Lionel grabbed his cheek, it had happened so fast that he hadn't had a chance to react at all. He looked at Saskia in puzzlement, he hadn't expected that.

"Don't ever touch me again! I want a man who loves me and doesn't see me as an object of lust! One I can grow old with, here in Wolferton or wherever!" she shouted angrily at him.

The rain pelted down on the two of them, further emphasizing the emotional situation.

Sia didn't want to stand here in the open any longer. As fast as her feet carried her, she ran home.

Lionel was still standing in the rain. Sassy had long since disappeared from his field of vision. He was still staring after her, he had messed up. Even the letter with the documents, which he had secretly slipped to her, would not be able to change anything, he thought disappointedly. He thought better of it and went back into the house.

He took off his wet clothes, walked naked into the dining room and sat down in the wing chair in front of the fireplace. But not without taking a wine glass and the decanter filled with wine. Lionel paid no more attention to the etiquette, since he was alone anyway. He poured the red wine into the glass, stopping just before it went over.

He downed the first glass in one go, as if it were just water. He would have liked to throw the wine glass into the fire, but he didn't want to break anything in Saskia's house.

Sia came home completely soaked. Fortunately, her relatives were away, so she didn't have to tell them about the meeting today. Without taking long, she went upstairs and took off her wet clothes. By now she knew the game all too well and stepped under the warm shower.

A little later she was lying in her bed, wrapped thickly under the covers. Saskia already had to sneeze several times. Oh dear, apparently she had now gotten wet once too often. She got up laboriously and reached for her handbag to get a package of tissues from it. Then she noticed an envelope that had certainly not been there before. She fished it out of her bag and took it to her bed. Saskia blew her nose, she was probably going to be sick, she could already feel it.

She turned the envelope back and forth, but there was nothing written on it. When she opened it curiously and pulled out the notes, she already suspected who had slipped her the letter. She read the letter attentively. After a few lines, the first tears began to run down Saskia's hot cheeks. "Why only. Why is he doing this?" she uttered aloud in a broken voice.

The flood of tears grew and the first sobs escaped her throat. She could read no further and put the letter aside.

She did not want this! She didn't need the expensive jewelry or this little stud she had visited today. She needed love, not objects. She couldn't believe that Lionel had signed the little estate over to her. What for? What was he trying to prove to her?

Her head was getting heavier and she could already feel it getting warmer too. But she couldn't help it, she would send him another message now. She didn't want to accept the house, so she wrote a short mail on her cell phone.

Hello Lionel,

I can't accept the house. Please explain to me why you did this, I don't understand. I'm sorry for slapping you in the face, but my opinion still remains the same.

Saskia

She quickly sent the mail before she changed her mind. Sia closed her eyes in agony. She would so like a hug right now. But not from just anyone, but from Lionel. Why couldn't he love her? She wrapped herself in her blanket again and hoped that tomorrow would be better.

Lionel had already drunk almost all the red wine when his cell phone announced an incoming mail. He already had a slight buzz when he picked up his phone and checked. He read through the mail from Sassy. He started laughing bitterly and just dropped his phone on the floor. "Because I fucking love you, you stubborn brat," he said in a raspy voice into the room, running his hand over his forehead. "So, was that so difficult now?" he interposed to himself, "then why can't I tell her?"

Lionel pondered his own words. His heart had decided today when he had seen her again, and the answer was plain!

He loved her!

He loved her so much that he would even willingly take a few more slaps from her, which he certainly more or less deserved. Just so she could be near him again.

Lionel had to laugh at his own confused thoughts. He had to see her one more time. At least one last time. He would tell her he loved her, he had to try. He would have preferred to go to her right away, but his drunken state wouldn't allow it. Besides, he wanted to confess his love to her with clear thoughts, not like this.

He ate some more bread so that the effect of the wine would wear off a bit. On an empty stomach, the alcohol had not been a good idea. He would sober up overnight and visit her at her relatives tomorrow. His gaze, clouded by wine, slid to the box that contained the precious lion's head. "His lioness" was so stubborn and proud. He had never known a woman to refuse his expensive jewelry gifts.

Sassy was just not just anyone! Lionel knew a few women and had had a few relationships, but she was not comparable to any of the ladies.

Tired, he got up swaying slightly and went upstairs to the bedroom. He was looking forward to tomorrow, he would confess his true feelings to Saskia. He lifted the large quilt and lay down in the bed. No sooner had he closed his eyes than he was asleep.