Chapter 114
Rain woke up feeling energized early in the morning. She smiled at the sight of Alexander’s neatly made bed. As expected, he was already gone for his usual pre-dawn jog.
Stretching her arms, she quickly got up. Despite feeling disheartened the day before, today felt different. She decided to push thoughts of Sanya aside and focus on the upcoming visit with her Aunt.
Heading to the kitchen, Rain started cooking breakfast and decided to bake an apple pie, her Aunt’s favourite. Though she wasn’t sure if her homemade version would match up, she was excited to try. Chef Philip stayed with her the entire time, offering guidance and valuable tips, which made the process much easier for her.
“Do you think I can leave you for a bit, Miss Rain?” Chef Philip asked.
Rain smiled and replied, “Of course! I’m almost finished, and after this, it just needs to go in the oven, right?” He nodded, reminding her of the correct temperature and baking time.
While waiting for the pie to bake, Rain shifted her focus to preparing the cookies she planned to bake next. The kitchen smelled of apples and cinnamon, and the sound of her whisk hitting the bowl as she mixed ingredients filled the air. Baking was soothing, and she found herself smiling, looking forward to sharing the treats with her Aunt.
Meanwhile, Alexander finished his jog, feeling a bit disappointed when Rain wasn’t outside to greet him with a bottle of water and towel like she usually did. He frowned and muttered, “Is she still sleeping?” But the sun was already rising.
He stepped inside and went straight to the kitchen, hoping to find her there. ’There she is,’ he thought with a hum, watching her busy herself with breakfast.
“What are you doing?” he asked casually, grabbing a bottle of water from the refrigerator. Her eyes widened, and she quickly glanced at the clock.
“Oh, I got so caught up baking the apple pie and cookies, I forgot to bring you water and a towel!” she exclaimed.
He chuckled, then handed her the towel with a playful smile. She blinked, confused at first.
“I’m still sweating, and I thought you might want to handle some *wifely duties*?” he teased, causing her face to flush bright red.
Her lips twitched as she grabbed the towel and gently wiped the sweat from his brow, her heart racing. “Such a big baby,” she muttered under her breath.
“I heard that,” he grinned, clearly amused. “You started it… Can you blame me if I get used to this?” he teased further.
“You’re really enjoying teasing me, aren’t you?” she shot back with a scoff, turning her attention to the cookies she was preparing.
“I guess just as much as you enjoy teasing me,” he hummed, his voice playful. Then, with curiosity, he asked, “So, is that for breakfast p>
“Nope, this is for my Aunt. She’s going to be so surprised to see that I actually cook and bake now!” Rain beamed, excitement lighting up her face. She couldn’t wait to show her Aunt Melanie how far she’d come—and to reassure her that she was being taken care of.
Alexander watched her closely, then asked, “If you’re so close to her… are you planning to tell her the truth about our marriage? Does she know about Sanya and Clifford p>
His questions came in quick succession, and he felt slightly odd for prying so much. It wasn’t like him to ask so many personal things, but he found himself wanting to know more about Rain.
He’d long realized he was physically attracted to her, drawn by her beauty and confidence. But now… it was more than that. He was becoming emotionally invested, caring enough to meddle in her life—not just out of obligation, but because he wanted to.
Rain paused for a moment, her face thoughtful as Alexander waited, his gaze fixed on her. “Aunt Melanie knows all my friends, but not about you and how I ended up married,” she finally said, her voice contemplative.
“I’ve been trying to figure out how to explain things to her. I don’t want her to worry too much, but I don’t want to keep her in the dark either. I’ll tell her the truth—just not about you and your real identity,” she added, her tone steady but cautious.
She looked directly into his eyes, her expression serious. “My father is cunning and calculative. I’m sure he’s planning something, and I’m worried about you getting caught in his trap. This visit… I’m certain he, Sylvia, and Dina are up to something p>
Alexander’s brow furrowed as he asked, “Like what p>
“Like offering you something to divorce me,” she replied bluntly. “They need that connection to the Astor family badly, and I believe Michael wants me in return p>
“Wants you?!” Alexander exclaimed, his voice rising in anger as his blood began to boil at the thought.
Rain chuckled softly, nodding. “That man has his eyes on me for some time now. So, you’d better make sure I’m well protected and don’t get snatched away from you!” she said, half-joking.
But Alexander didn’t take it lightly. The thought of other men coveting his wife made his blood simmer. After all, it wouldn’t be surprising—Rain was striking, both in looks and spirit, and he could easily imagine others wanting her. Yet, the idea of her being with anyone else ignited a fierce protectiveness within him.
“He’s already crippled, but I guess that’s not enough. I might end up tearing his limbs and arms apart if he ever touches you,” he murmured, his voice low and intense.
Rain blinked rapidly, her eyes shining with an intense focus. “I heard you, and I take that seriously.” She gazed deeply into his eyes as if searching his soul, her lips slightly parted. Alexander found himself captivated, feeling as if he had fallen into her trap.
He leaned closer, his breath brushing her lips. “And I’m serious when I say I won’t let anyone touch you, Rain. They’ll die in my hands p>
“Miss Rain, the app—” Chef Philip’s voice cut through the moment, startling Alexander. “Oh, p-please c-continue. I’ll b-be back later,” he stammered, noticing Alexander’s unintentional glare.