CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: LET’S SLEEP TOGETHER TONIGHT

Eugene Vaughn put down his phone, his deep eyes like a torch, quietly watching her sweet smile, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, "Whatever you eat, I’ll eat."

"Let’s go..." Victoria Sinclair headed towards the food area.

Victoria went to pick out ingredients, while Eugene filled two bags with large mangoes and tangerines in the fruit section.

When Victoria returned with the ingredients, she found the shopping cart filled with the fruits she liked; her heart warmed.

Only a fleeting moment of being moved, followed by strands of melancholy and bitterness.

He was nice to her, only hoping she wouldn’t bring up divorce again.

Nothing would change.

In a few days, he would still be as distant and aloof as before, living separate lives without bothering each other.

No arguments, but no closeness either.

Victoria slowly put down the ingredients, her nose suddenly feeling a bit sour.

If they’re going to return to how they were before, he shouldn’t be so nice to her now.

Comparison only brings hurt.

Eugene returned with two boxes of milk, placed them in the cart, and bent down to glance at her lowered face.

"What’s wrong with you?"

"Nothing." Victoria turned away, her back to him, gently exhaling, her chest feeling heavy, and continued walking forward.

Eugene watched her back, his eyes deep and dark.

After a moment, he pushed the cart to follow.

At checkout, Victoria habitually pulled out her phone.

"I’ll pay." Eugene grasped her wrist, gently pressing it down.

His large hand was warm, feeling like a current coursing from her hand, spreading, tingling and numbing, making her heart chaotic.

Even a simple touch made her nervously pull away quickly, feeling a bit awkward.

After paying, Victoria picked up a bag of groceries and left.

Eugene picked up two bags with one hand, and snatched the bag from her with the other.

"I can do it." Victoria tried to refuse.

The bag was snatched away by Eugene, who softly said, "Your hands are tender, don’t carry it."

Victoria looked at his broad back, somewhat puzzled!

Did he speak without logic?

How did he know if her hands were tender or not, he hadn’t seen them, hadn’t touched them.

Victoria caught up to him, walking by his side.

The weather in May was very pleasant, the path they walked at night was quiet, with no pedestrians.

The dim orange street lamps cast their shadows on the stone road, a gentle breeze wafting the faint scent of osmanthus blossoms from the roadside shrubs.

The distance was short, they walked slowly, without speaking, very quietly, feeling at ease inside.

Victoria sneaked a sideways glance at him.

Because they walked side by side, her sideways glance fell into Eugene’s peripheral vision, and the corners of his mouth slightly lifted.

She hoped that in the future they could often live like this, going to the supermarket together after work, having dinner together.

Though it wasn’t what you’d call loving, at least it wouldn’t be too distant and cold.

Back home.

Victoria changed her shoes, turned to grab the bag in her hand, but he just put it on the floor, "Don’t carry, go on in."

Victoria wasn’t quite used to his sudden kindness.

She obediently went in, put down her backpack, and went to the bathroom to wash her hands.

When she left the room, Victoria glanced into Eugene’s room as she passed his door.

The bed sheets she had slept on this morning hadn’t been changed?

Wasn’t he a germophobe?

In the past, he had insisted on throwing away clothes she tried on, though that jacket was still in his closet today, but his attitude was definitely one of disdain back then.

Bewildered, Victoria headed to the kitchen.

Eugene was in the kitchen arranging the groceries.

She walked in, "Need any help?"

"Go read a book." Eugene had just placed the fruit in the fridge and pulled out an orange, "Want to have some fruit first?"

Victoria pursed her lips and smiled faintly, shook her head, rolled up her sleeves, "Later, I want to cook dinner with you."

She liked the atmosphere in the kitchen with him.

Eugene placed the fruit, closed the fridge, and took out his phone to search for a savory glutinous rice ball recipe.

He studied it seriously, expecting it to be difficult, but it turned out to be super simple.

Victoria was washing the ingredients.

Eugene took out a large plate, washed his hands, and prepared to knead the glutinous rice flour.

Adjusting the proportions but unsure if he’d added too much water, his hands were covered in thick paste.

"Victoria, help me roll up my sleeves." Eugene stretched his arms out towards her.

Victoria’s body slightly stiffened, turning to look at him, her eyes bright as stars, somewhat startled.

Eugene waved his arm in front of her, "Roll it up."

"Oh!" Victoria reacted, heart skipping a beat, breath disordered, face flush.

He had gently called her Victoria just now.

No full name, no distance, just a very natural feeling.

She nervously swallowed, wiping the water off her hands with a napkin, gently tugged up his sleeves.

His arm muscles were solid, feeling hard, very powerful.

Seeing his long fingers coated with paste, Victoria chuckled softly, "Want me to add some flour for you?"

"Yes, it’s too sticky."

Victoria earnestly poured flour into the bowl for him, while he turned his head to glance at Victoria’s face.

His eyes gradually warmed, his gaze dropping from her profile, skimming past her delicate face, pink lips, finally landing on her fair neck.

An ambiguous air thickened.

He swallowed, breathing somewhat heavy, withdrew his gaze, and lowered his head to resume kneading.

The paste began to take shape, Eugene absentminded.

Victoria finished washing the ingredients and picked up a white radish to peel and shred.

In a husky voice, Eugene suddenly said, "There’s something, I’ve figured out."

Victoria paused in her peeling, looked up at him, "What?"

"Tonight, let’s sleep together." His tone was low, tinged with a heated breath.

Victoria froze as if struck, unmoving, heart pounding like a drum, cheeks burning, paralyzed unable to move.

After a moment, she slowly put down the knife and radish, washed her hands, her nervous voice trembling slightly, "I... I’ll go read a book, you cook for yourself."

Victoria neither agreed nor refused, feeling like an urge to escape.

She left the kitchen, heart still racing, head in chaos, shy and speechless, heading directly to her room.

She couldn’t even focus on reading, burying herself in the bed, covered by the blanket, so embarrassed she wanted to find a hole to climb into.

Eugene was too out of character.

Ever since she mentioned divorce, he’d been acting particularly strangely.

The words at noon seemed impulsive and threatening.

But just now, from his eyes and tone, it was clear he was sincerely inviting her.

Wasn’t spring almost over?

What was he doing?

If their feelings for each other improved, wouldn’t such things happen naturally?

He was too hasty, making her very uneasy.

Especially at this critical point when she had decided to divorce.

A chilling suspicion of a stealthy plot emerged.

Unexpectedly, Eugene’s first try at making savory rice balls turned out delicious.

But the atmosphere at the dining table was quite tense.

Victoria ate quietly, only saying, "It’s delicious."

Throughout, she didn’t speak another word.

It was Eugene who washed the dishes and tidied up.

After dinner, Victoria hid in her room, under the pretense of reading and studying, but she couldn’t focus at all.

She had already prepared herself for a divorce.

Eugene’s heart strategy disrupted her plans and determination.

At this moment, she felt very conflicted.

It would be false to say she wasn’t hopeful. If Eugene sincerely wanted to live a good life with her, she didn’t want divorce to be the conclusion.

Until she fell asleep, Eugene didn’t come knocking on her room door.