Chapter 52

(Emily's POV).

"I cooked a meal for you to bring to your office," I told Mike as soon as he stepped into the kitchen, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

His hair was tousled, sticking up in every direction, and he looked at me with a mix of confusion and surprise.

“Love..." he started, glancing at the food I had laid out on the counter, the steam rising from the containers. "Why are you cooking?" His tone wasn’t harsh, but there was a clear concern in his voice. He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "Didn’t I tell you not to do this? You’re not supposed to be tired out. You need to rest, especially now."

I sighed, wiping my hands on a dish towel before turning to face him fully.

"Mike, I want to be useful as your wife. I can’t just sit around all day doing nothing. I want to make sure you have something homemade to eat. You know... something that reminds you of me when you’re at work."

His expression softened, but he still didn’t look convinced. I could see the worry in his