Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 173

Chapter 173: Home Sweet Home
“Wanna play again, Lettie?”

“Sure!”

Lariette and Ruediger played another round each before calling it quits. The heat made them sweaty, but the joy of successfully hitting the ball with the bat triumphed over everything.

They headed to the restrooms after leaving the track, promising to meet again near the food court. Other people walked past, coming and going from the rest area.

“Shall we get more drinks and snacks?” asked Ruediger, pointing to the mini-mart outside the food court.

“Better to get them.”

Lariette quickly agreed, thinking they still had hours before reaching Moonville. Even if they were slightly hungry, the snacks would help to quench their hunger.

Lariette picked a few bags of snacks, including some cookies, dried mangos and papayas. Ruediger grabbed two bottles of mineral water and cans of coffee and tea.

Soon, the pair resumed their journey. Once again, Ruediger declined Lariette’s offer to be the driver. He jokingly told her to be a Sleeping Beauty again during their ride.

The expressway stretched endlessly before them, flanked by towering pines and rolling meadows. The midday summer sun cast a golden glow over the landscape.

Ruediger drove with one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting lazily on the gear shift. The car’s interior hummed softly with the melody of the soft country songs that came from the speakers.

Lariette leaned her head against the window, watching the scenery blur past. Her lips curved into a smile as her gaze took in the picturesque countryside scene far beyond the expressway.

Wildflowers dotted the fields, their vibrant petals dancing in the wind. Clusters of small farmhouses with red roofs peeked out from behind dense orchards, their chimneys standing tall against the bright blue sky.

‘We might reach Moonville in two hours. Or, a little more.’

Lariette’s mind wandered to the village she grew up in. The place was small, but it brought her happiness. She still fondly remembered the days she ran around the fields with her friends, chasing after the butterflies and catching some bugs.

“Sleeping already?”

Ruediger’s voice, deep yet relaxed, pulled Lariette out of her trance. She chuckled before turning her gaze to him.

“Not yet. Why? Are you getting tired?”

They left the rest area around half an hour ago. Lariette couldn’t help but recall the very short nap Ruediger had taken after their lunch earlier.

“No,” Ruediger replied with a smirk. Briefly looking at Lariette, he added jokingly, “I need to guard the Sleeping Beauty. I won’t get tired.”

“Haha! Again, with that Sleeping Beauty.”

Chuckling, Lariette playfully slapped Ruediger’s arm. The man joined her in laughing. The ambiance inside the truck softened further.

Lariette and Ruediger didn’t speak much this time, letting the music fill the gaps of their absent conversation. After a while, they stopped at a small gas station by the roadside.

Ruediger stepped out. He stretched his arms and legs as he breathed in the fresh, earthy scent of the rural landscape.

Lariette also alighted the truck. She walked around the pump area when Ruediger was refueling the truck.

Vehicles drove past the expressways, spreading the echoes of their humming engines and rolling tires. The crickets chirped in the swaying tall grass, blown by a light breeze.

Glancing at her wristwatch, Lariette estimated they had around one hour more. She quickly sent a message to Mrs. Campbell’s number, telling the middle-aged woman of her current whereabouts.

“I’m done,” Ruediger announced while retying his hair. He walked closer to Lariette, “Need anything from here?”

“No. We can go now,” Lariette smiled, happy thinking she would reach Moonville soon.

Back in the car, Ruediger drove along the expressway before he took an exit, bringing them deeper into the northern countryside. The closer they got to Moonville, the more the scenery changed.

Beyond the rugged lands, gentle hills rolled into misty valleys. Dense forests stretched toward the horizon with the backdrop of the clear blue sky.

This place was simply enchanting.

Wondering what Lariette thought of Moonville, Ruediger briefly looked at her, asking, “What makes Moonville special to you? Aside from it being the place you lived before.”

Ruediger held back from adding Amberwood to his question. He quietly waited for Lariette to answer him.

“It’s a peaceful village,” Lariette chuckled, thinking how generic her answer was. She added, “Life moves at a slower pace here, something I like compared to the big city. Every single person practically knows everyone here.”

After over a decade of living in a small yet peaceful village in the northern countryside, the sudden move to Avaloria City actually shocked Lariette. She was not accustomed to how fast-paced life in the city could be.

Lariette remembered feeling homesick. The pain was unbearable, especially when her parents and siblings paid no attention to her, but she persevered.

The young her thought this was something she had to endure if she hoped to bond with her newly found immediate family.

The constant phone calls to Mrs. Evans and visits to Chairman Delaney’s residence helped Lariette cope. Their endless encouragement assisted her in adjusting to her new life.

“Oh! We’re actually lucky, you know?”

Lariette’s exclamation piqued Ruediger’s interest. Glancing at her, he noticed the sudden beam from her face.

“Lucky how?”

Lariette giggled, her eyes curving into crescent moons. She happily explained, “The village has a festival! The kids will start school again soon, so they use this chance to celebrate the end of summer.”

Mrs. Campbell shared the information with Lariette a few days ago. She forgot to tell Ruediger about it. The festival should end this Sunday.

“Sounds amazing,” Ruediger hummed, liking the idea of attending the summer festival with Lariette. Smiling, he asked, “Should we go there tonight?”

“Hehe, of course! The festival is livelier at night. We should rest plenty before that.”

Ruediger nodded. Tapping his finger on the steering wheel, he couldn’t help but hope time would roll faster.

When Ruediger reached a junction, Lariette began telling him the ways to get to Moonville. The navigation system only picked up the major roads.

“We’ll reach my house quicker this way.”

Lariette guided Ruediger to drive along the lesser-known roads, but would bring them faster to their destination. He simply followed her instructions.

The truck drove slowly past the stone cottages with ivy-covered walls that nestled among the sprawling gardens. Blooming hydrangeas and lilacs lined the fences.

The winding streets were cobbled and shaded by tall oak trees. In the distance, green rolling hills framed the horizon.

Ruediger saw some people looking at the truck from afar, perhaps wondering who the occupants inside were. Lariette smilingly stared at them, recognizing a few of the villagers despite the distance.

“I’ll introduce you to them later,” said Lariette, her voice soft, “I think you’ll love it here, Eddy.”

“As I should be,” replied Ruediger with a smile.

Lariette guided Ruediger along another road until the truck eventually stopped outside a stone cottage, guarded by a brick gate.

Ruediger glanced at Lariette, seeing her lips bloom into a smile like the vibrant flowers beyond the fence. Something soft stirred in his heart.

“Home sweet home, Lettie?”

Lariette chuckled. Nodding, she rubbed her eyes, feeling a little tears there, “Yes. Home sweet home.”