Chapter 101 I Don’t Want To Delay Any Longer
The noise made Yvonne swiftly turn her head.
In that motion, her gaze unexpectedly locked with Norton’s in midair.
“Uh–huh. Just simple home–cooked meals. Not sure if they’ll be to your taste.”
She had taken the time to ensure the dishes were both simple and thoughtful.
She had even consulted Jorge before picking up the groceries.
“Go ahead and wash up. We’ll eat as soon as the soup is done,” she instructed, returning her attention to the
simmering pot.
“What type of soup is it?”
His deep voice suddenly filled the space next to her.
Norton had moved silently and now stood beside her.
At home, Yvonne wore only flat slippers, accentuating the difference in their height significantly.
She barely reached his shoulder.
Feeling his presence behind her, Yvonne noticed the room seemed to contract.
His nearness was imposing, heightening her sense of his presence dramatically.
Her muscles tightened reflexively, causing her usual fluidity in the kitchen to falter.
“When will the soup be ready?” inquired Norton.
“It has just started to boil”
“Will it take much longer?”
“Actually, it won’t. Just need to add the ingredients and let them simmer for a few minutes.
Yvonne methodically dropped each ingredient into the pot, following up with a dash of seasoning.
She was sparing with the spices, aiming to let the natural tastes of the food shine through.
The wait became a subtle ordeal, steaf curling from the pot while his breath seemed to hover just behind her.
Aware of his close proximity, Yvonne felt his eyes on her as she cooked.
She had always imagined such simple, daily joys as part of her married life.
Chapter 101 I Don’t Want To Delay Any Longer
Unfortunately, her dreams had not materialized.
From the time they were married, his affection had been lacking. He was frequently away on business trips or preparing for the next one.
Consequently, their encounters were sparse.
This may have been the most prolonged period they had ever spent together.
When the soup finally boiled, Yvonne murmured softly, “It’s ready. I’ll get it served.”
She grasped the ladle, poised to dish up the soup.
Norton’s voice grew closer again. “You seem to have forgotten the salt, haven’t you?”
“Did I really?”
Yvonne felt a surge of surprise and quickly tasted the soup, only to find it tasteless.
She recognized that the lapse was due to the disruption caused by Norton’s close presence.
“You seem a little off your game in the kitchen today,” he teased playfully.
She retorted, “I was totally focused! It’s your presence that throws me off…*
She stumbled over her words and her calm broke down.
“What is it about my presence?” he asked further.
“I was so concerned that you might not like it, I ended up getting too nervous and forgot.*
“So, you’re saying my being here made you forget to add the salt?”
“Yes, it’s entirely your fault.”
Yvonne added the salt and then brought the soup to the table.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was pleasantly calm.
As Norton sampled the soup, Yvonne quickly inquired, “How is it? What do you think?”
“It’s decent, though it could be better.”
Despite his critique, he was quite hungry and ate a lot.
With his mood appearing upbeat, Yvonne seized the moment to mention her desire to return to work.
But at her words, his expression darkened suddenly.
“We’ll discuss this later!”
He set his fork down abruptly and headed upstairs.
Feeling a surge of anxiety, Yvonne followed him. “Norton, I understand you can take care of me financially, but as a woman, I also need my own career. I can’t depend solely on you for financial security. Moreover, if there
ever comes a time when we…‘
She paused, steering clear of the word “divorce“, and continued, “If we ever go our separate ways, I need to be
Chapter 101 I Don’t Want To Delay Any Longer
self–sufficient. I aspire to lead a meaningful life and be needed.”
On this occasion, Norton didn’t instantly dismiss the idea.
“Is working again really that important to you?” he inquired, his back turned to her while he changed his
clothes.
“Yes, it really is.”
“Even considering you’ll have to navigate office politics, networking, and possible unfair treatments?”
With a resolute nod, Yvonne answered, “Definitely!”
“Okay,” he responded.
Just as Yvonne was about to express her gratitude, Norton suggested, “How about you cook for me for a month
first, then we’ll discuss it further?”
“Really?” Yvonne took this as a hopeful sign.
“Why would I need to lie about this?”
His logic appeared solid.
Quickly, another concern crossed her mind. “You’re frequently away on business trips. If I make dinner, you’re
often not here to enjoy it!”
6
As he straightened his clothing, he responded with a relaxed tone, “I’m not planning any trips for a while. I’ll
be here at home.”
“Agreed,” Yvonne responded.
Back at the office, Rachel was swamped with assignments.
Conversely, Brian found himself with an abundance of free time.
Each day, he returned home fresh from a shower and relaxed, waiting for Rachel who was still glued to her laptop due to extended work hours.
One night, with the clock striking eleven and Rachel still engrossed in her work in the study, Brian couldn’t hold
back any longer.
He approached her, firmly shut her laptop, and said, “That’s enough for tonight. You can wrap this up
tomorrow.”
“But it’s the weekend tomorrow. If I don’t finish this now, it will have to wait until Monday.”
“Let’s end it here for today.”
He then moved in, lifted her effortlessly, and carried her toward the bathroom.
Turning on the shower, he said, “Your pajamas are ready. Take a quick shower. We’ve got something planned.”
“What are we doing?”
Rachel suspected it might be sex.
ECON
Chapter 101 I Don’t Want To Delay Any Longer
The comments Tracy had made earlier still echoed in her mind, causing her discomfort.
After spending extra time in the bathroom, Rachel eventually came out.
The moment she moved, Brian wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in.
His lips grazed the back of her neck, slowly making their way down.
She instinctively recoiled. “I… I’m really tired tonight, not in the mood.”
“Are you mistaken about something?”
He gently ruffled her hair and drew her tightly into his embrace.
“It’s Saturday tomorrow. Your wedding dress and the rings have arrived. It’s time to try them on.”
Rachel was puzzled. “But you mentioned we’d have to wait another month?”
Brian tenderly cupped her face, his eyes soft. “Rachel, I’ve made you wait too long. I don’t want to delay any
longer.”
At that moment, Rachel overflowed with joy.
Gazing into his eyes, a sudden question arose in her heart: had he married her out of duty, or had his feelings for her genuinely deepened?
“Brian, are you really sure you want to see me in that wedding dress?”
Requiem of A Broken Heart
