale, golden glow through the sheer curtains.

Lariette and Ruediger sipped their hot black tea, neither spoke of the night before after the brief talk earlier. The clock continued ticking, shifting the hour to ten-fifteen in the morning.

Humming, Lariette tilted her chin, staring at Ruediger’s side profile. As he noticed her gaze, he turned toward her, his eyes gentle and flickering with warm affection.

Then, he leaned in, kissing her face. She chuckled before returning the same gesture. Once again they shared soft laughter.

"Eddy, I wonder, should we just fly home?" Lariette began, voicing what came into her mind just now, "We can get someone to deliver your truck to the city. Well, only if you’re fine with it."

Ruediger raised his brows, never expecting Lariette to mention that. They were supposed to drive back to Avaloria City before noon, but none of them had gotten ready for another one of the long journeys.

Seeing that Ruediger looked slightly confused, Lariette sheepishly added, "The drive can be quite exhausting for you, isn’t it? You didn’t get to rest well last night too."

Both of them went to bed late, almost midnight. Then, he was awakened by the nightmare. Even though he drifted back to sleep, she still saw the traces of exhaustion on his face.

Finally understanding that Lariette suggested it out of concern for him, Ruediger sensed more warmth washed over his heart. Without him realizing it, his lips curved into a beautiful, soft arc.

"Sounds great," Ruediger nodded, agreeing with Lariette, "Yeah, let’s do that. I’ll leave my truck with Uncle Paul and have someone come to get it. We shall return by flight today. We gonna arrive earlier, so that’s a plus point."

Beaming, Lariette happily said, "Then, I’ll book our tickets. Maybe sometime in the afternoon. How about at three? I think we can still get the tickets."

"It’s okay. Let me do that," Ruediger quickly added before Lariette could protest, "Or I won’t agree."

Lariette huffed, then laughed, "Alright, alright~ Up to you."

Ruediger chuckled. Pulling Lariette closer to him, he breathed, "Then let’s cuddle longer."

"Okay, Mr. Cuddly Bear~"

She might think he agreed because he thought it would be exhausting to go on a long drive after a night of lacking sleep. The reason was far from it.

He simply wanted to return home sooner with her. Her work resumed tomorrow. The faster they arrived back to the city, the longer she could rest before another week began.

Later, Ruediger booked two tickets scheduled at three in the afternoon. Because neither he nor Lariette brought much for this trip, they didn’t need to check in their bags.

"The airport is around forty-five minutes thanks to the new expressway," Lariette told Ruediger after he informed her about the flight, "Uncle Paul and Aunt Mel insist on sending us there."

When Ruediger made the booking, Lariette went to send the rest of the casserole dish to the Campbells. She talked to Melissa and Paul about the change in their return plan.

Then...

"Let us send you and Eddy there. It’s better than calling a cab. When should we leave for the airport? When’s your boarding time?"

Under the Campbells’ insistence, Lariette agreed and thanked the pair. She said she would message them after learning the booked time from Ruediger.

"We can leave around one to one-thirty since we don’t have any checked luggage," Ruediger decided, "We can relax a bit before getting ready."

"I’ll tell Aunt Mel then."

That noon, Lariette and Ruediger spent some time visiting Mrs. Evans’ grave. They wouldn’t return until much later, thus they couldn’t afford to miss this last visit.

At half-past one, Ruediger drove his truck to the Campbell’s home with Lariette by his side. The sky was pale with streaks of soft white clouds. The earthy scent of fallen leaves lingered in the crisp autumn air.

"Thank you, Uncle Paul, Aunt Mel," Ruediger smiled gratefully at the Campbells once they met outside the yard, "Our request is too sudden. Someone will be here to get my truck."

"It’s nothing. We’re just lending you our garage for a bit," Paul laughed, patting Ruediger’s back as he looked from the young man to Lariette, "Got everything you need? We should depart now."

Lariette nodded, adjusting the strap of her sling bag, "Yes. We’re ready to go!"

Lariette and Ruediger sat in the back seat as Paul pulled his car away, tires crunching over gravel. They rolled past the fields, patched with golden stubble and low stone walls.

"Will you two return this winter break?" Melissa who sat beside Paul glanced behind her shoulder, her smile lacing with hope, "Tell us if you do. We’ll plan something special for the holidays."

Lariette and Ruediger exchanged glances, then they chuckled. Looking at Melissa, the former said, "That sounds so tempting, Aunt Mel, so why not? We’ll tell you when we decide when."

Melissa’s smile deepened while Paul whistled joyfully. Both of them anticipated Lariette and Ruediger’s future visit in winter. The northern countryside would turn into a winter wonderland.

Throwing her gaze out of the window, Lariette saw a flock of sheep huddled near hedgerows. She commented, "Seems like the season’s folding up early this year."

"Maybe you feel that way because you’re leaving," Melissa chimed, teasing Lariette, "But you’re right. We predict winter will arrive earlier."

Ruediger said nothing, but his smile mirroring the calm in his heart, no longer stormy. He quietly took in the scenic view of the northern countryside in late autumn before the car eventually reached the city nearby.

By two in the afternoon, they arrived at the airport. The terminal was bustling with travelers, the announcements echoing overhead.

"Come back again, Lettie, Eddy," Melissa hugged both Lariette and Ruediger, a warm smile drawing on her lips, "We love having you both here."

"Keep us updated if there’s anything," Paul took his turn next, patting both Lariette and Ruediger’s backs, "Stay healthy, okay?"

"Thank you, Aunt Mel and Uncle Paul," Lariette giggled, her heart warmed by their sincere care, "I’ll text you once we’re back in the city."

"Thank you for sending us here, and the delicious food," Ruediger smiled, "Be safe on the road."

Then, the pair turned around, leaving with their backpacks while waving to the Campbells. Because Ruediger booked business class tickets despite the short flight, they went through the check-in and security in minutes.

Squeezing Lariette’s hand, Ruediger said, his voice low, "Lettie, I enjoyed our second trip here."

Lariette blinked, then chuckled. Tilting her chin up, she beamed, "Let’s make our third, fourth and so on trips in the future, okay?"

"Absolutely."

He might not have been born in the northern countryside, but somehow, it felt as if he was back in his hometown.