Chapter 657
And yet…
She also realized that his control wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Her gaze flicked to the watch on her wrist. Dinner would likely arrive in about ten minutes. Aside from the salmon steak Cale had recommended, she had ordered a few light dishes-just enough for the two of them without being too heavy.
After that, almost absentmindedly, she opened her chat with Althea. There were a few messages she hadn’t read or replied to yet. Taking the moment, her fingers moved quickly across the screen.
[Lydia.M]: The trip was nice. I visited a museum today. And yes, as always, Cale was with me-though, of course, work still found its way in.
The reply came almost instantly.
[Althea]: I figured. That’s so Cale. But you’re okay, right?
A faint smile touched Lydia’s lips.
[Lydia.M]: I’m okay. Really okay.
She paused for a moment before adding-
[Lydia.M]: I’m even starting to enjoy all of this.
She sent the message.
Across the room, Cale’s voice continued quieter now, but still serious. He had switched to another language Lydia didn’t fully understand, yet the tone alone was enough to tell anyone listening-this was
important.
A few minutes later, the call ended.
Cale closed his laptop slowly, then leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple for a moment before finally turning his gaze toward Lydia.
And the moment his attention settled on her; Lydia rose and walked over.
Without hesitation, Cale opened his arms, silently asking her to come closer-to sitting on his lap.
There was no reason for Lydia to refuse. She settled onto him, unconcerned about her weights, she knew he would hold her. And just like before, she felt him rest his head against her shoulder.
“I’m sorry.”
The words came out quietly, almost without warning.
Lydia frowned slightly. “For what?” she asked, gently running her fingers through his hair.
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Chapter 657
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“I shouldn’t have worked today.”
Lydia smiled faintly. “I don’t mind.”
“You should.”
“I wouldn’t,” Lydia replied lightly. “I know who I married.”
Cale looked at her for a few seconds, then let out a soft chuckle. “That sounds like a jab.”
“Maybe it is.”
A brief silence followed-but not an awkward one. If anything, the air between them felt lighter now, as if the earlier tension hadn’t left behind anything too heavy.
“Tomorrow,” Cale spoke again, his tone shifting slightly-more careful this time, as if he were choosing his words, “I still have to meet a client.”
Lydia lifted her gaze, studying him for a moment. She caught it-that subtle shift in his voice. It wasn’t just information.
It was concern.
But she only nodded. “That’s fine.”
Cale frowned faintly. “It is?”
“I can spend the day on my own.”
“You’re sure?”
Lydia met his eyes, then gave a small smile. She leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek-brief, gentle, but enough to say something she didn’t need to put into words.
“Yes, I’m sure,” she murmured. “If you’re meeting a client tomorrow… then I have plans of my own.”
Cale narrowed his eyes slightly, studying her more closely than before. “What kind of plans?”
Lydia shrugged casually, pretending to think. “I don’t know… maybe I’ll empty your card again?”
Cale let out a low chuckle, clearly amused. “Alright. If that’s what you want, I’ll just have to work harder- so you can drain it without ever worrying it’ll run out.”
Lydia laughed along with him, the atmosphere between them warming again in the simplest way.
But the moment was interrupted by a knock at the door.
Cale glanced over, then stood. “Looks like our dinner’s here.”
He walked over and opened the door. A waiter stood outside, pushing a trolley neatly arranged with dishes. The aroma of warm food drifted in immediately, filling the room with an inviting scent.
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Chapter 657
“Good evening, sir. Ma’am. Your dinner,” the waiter said politely.
“Come in,” Cale replied, stepping aside.
The waiter rolled the trolley in and efficiently transferred each dish onto the small dining table by the window. One by one, everything was laid out with steaming sauce, pasta infused with a gentle blend of spices, a light soup, and an elegant dessert placed neatly at the edge of the table.
And of course, Cale’s Americano.
Lydia watched without realizing it, her appetite stirring despite not feeling particularly hungry before.
“Thank you,” she said once the waiter finished.
“Enjoy your meal,” he replied before quietly stepping out, closing the door behind him.
Silence returned-but this time, it was accompanied by the warmth of food and its comforting aroma.
Cale walked back toward Lydia, pulling out a chair for her before taking his seat across from her. “Looks like you made good choices.”
“Of course,” Lydia replied lightly. “I wasn’t about to settle for something ordinary.”
“Like you?” Cale teased.
Lydia huffed softly. “You’re far too confident.”
“Maybe,” he said, unbothered.
They began eating, their conversation flowing easily between bites. Nothing heavy-just small remarks about the flavors, the city, and little things that, somehow, felt more than enough.
Until, as dinner neared its end, Cale set his utensils down and looked at Lydia with a different kind of
gaze.
Subtle-but enough for her to notice.
“What is it?” Lydia asked, a hint of suspicion in her tone.
Cale didn’t answer right away. He leaned back slightly, studying her for a few seconds longer than usual before a faint smile curved his lips.
“After this,” his voice lowered, softer, edged with something unmistakably teasing, “may I make you the highlight of my night?”
Lydia fell silent for a moment.
Warmth spread across her cheeks before she could stop it-but she didn’t look away. Her gaze stayed on him, even as something delicate stirred within her.
“You never run out of ways, do you?” she murmured.
Cale smiled. “I don’t want to run out of reasons to be close to you.”
Lydia shook her head lightly, though this time, her smile didn’t fade.
“…Can I?”