After what felt like days, Adrien went at the mansion excited , unlike the past two weeks.

He smelt something good, so he hastily went to the room, freshened up and changed in a T shirt and sweatpants.

He literally ran to the dinning room.

Emerson was plating food. He went towards her cooly like he wasn't just running to eat her food and see her.

"Hi" He greeted.

He noticed her already tense posture tensed more but didn't relax back.

She turned towards him and greeted back politely.

Something is off.

But she was fine in the office.

"Food is ready. Let's sit " She gestured him to sit and he obeyed her with a nod.

There was 2 types of lasagna, crispy takos and muffins to eat. And slightly spiced buttermilk and water.

"Are the lasagnas different types? " He asked.

"Yeah. The one on left is chicken and right one is veg. "

Trying to keep the conversation going he asked her again.

"Why two types?"

"I don't eat flesh. You have both options but only veg one is for me"

"Oh you didn't have to double your efforts. Veg was ok with me. "

Emerson just shrugged.

He noticed Emerson join hands and mumble something. Probably saying grace. He was impressed.

After eating in silence for some time, he reached for buttermilk but Em stopped him.

"Don't , you are eating chicken. The combination can harm your health. Let me pass you the cocktails."

She has too much knowledge.

"Oh.ok."

The rest of the dinner went silently.

When Adrien finished, Emerson was about to pick his plates but he stopped her and did it on his own.

He noticed she never took anyone's help in any matter, well mostly.

When she was done cleaning the table and doing dishes, he leaned on the kitchen island beside her and started a conversation.

"You are really good cook. "

"Hmm"

He knew at the moment something was definitely wrong. She was always polite no matter what.

Or she was just acting and now I noticed her she is being a bitch.

He was about to say something but her phone rang in her sweatpants' pocket. She dried her hands and received it.

Why she always getting call at odd times. It's 9 pm now.

Adrien was annoyed now. His previous excitement to come back was now totally thrown out of the window.

He was about to go back but he noticed the tiredness in her voice and stopped in the same place.

"Hello Grandma Rose. "

....

"I am fine just tired. "

....

"No, I am fine just really tired. "

....

"Yes. Did you eat your dinner? And took your calcium tablets? "

....

"Good.You should be careful now. You aren't young now. "

....

Adrien noticed her face went pale and she gulped loudly.

Is everything ok?

She then laughed nervously and continued,

"No Grandma. How can I say that my favorite Granny is old. I am just saying that you are not young. "

....

"No Grandma. You still look like when you were in your college pics except for your grey hair. I just wanted to say that even if you look young your bones are overworked by all your activities. I didn't mean to offend you grandma. *sigh* Just take care . I don't want to loose you. You still have to wait to see my kids marry? " She whispered the last second line but joked the last one.

Adrien could hear the sadness and exhaustion in her voice. But he still imagined the last part.

Watching our kids marry.

Not the time Adrien.

When she hanged up, Adrien opened his mouth,

"You should rest now. You look tired."

She nodded and left the kitchen.

When she was gone, Adrien went to his study after a few minutes. But his mind kept drifting to Emerson. He tried to shake her out and went to gaze out of his window but a saw a figure sitting on garden bench.

Emerson

Her one limb was stretched and one folded underneath another. She had a bottle in her one of her hands on her lap.

She was sipping it leisurely.

Is she drinking?

He went to garden and quietly stood in shadows.

"It's creepy. You should really stop."

Her voice came but hoarse.

He sat down next to her.

"Drinking on a school night? "

He joked but Emerson didn't find it funny.

She was just staring at a distance.

"You ok? "

"Careful Mr Stone. I might misinterpret that you care . " She taunted but her tone was still polite. Her voice barely above a whisper.

I probably do.

He refrained himself from saying it loud.

"Are you really though? "

He pressed again.

"Why won't I be? "

"Won't you ask me the same question if I was staring at a distance and drinking beer? "

"I won't. "

"Why? "

"You could be enjoying the view and chilled beer. Plus you told me not to. " She mumbled the last part and her hoarse voice made Adrien don't understand it.

"With a long face? "

She turned to him and gave him a smile. She picked up the pack of beers of which 2 we're already empty, 3 rd in her hand was halfway. She took on and gave it to him.

He accepted it and took slow slips, knowing Emerson would be drunk soon and he needed to be sober for it.

The silence between them wasn't awkward, but it wasn't comfortable too. It was like they didn't even know someone is sitting next to them.

After some time Emerson turned to him and he noticed she chugged down 5 bottles of beer in less than an hour.

"Let's get back to the room. "

She whispered.

He nodded and got up. He thought Emerson would stumble and need help but she was perfectly fine.

How can she still be sober?

They strutted to their room. He washed his face and decided to lay down. He was still wondering how is Em looking like she didn't look even a bit drunk?

He decided to ask her.

She was sitting on the couch with her eyes closed. Her eyes had dark circles and she looked paler than usual.

"How can you still be sober? "

"I am more than a heavy weight. I don't get drunk easily. I am not even a bit drunk after a pint of beer. Even if it was stronger than usual. " She replied.

"What about hangovers? "

"How can someone be hungover without being drunk? "

He decided to remain silent. He knew sometimes being drunk is also important to forget things.

Emerson had too much of bad luck for that.

She went to the bathroom and came back after some time. She fumbled with her phone, probably texted someone, sighed and slipped under the duvet.

It was only 12 , which though late was earlier than her usual time .

Adrien too slipped in his duvet and went to sleep with many questions still in his mind.

Next day Adrien woke up with his usual alarm buzz and his eyes were ready to see the good morning sticky note but it wasn't there. A single difference caused him to shot up from the bed. He looked on the window pane to see Emerson's sleeping figure. His first instinct was to think she is sick . What could he think of when suddenly his usually polite nocturnal wife behaves distant , goes to bed early and is asleep even when the sun rose.

He walked towards her and touched her forehead but she didn't have elevated temperature.

He decided to let it slide for then.

If she isn't up before 8 , I'll wake her up or call the doctor .

He did his morning routine routine and got dressed which felt weird when Emerson was in room in the morning when she wasn't there before for a single day.

He went down stairs for breakfast and told the maids to the make breakfast for two. After he finished je decided to check on Emerson but his phone rang.

Old man. Who will he praise today for taking his care since is wife is dead asleep for some unknown reason.

" Hey. Old man good morning? "

"Is Emerson ok? " Came his first question.

Adrien rolled his eyes.

"Why won't she? "

"She didn't come to prepare breakfast only one day and told the reason but not today. She isn't picking her phone. "

"Relax old man. She is asleep. "

"Tell me when she wake up and good "

"Yeah. I am going to check on her if she is up yet. "

Henry hanged up and Adrien went upstairs to see already ready Emerson.

Her face looked better than yesterday and she looked fresh and glowing like always.

"Good morning Mr Stone. " She chirped softly.

He raised an eye brow and looked at her weirdly.

"Why are you looking at me like I am some alien? " She asked him confused.

"How will I when an usually nocturnal Ms Leone sleeps like a normal person?"

Emerson chuckled nervously and replied, " It was a needed sleep. And I am not nocturnal. I sleep for few hours."

"Whatever. Maids made breakfast. You can eat downstairs. " He left the room.

Emerson just nodded and followed him out.