hapter 70
Chapter 70
The person on the video call was still chattering away, but Aiden’s gaze had already drifted–without even realizing it to Valerie,
She was in an unusually good mood. Even as she carried a bowl of pasta, her lips were curled in a quiet, genuine smile, not the kind of polite mask she usually wore, but the kind of smile that couldn’t be helped–subtle but sincere.
The man on the screen trailed off mid–sentence, suddenly realizing something was off. Aideri wasn’t just distracted he was… softer. The usual ky, authoritative presence had melted into something far gentler.
Aiden caught himself slipping and simply said in English, “Meeting’s over.”
The other man froze, caught off guard. “Boss, I haven’t finished yet. Just five more minutes–no, three!”
Too late. Aiden had already ended the call.
He was wearing earphones, so Valerie had no idea he’d just cut the meeting short. Assuming he was finished, she sweetly pushed his laptop aside and said, “You barely ate anything earlier. I made you some pasta–just something light to hold you over.”
Aiden looked at the bowl of plain pasta and blinked. “You made this?”
A strange, almost unfamiliar warmth bloomed in his chest.
“Mhm.” Valerie rested her chin in her hand, her eyes sincere. “Thanks for coming tonight.”
“So this is your thank–you gift?” Aiden gave her a sidelong glance, the corners of his mouth lifting ever so slightly. “How stingy.”
Valerie blushed and cleared her throat. “It’s the thought that counts! This is actually the first time I’ve ever cooked pasta for someone else.”
That was a lie.
She’d made this dish for Aiden many times in their past life.
The flavor was unique–her own secret recipe–one that no one else could quite replicate.
Aiden’s eyes darkened slightly, a quiet gleam flickering in their depths.
First time, huh?
He picked up the fork and took a bite–reluctantly, or so he pretended. To his surprise, it tasted… really good. Delicate, with a faint sweetness that lingered pleasantly.
Valerie looked at him expectantly. “Well?”
“Average,” Aiden said flatly.
Valerie pouted, clearly disappointed. ‘Same answer as last time,‘ she thought with a sigh.
“Then what do you like to eat?” she asked. “I’ll make something else next time.”
Aiden put the fork down and glanced at her. “What, giving up on running away and switching to poisoning me instead?”
Valerie choked. She glared at him. “If I wanted to kill you, stabbing your neck while you slept would be way more efficient.”
“You wouldn’t.” Aiden’s tone was calm, unflinching.
The weight of his gaze was too much. Valerie abruptly stood up.
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1231 Fri, 6 Jun
Chapter 70
“I’m full,” she muttered, grabbing her bowl and fleeing the scene.
Aiden didn’t stop her. Instead, a small smile slowly curled on his lips.
A few minutes later, his phone buzzed. It was a text from Valerie: [By the way, your mom said once you’re done with work, we should go stay at her place for a few days.]
She sent the message… but no reply came.
‘Did he even see it?‘
Valerie had already locked herself inside her room. Just thinking about all the flirtatious nonsense Aiden had been saying earlier made her nervous.
But what if he hadn’t seen the message, and Vivian asked her about it later? She’d be the one in trouble.
Hesitating, she unlocked the door and peeked across the hall.
From the day they got married, she and Aiden had never shared a bedroom. She’d always stayed in the guest room and never once suggested more into the master suite.
Now she stood outside his door, raised her hand, and knocked.
The door opened almost immediately.
Aiden stood there in a black silk robe, backlit by the dim hallway light. With the shadows framing his sharp features and that languid, dangerous aura about him, he looked like something out of a gothic vampire novel–dark, elegant, and just a little too tempting.
Valerie froze, stunned by the sight. She instinctively took a step back. “Uh… did you get my message?”
Aiden, seeing her shrink like a startled kitten, took a step closer. His face remained unreadable. “What message?”
Valerie fumbled, “Your mom wants us to go stay with her for a few days after you finish work…”
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