Bella has been feeling a bit anxious lately, the kind of anxiety you feel when your crush discovers a little secret of yours—nervousness tinged with embarrassment. She’s been waiting for Calvin’s reaction, but he hasn’t shown any sign of noticing that she turned their recent experiences into a novel. She feels both relieved and a bit disappointed. Why doesn’t he say something? Like maybe he doesn’t like it, or he doesn’t mind. What does saying nothing mean? She’s made countless guesses but never thought Calvin might enjoy seeing her troubled by guessing his thoughts.She’s even consoled herself like an ostrich, thinking maybe he hasn’t read the novel at all. After all, the plan was just proposed, and the story isn’t even finished yet. All future plans are empty talk until the script is completed. With that in mind, his lack of reaction seems reasonable.Now that "Like Wolves and Tigers" has finished airing, she has nothing more to do with the company. Her daily routine consists of wri
"Absolutely not!""Dream on!"Two voices rang out simultaneously as Jex and Fiona locked eyes, engaging in a silent battle of wills. Jex was the first to turn his gaze back to the computer, remarking, "Wives are the most ungrateful creatures. They promise to give themselves to you, but once they do, they demand more. They’ll take half your savings, hold your assets hostage, and put their names on your house and car. Ask them to have a child, and they wail about their lack of human rights, claiming they aren’t baby-making machines. Damn it, even if I, Jex, had a fortune, you’d still have to give me a son!"Fiona retorted coolly, "Yes, some men think so highly of themselves. They assume women marry them for their money, while simultaneously saying 'I love you, everything of mine is yours,' and insisting on a prenuptial agreement. Not only that, but they also eye their wife's dowry. 'The house is mine; you just pay for the renovation and the car. Don't know how to drive? No worries, I do
The living room lights flickered on, the sudden brightness making Bella squint. Instinctively, she glanced at the clock on the wall—it was ten. Turning her head towards the entrance, she saw Calvin changing his shoes. Languidly, she asked, “Working late again today?” “Mhm,” Calvin replied nonchalantly. Bella redirected her gaze back to the television. Calvin was a workaholic, working overtime at least three days a week, a routine she had grown accustomed to. Typically, he would take a shower at this time and then seclude himself in the study to continue his grand endeavors. However, today was different. Calvin picked up the remote from the coffee table, turned off the TV, and then sat down on the single-seater sofa to her left, loosening his tie with a hint of lethargy. “I need to discuss something with you.” Bella looked at him in confusion. Discuss something with her? That was rare. In their three years of marriage, he had always had only one thing to say about domestic matters—“
Bella, irritated, slammed the mouse down. Ugh, this client was a nightmare—the wine promotion poster had been revised five times and still wasn't satisfactory! The client, a rather attractive woman, always showed up overdressed and smelling like she'd bathed in perfume, enough to make anyone sneeze. After several interactions, Bella’s four-word summary for her was—beauty without brains, totally clueless about design. But, the customer is always right, even if their taste is all wrong. Dealing with clueless clients wasn’t new for Bella, but Calvin’s sudden bout of madness had left her too frazzled to handle them. Sighing resignedly, she grabbed the mouse again. Her marriage was teetering on the edge, but she couldn’t afford to lose her job. At that moment, the sound of a swivel chair sliding nearby was followed by a face peeking over the partition. Glancing at her screen, she was somewhat surprised, “You've only changed the background color of the poster all morning? That woman is com
When Bella got home, Calvin was watching TV. Logic would dictate that a workaholic like him wouldn't be interested in entertainment, least of all idol dramas. Yet, there he was, strangely engrossed in one. It baffled her; what was a grown man doing watching idol dramas? His posture was relaxed against the couch, expressionless, his eyes unchanging as he watched the main characters share a passionate kiss on the screen. The kissing scene wasn’t particularly special, but such scenes tend to stir emotions in viewers, Bella included. She might not have thought much of it alone, but with Calvin there, she oddly felt her cheeks warm. "TV dramas these days can hardly progress without hugging, kissing, or rolling in bed," Bella commented as she dumped her shopping bags onto the sofa, relieved to be rid of the weight. "The audience likes these things." Bella was surprised by his response and retorted, "You like watching this?" She couldn’t grasp what had gotten into him. She remembered him
Bella shot Fiona a sideways glance. Not only was Fiona risqué, but she was also lewd. However, their compatibility indicated that Bella was no innocent flower either, just differently lewd. Fiona immediately caught Bella’s look and defended herself, "Crude but true! I can't stand your faux purity, married lady pretending to be a maiden!" "Can't you be more subtle?" Bella criticized the crass language. She had never introduced Calvin to Fiona, and such words seemed far removed from him. Raising an eyebrow, Fiona suggested, "If you prefer, we could call it 'lotus arm.' Is that subtle enough?" Bella couldn’t help but cover her face. Was it even possible to have a normal conversation with her? Everything Fiona said was tinged with innuendo. Meanwhile, Bella noticed Jessica leading two new faces into the conference room. Fiona’s eyes followed, murmuring sounds of disapproval, probably cooking up some sleazy thoughts. Bella nudged her, "Come on, haven't you seen men before?" Just a coupl
Bella frowned, the pleasant mood brought by the cake vanishing instantly. What did he mean by that? Did he think she was so desperate to marry him? She stabbed the fork into the cake angrily, "How come I never noticed how venomous your words could be before? Every sentence stabs at my heart! Proposing wasn’t hard? Then maybe divorce should be harder for you!" His face, always so cool and detached, yet his words ignited her anger like nothing else.Calvin's expression remained unchanged, as if oblivious to her anger, calmly stating, "What do you want? I'll try my best to fulfill it."Bella swirled the fork in the cake, uncovering the chocolate beneath the cream and tasting the slight bitterness. It reminded her of her current mood, subtly bitter. She wondered if his heart was as dark as the cake. Glancing at his handsome profile, she retorted, "I want you.""Aren't you tired of my dullness?""I care about looks!" With his poison tongue, better he keeps silent.Calvin smiled for once, "
Tonight was full of irregularities, and Bella couldn't resist venting to Fiona on Q, their conversation straying far from the original topic until they weren't even sure what they were talking about anymore. Suddenly, a ringtone sounded, and turning her head, she was surprised to see Calvin's phone flashing. In the past, she wouldn't have given it a second glance, but now, curiosity got the better of her, wondering who would call at this time.Calvin had just entered the bathroom, and seizing the moment, she grabbed his phone—Julia? Undoubtedly a woman's name, Bella felt an immediate surge of displeasure. A call this late? To say goodnight?After Julia's call stopped after three attempts, Bella bit her lip, debating whether to snoop through Calvin's phone. Glancing towards the bathroom and considering Calvin hardly ever shared details about his work or social circles, she figured the phone might reveal something. With the phone in her grasp, all secrets could be unveiled! Luckily, she
"Absolutely not!""Dream on!"Two voices rang out simultaneously as Jex and Fiona locked eyes, engaging in a silent battle of wills. Jex was the first to turn his gaze back to the computer, remarking, "Wives are the most ungrateful creatures. They promise to give themselves to you, but once they do, they demand more. They’ll take half your savings, hold your assets hostage, and put their names on your house and car. Ask them to have a child, and they wail about their lack of human rights, claiming they aren’t baby-making machines. Damn it, even if I, Jex, had a fortune, you’d still have to give me a son!"Fiona retorted coolly, "Yes, some men think so highly of themselves. They assume women marry them for their money, while simultaneously saying 'I love you, everything of mine is yours,' and insisting on a prenuptial agreement. Not only that, but they also eye their wife's dowry. 'The house is mine; you just pay for the renovation and the car. Don't know how to drive? No worries, I do
Bella has been feeling a bit anxious lately, the kind of anxiety you feel when your crush discovers a little secret of yours—nervousness tinged with embarrassment. She’s been waiting for Calvin’s reaction, but he hasn’t shown any sign of noticing that she turned their recent experiences into a novel. She feels both relieved and a bit disappointed. Why doesn’t he say something? Like maybe he doesn’t like it, or he doesn’t mind. What does saying nothing mean? She’s made countless guesses but never thought Calvin might enjoy seeing her troubled by guessing his thoughts.She’s even consoled herself like an ostrich, thinking maybe he hasn’t read the novel at all. After all, the plan was just proposed, and the story isn’t even finished yet. All future plans are empty talk until the script is completed. With that in mind, his lack of reaction seems reasonable.Now that "Like Wolves and Tigers" has finished airing, she has nothing more to do with the company. Her daily routine consists of wri
Calvin had retrieved his car from repairs, but perhaps out of guilt, he found it increasingly unsatisfactory. Rather than driving something that displeased him, he decided it was better to buy a new one. Jex, learning of this, insisted on accompanying him. The old BMW X5 had been completely sidelined; Calvin would rather take a taxi than drive it. Jex jokingly called him heartless and ungrateful, lamenting that the loyal X5 had been abandoned despite its hard work. "What did it do wrong?" "It knows too much," Calvin said nonchalantly, fastening his seatbelt as he got into Jex's car."Knows too much?" It didn’t want to, either. It played along with your ruse, and this is how you repay it? Jex started the car and drove out of the parking lot. "Cars can't talk, you know. They're like mute illiterates—no matter how much they know, they can't express it."Calvin didn't respond. The car might not talk, but the passengers could ask questions. It's just easier to replace it. Shortly after th
Bella watched Calvin close the door and couldn't help but laugh. Despite being a bit annoying, it was indeed a coincidence that they ran into Jessica again. Disrupted by her presence, they lost the mood for shopping and just bought a pair of rings before heading back. Bella leaned back on the sofa, holding up her hand to inspect the ring. Hmm, it didn't sparkle as much away from the display lights. Seeing Calvin's figure, she waved him over.Calvin sat next to her, glanced at the ring, and smiled without saying a word. She grabbed his hand to place the rings side by side. With the right lighting, the rings regained their brilliance. She smiled foolishly, leaning her head on his shoulder. Apart from their wedding ring, he had never given her any jewelry before. This was probably the first time. Women have an inexplicable fondness for rings and flowers.“Do you like it?”“I love it!” She smiled and gave him a light kiss on the lips. The peck was far from enough to satisfy him. He reache
After finally getting into a taxi, Bella looked back at the photographers far behind, still snapping away, visibly shaken. Calvin seemed relieved as well. It was strange—why were there media outside the hospital? Few people knew about his hospitalization. How did the media find out? It was probably Jex’s doing.The call to Jex went through quickly. Jex was still talking to someone, haggling with a real estate agent by the sound of it. After finishing his conversation, he finally put the phone to his ear. "Calvin? I won’t be coming by this morning. Hold on until the afternoon, and I’ll help you to the bathroom."“I’ve been discharged.”Jex was a bit surprised. "Regained your sight?" He didn’t think it would happen so soon. "Stay a few more days. I can handle things at the company."“What’s with the reporters at the hospital entrance?”Jex laughed on the other end, pretending to complain. "How can we play happily if you pretend you don’t know it’s my arrangement? What’s the deal? Natura
"Blind man feeling an elephant?" She remembered the trick they played in the hot tub in Thailand, and it really fit the current situation. But she really couldn't handle this position, struggling futilely, "Mm... not like this, it's so embarrassing!" Being positioned like this and having him play with her was really too shameful, wasn't it?"I can't see," Calvin said, his fingers drawing circles there, getting increasingly slick, his head slightly tilted as his lips pressed against the delicate skin on the inside of her thigh. The tender and gentle kisses mixed with his breath made her whole body tremble. She shrank back, begging, "I'm ticklish, stop it." The light touches were the worst; she was really on the verge of tears with nowhere to escape.As if to tickle her, his nose rubbed back and forth on the spot he had just kissed with a bit more force, then a warm, moist tongue slid over it, followed by his teeth nibbling on the delicate flesh, bringing a slight sting. Bella couldn't
Calvin moved her hand away once more. "It's uncomfortable to sleep while holding you." Now Bella felt genuinely hurt. She had apologized, but he still refused her. Stiffening behind him, she debated whether to turn away herself. After a long while, she reached out again, hesitant to touch him. What if he rejected her again? She sighed softly, deciding to try once more. Snuggling closer, she hugged him again and said in a muffled voice, "I want to sleep while holding you." She felt his hand grip her wrist and her nose stung with tears. Was he really so firm? Pulling back, she felt a lump in her throat, "I need a drink of water," she muttered, getting out of bed and walking away quickly. She didn't turn on the lights. Calvin heard the sound of water being poured and the cup being set down, followed by her footsteps returning. She paused outside the curtain before quietly coming back to bed. This time, she stayed far from him, not even covering herself with the blanket, curling up an
Calvin's minor injury had scabbed over by the third day in the hospital. During the doctor's rounds, Dr. Jason kept a straight face while making notes. He could sense that this patient was in a good mood today and was becoming more adept at acting blind. When asked about his eyesight, Calvin still claimed he couldn't see. Dr. Jason made notes in the medical record without any comment.When Jex arrived, he found the room lively. Calvin was pretending to be blind, Dr. Jason was expressionless, and Bella looked worried. Jex smiled, feeling that he had come at the right time. He glanced at the medical record in Dr. Jason's hand. It seemed that private hospitals were going all out, not only providing medical services but also playing along with the patient's act. What was written in the medical record? A script?Dr. Jason closed the medical record discreetly, advised Calvin to rest more, and then left the room."How are you feeling today?" Jex asked.Calvin didn't answer, but Bella, with a
When Calvin’s wound got wet, Bella anxiously called a nurse to change the dressing. As the bandage was removed, the wound appeared pale, making Bella frown in concern. How could such a grown man be so careless? All this fuss only caused him more suffering. The nurse repeatedly emphasized that the wound should avoid water, but Calvin lay there with his eyes closed, showing no sign of listening. The nurse then turned to Bella with a tone of reproach, implying how poorly Bella was taking care of the patient.Bella felt frustrated; it wasn't intentional on her part. After the nurse left, she turned to Calvin to complain, "Did you hear that? The wound mustn't get wet! If you keep this up, you won't be allowed to bathe at all!" After all, they were in an air-conditioned room, and he wouldn’t sweat.Calvin lazily acknowledged her, feeling rather moody since he hadn't been able to have his way. Bella busied herself with organizing the wardrobe. Jex and Fiona had delivered her luggage from the