The next day, Dapper woke up subconsciously. He turned to the side of the bed and realized Ruth wasn't there. This world mirrored Earth closely, so the time zones and general format were pretty much the same.
'It's almost seven A.M.' Dapper thought as he sluggishly crawled out of bed.
He stared at the wrinkled sheets, remembering how he and Ruth had snuggled together through the night. The warmth of it vaguely reminded him of Zara, stirring up a pang of nostalgia—until the memory of her betrayal cut through like a knife. That was enough to shove the thought aside.
Leaving the room, he headed straight for the one place he was sure Ruth would be—the kitchen. Despite being rich and living in a sprawling mansion full of workers and maids, Ruth had carved out her own private space; a modest flat within the estate. She preferred simplicity and had her own kitchen because she loved cooking and baking. Only her sister and a few cleaners stayed in that wing. The rest of the mansion housed her staff—people she generously offered shelter to because of their housing issues. In return, they maintained the rest of the estate.
As Dapper approached the kitchen, he accidentally rammed into Belinda, causing the hot coffee in her hand to spill all over her clothes.
"Hiyaaaa! What the hell, Dapper?! Can't you watch where you're going?!" she shrieked, staring at her soaked pajamas. The thin fabric clung to her body, and Dapper could clearly see her erect nipples through the wet material. This time, he didn't bother to look away.
He gazed at her with a lecherous glint that caught Belinda off-guard. The Dapper she knew would've instantly covered his face or apologized profusely.
"I'm sorry, but you were the one who bumped into me. Maybe try watching where you're going instead of staring at your phone," he said coldly, his expression unreadable, shocking her even more.
Belinda blinked. "You—You're the one who walked into me! Just say sorry!" she barked, stepping forward to confront him. But before it could escalate further, Ruth appeared, slipping between them.
"Belinda," Ruth said flatly, "I think it's about time you stop talking to my husband like that. I haven't even forgiven you for what you did to him. Also, you've been staying in my private flat for too long. Don't you think it's time you moved into your own? It has everything you need."
Belinda stood frozen, her mouth slightly open. She wanted to speak but clenched her teeth instead and stormed off without a word.
Once she was gone, Ruth sighed and reached for Dapper's hand, her cheeks tinged with red.
"I'm sorry about that. By tomorrow, we'll finally have our privacy," she said softly. She was still in her pajamas, wearing an apron, clearly cooking before she came.
"No need," Dapper replied with a smile. "She'll change... just like I did."
'Yeah, she'll change... once I'm done with her.' Dapper smirked inwardly.
"Honey, I made you breakfast. Come to the dining room," Ruth said, leading the way. Her hips swayed with every step, and Dapper clicked his tongue at this magnificent sight before him.
'Such a fine, fuckable ass.' The urge to grab her and bury his face in it surged through him—but he held back.
He sat at a medium-sized round table etched with gold patterns. Two covered dishes sat on top, along with an empty plate and neatly arranged cutlery.
"I made porridge for you. Thought something light would be nice," Ruth said with a warm smile, then began serving him. She piled on an array of toppings—maybe a little too much but it was kind of cute to Dapper.
"Thank you, d-darling," Dapper said, taking the first bite. An explosion of flavor hit his tongue, melting in his mouth.
'This… she knows exactly what she's doing.'
Ruth sat opposite him, watching the way he devoured the food like he hadn't eaten in days. Her heart fluttered—this was everything she had dreamed of.
'I'm finally enjoying my marriage!' she cheered inwardly, wondering what had caused such a sudden shift in Dapper.
After breakfast, Dapper showered and changed into his school uniform. When he stepped out of Ruth's private wing, workers scattered throughout the mansion bowed in greeting.
"Morning, my lord!"
"Good morning, my lord!"
The greetings came from all directions, and Dapper felt his ego swell. This level of luxury was new—even for someone who had been a rich thief in a past life.
'Living like an aristocrat, huh? How much better can this get?'
Just then, a well-dressed older man in a black-and-white uniform and a white cap approached him and bowed slightly.
"My lord, are you ready?"
From his memories, Dapper recognized him. His name was Fred—Ruth's chauffeur. He had been the only person his predecessor ever freely spoke to.
Dapper nodded, and they walked out of the mansion together. Outside, a car was already pulling up on its own towards them. Fred opened the back door for him, then took the driver's seat. Within moments, they were on their way out of Cromwell territory—Ruth's family estate.
Ten minutes later, they arrived just outside the school gates. No cars were allowed further.
Dapper stared out the window, feeling a strange buzz of anticipation. Above the grand entrance, he read the word etched into the stone arch:
[AETHERIAL]
He stepped out and walked toward the gate. A quick glance at his wristwatch told him it was almost eight. Students were running everywhere, desperate not to be late for exams.
Then, from behind, he heard familiar voices.
"You son of a cock! Where the hell have you been?! Living off your sugar mama's money, huh?!"
Dapper turned, already irritated—until he saw them.
His expression softened into a genuine smile. Two boys were running toward him. They were his predecessor's closest friends.