CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: FALLING IN LOVE

The next morning.

Just as usual, Shane Warner went to the gym first thing in the morning for a workout. Coming downstairs, he looked at the cold, empty kitchen counter. He still wasn’t used to the absence of her making breakfast.

He casually drank a glass of milk to get by for breakfast and then grabbed her textbooks that she needed for classes today, heading to her school.

He was still driving that inconspicuous Jeep, which didn’t attract much attention parked in front of the school building.

But Audrey Sutton recognized it immediately and had Stephen Sutton park the car next to Shane Warner’s.

Shane Warner got out of the car and walked over to Stephen Sutton’s vehicle. As Audrey Sutton opened the car door, he was standing right next to it. When she got out, he held his hand above the door frame to prevent her head from hitting it.

Stephen Sutton got out of the car and smiled at Shane Warner, saying, "Audrey still hasn’t overcome her careless habit. Sorry for making you take an early trip."

Shane Warner smiled, "It’s alright, it’s not far anyway."

Stephen Sutton said, "I heard from Audrey that you went on a business trip. When did you get back?"

Shane Warner glanced at Audrey Sutton, guessing that she must have made up that excuse last night. He quickly responded, "I was just nearby, not too far. Got back last night, returned late, didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone at home, so I let her stay elsewhere for the night."

Stephen Sutton said, "She’s been timid since she was young; she surely couldn’t sleep alone at home."

Audrey Sutton reached to take the book from Shane Warner’s hand and said to Stephen Sutton, "Brother, let’s go, class is about to start."

Stephen Sutton nodded, very politely saying to Shane Warner, "Alright then, let’s chat sometime."

Shane Warner replied with a smile, "Sure," watching as Audrey Sutton pulled Stephen Sutton towards the school building.

Gazing at her back, he couldn’t help but worry. She hadn’t said a word to him, could it be that she was still mad?

Pondering this issue, for the first time Shane Warner got distracted during a meeting, his thoughts elsewhere, and he ended the meeting early.

After returning to the office, Shane Warner opened his computer and typed into the browser’s search engine: How to handle a cold war with your wife?

A wide array of answers popped up, roughly divided into three categories.

The first group suggested that women shouldn’t be pampered, and the more you indulge them, the more problems arise, so just leave her alone.

The second group believed that women need to be coaxed. The speed at which you end the cold war determines the extent of her future love for you.

The third group was the happy-go-lucky type. A cold war? What a great opportunity! Quickly arrange to meet up with buddies to game!

Shane Warner naturally belonged to the second group, but the problem was, how to coax her?

In the recommendations below the page was one titled: How to make your girlfriend happy.

He moved his mouse and clicked in.

The responses from netizens were all sorts of strange and peculiar. The common suggestions involved giving various gifts, while the more absurd ones had all sorts of devious tricks. The cunning Shane Warner was drawn to one idea: place the dishes on the highest shelf in the cupboard, tightly screw the can and bottle lids, or hide something she often uses, so that when she needs your help, she’ll come to you willingly.

Shane Warner found this doable.

"Master Shane, the representative from Serephina’s KC should arrive tonight, should we schedule the time for tonight?" Faye Xavier knocked and entered to discuss.

Shane Warner calmly closed his computer, pausing for a moment before saying, "I have plans tonight, let’s schedule it for tomorrow noon, and find someone to show them around nearby tonight."

Faye Xavier gave a knowing mischievous smile and said, "I get it, Master Shane isn’t the workaholic he used to be, now his mind is solely on his little wife."

Shane Warner gave him a stern look, while Faye Xavier chuckled, "Master Shane in love is entirely different, huh."

Faye Xavier’s words made Shane Warner’s heart skip a beat. Love? He always felt such things were far removed from him.

In the late afternoon, around four, Shane Warner hurried home before Audrey Sutton finished school, setting up things just as the online instructions said.

Hearing a sound at the door, Shane Warner leisurely picked up the newspaper from the coffee table and pretended to read it seriously.

As Audrey Sutton entered, she instinctively glanced towards the room, immediately spotting Shane Warner sitting on the sofa.

Seeing he didn’t even lift his head, she didn’t greet him either, quietly changing her shoes by the door and heading straight upstairs back to her room.

Hearing the door closing upstairs, Shane Warner finally lifted his eyes from the newspaper, frowned, and tossed the paper back onto the coffee table.

He walked over to the staircase, looking up along the stairs.

After a few seconds of watching, he stepped upstairs and knocked on her door, softly asking, "What do you want for dinner?"

Her voice came through the door, "I’ll make something myself later."

Only hearing her voice and not seeing her expression, Shane Warner couldn’t guess her current mood.

He could only return downstairs, feeling uneasy for the first time whether standing or sitting.

Half an hour later, she came downstairs.

She was wearing a white casual outfit, with short sleeves and shorts, her fair legs swaying as they walked down the stairs in front of him.

Audrey Sutton glanced at Shane Warner, who was holding a new jewelry magazine.

Silence.

Audrey Sutton walked straight to the kitchen counter, opened the fridge, and took out some ingredients.

Shane Warner pretended to continue reading the magazine, but his eyes kept glancing in Audrey Sutton’s direction, ears strained to hear her call for help later.

For dinner, Audrey Sutton didn’t prepare anything too complicated, just took some vegetables and fruits from the fridge to make a salad.

When she opened the cupboard to get a bowl, she immediately frowned.

The shelves she could see were empty, looking up, she noticed everything had been placed on the highest shelf.

She glanced at Shane Warner, confused. There’s usually just the two of them at home, so naturally, he must have been the one to put everything up there.

Without understanding his reason, was he clearing space below for other things?

Audrey Sutton didn’t ask, merely went straight to the dining table to grab a chair, stood on it, and retrieved the bowl from the top cupboard.

Shane Warner was momentarily stunned at this sight, this... was different from what he had imagined?

She quickly prepared the salad with a clatter and carried her bowl straight upstairs.

Only then did Shane Warner realize she didn’t plan to make a portion for him.

All he could do now was bank on the canned fruits she loved; she almost always had a couple of bites after meals.

"Buzz—buzz—" The phone on the table rang, and upon seeing the number, Shane Warner frowned.

If it hadn’t been for the call she made yesterday, he might now be enjoying dinner made by Audrey Sutton instead of sitting here hungry and worried.

He hesitated to answer the call, pretending not to recognize and spoke somewhat impatiently, "What is it?"

"...I came back to the country yesterday."

"Oh, don’t call me unless necessary, actually, don’t call even if necessary."

On the other end, Clarissa Morgan paused for a moment and smiled, "Did your wife get jealous and fight with you? She answered the call when I rang you yesterday."

Shane Warner said, "She’s not that petty. I’m just purely uninterested in dealing with anyone or anything not pertaining to my wife."

Preparing to go downstairs and grab a can of fruit, Audrey Sutton happened to overhear this sentence. Although she knew he might just be using her as a shield, it still made her heart swell with joy.