Chapter 4 Don't Break Up Easily

"I..." Quinn parted his thin lips but didn't say anything more. His eyes revealed unreadable under the golden-framed glasses. After staring at Isabella's back in contemplation for a few seconds, he turned and walked toward the study.

In the past three years, Isabella had been living alone in a rental apartment, and she was very good at cooking some simple, homely meals. In a very short time, she placed some dishes on the table, the aroma filling the air.

"Quinn, dinner’s ready." Isabella said softly, knocking lightly on the study door. When no response came, she gently pushed it open.

Quinn was on the phone. "Handle it yourself. There’s no need to report every detail to me."

After saying that, he ended the call. He looked up, his gaze meeting Isabella's. His tone was chilly as he asked, "What's it?"

"Dinner’s ready," Isabella smiled slightly, her eyes flickering away from his intense gaze.

"I'll be there." His tone was indifferent as usual.

At the dining table, the two sat opposite each other, eating in near silent. The air between them felt heavy and dreary.

Isabella opened her mouth several times, wanting to break the silence, yet each time, she bit her tongue after seeing Quinn's distant face.

After the meal, Quinn unexpectedly offered to do the dishes. Isabella nodded. If he was willing to share the housework, there was no reason for her to refuse.

From his awkward movements, it could be easily seen that he must not have done these things before.

Not that it was surprising.

How often would a CEO of such a major company do something as trivial as doing dishes?

The sudden sound of a plate interrupted her thoughts. Isabella immediately got up and walked over.

She then saw Quinn standing stiffly, a plate in his hand, while pieces of another lay on the floor.

"Let me do it." Isabella walked over and tried to take the plate from Quinn's hand.

"No. I'll handle it." Quinn smoothly avoided her hand, his tone unchanging.

"Quinn, actually..." Isabella began, but her words couldn't continue under Quinn's firm gaze. In the end, she nodded and exited the kitchen, deciding to let him be.

Although they were already married, Quinn was still a stranger to her.

However, she wanted to get to know him, to learn everything about him. She wanted to be the kind of wife.

It was just that Quinn was so powerful. Isabella wondered if she could still get closer to him with the same naive determination she had just begun.

Isabella settled onto the couch, picked up the remote control to turn on the TV. She aimlessly switched to a news channel, though her attention was far from the broadcast.

She occasionally glanced toward the kitchen. Through the glass door, she saw Quinn seriously and intently cleaning the dishes. His precise movements gave an air of elegance.

She quietly sighed again in her heart, ‘How is it possible for this man to look so charming even when he's doing dishes?’

Perhaps because Isabella's gaze was too intense, Quinn looked back unexpectedly. Their eyes met. Isabella saw the coolness in Quinn's eyes but an impeccably polite smile.

Flustered, Isabella blushed. She managed a polite smile in return before quickly turning her gaze back to TV.

Yet, no matter how hard she tried to focus on the screen, her mind kept drifting back to Quinn.

This man was so dignified at work, yet even when doing something as mundane as washing dishes. Isabella wondered, ‘Will there ever be a moment when he slips up, just once?’

After tidying up the kitchen, Quinn returned to the living room. Spotting Isabella lost in thought, he paused, his gaze lingering on her pretty face for a few seconds before saying, "Isabella."

Quinn called her name softly, his deep, mellow voice snapping her out of her reverie. Isabella was so obsessed with it that her cheeks burned again.

Quinn sat down on the opposite end of the sofa. "There's something I need to discuss with you."

"Okay," Isabella replied. She also wanted to discuss with him, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to clear the air with him.

Quinn sized Isabella up with his deep eyes. After a pause, he said, "Isabella, about today at the company..."

"I understand the difference between personal and professional matters. In fact, I don't want the staff secretly gossiping about our relationship," Isabella cut in before Quinn could finish.

She had worked hard over the past three years to earn her current position in the company. And she wanted to continue to move up the ladder on her own. She didn't want all this to change because of Quinn.

Quinn's expression remained composed, only his eyes under the golden-framed glasses flashing imperceptibly. "I never intended to hide my identity as the CEO of NextEra Technologies from you. When I saw you at the company today, I wasn’t sure what was on your mind. That’s why I didn't announce our relationship to the public. But it doesn't mean I want to keep it a secret."

"I know." Isabella nodded and added, "Work and life are two separate things for me. I don't want to mix them."

Her marriage to Quinn was a private matter between them. She felt no need to make it public at work.

First, she didn't want her career to be affected. Second, she wasn't sure how long her marriage to Quinn would last.

Looking at Isabella's determined face, after a pause, Quinn said, "Have you told your family about our marriage?"

Isabella shook her head, unwilling to talk much about her family.

"I've just taken over NextEra Technologies, and I have some personal matters to deal with. If you don't mind, I'd like to visit your parents with you once things settle down," Quinn said, his tone calm, as if he had expected that Isabella hadn't mentioned this matter to her family.

"No need," Isabella directly refused,. Then, sensing the abruptness of her response, she hastily explained, "Something happened with my family. I haven't been in contact with them for a long time, so let's talk about this another time."

Family...

Every time she thought of this word, Isabella's heart would faintly ache, making her a little breathless.

Three years earlier, that home had ceased to be hers, and she knew she could never return.

"Isabella," Quinn called her name in a deep tone and added, "You won't be alone anymore. You have me."

Quinn's tone remained even, yet it gave Isabella a different feeling because of his nice voice.

These words were clearly not declarations of love, but they evoked a wave of indescribable emotion to well up in Isabella's heart.

Although she had managed to go through all these years, when she thought of that night, sadness still crept in, and she silently shed tears.

"Isabella." After a long moment of silence, Quinn said, "We are already husband and wife. I sincerely want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Isabella was caught off guard by his sudden sincerity. She froze for a moment, meeting his sincere gaze, she responded, "I am also determined to live with you for the rest of my life."

Quinn stared at her beautiful face. After a few seconds of pause, he said, "So, can you promise me that, no matter what happens, you won't give up on us easily?"

"Yes." Isabella nodded firmly. "I will try my best to be a qualified wife."

The idea of not breaking up easily was also what Isabella wanted. Hearing Quinn express it so directly gave her a sense of re-assurance.