CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me-Chapter 79 - 77: Go to Meridia Together 1

Arnold didn’t say anything, but in his heart, he felt she was worth it. She had essentially given him a second chance at life. Ever since his parents died, he had been drifting from place to place, with no one to care for him or look after him. She was like a big sister, bringing warmth and light into his life.

Julian spoke from the side.

"Focus on getting better. Once you’re healed, I’ll send you abroad to study!"

"I’m serious!"

Julian’s tone was grave as he spoke, but the joy that had sparked in Arnold’s eyes instantly dimmed.

"Julian, you don’t have to do this. I saved Miss Naomi and Dylan, not for some kind of reward. I just really didn’t want them to get hurt..."

Julian raised his hand and lightly rapped Arnold on the head.

"You foolish kid, what nonsense are you thinking? I was already planning to send you away to study. I’ve just been busy lately and haven’t had a chance to arrange it."

Arnold was clever and quick-witted, skilled in combat, and loyal. ’With some training, he’ll definitely become a capable right-hand man,’ Julian thought. He had already discussed sending him abroad with Ken, but they hadn’t found the right opportunity.

’Besides,’ he thought, ’I can consider this repaying Arnold’s favor on her behalf.’

As this thought crossed his mind, Julian couldn’t help but glance at Naomi Shaw. But Naomi was so busy being happy for Arnold that she didn’t even spare him a look. This irked him. Naomi was cheerfully telling Arnold,

"This is wonderful, Arnold! You have to seize this opportunity. Go and study hard. Miss Naomi will be waiting for you to come home after you finish your studies!"

Arnold nodded, and Dylan chimed in to encourage him.

"Go, Uncle Arnold!"

Arnold smiled and ruffled the boy’s hair. Julian glanced at Naomi Shaw, who showed no sign of leaving. He stood up, still holding Dylan, and said,

"Didn’t Dylan want to go fly his kite?"

Then he looked back at Arnold.

"Just focus on getting better. The sooner you heal, the sooner you can go abroad."

Julian’s words reminded Naomi that Dylan had wanted to go fly a kite.

"Arnold, you get some rest and get well soon, okay? I’ll come see you again tomorrow!"

Arnold watched Julian leave with Dylan in his arms, then smiled and whispered to her,

"Julian seems... different, doesn’t he?"

Naomi recalled how fierce he had been in the car just a little while ago. She frowned and sniffled.

"I don’t see it. He’s still as mean as ever!"

Arnold didn’t say anything else, just smiled to himself. Naomi said her goodbyes and left the room.

Instead of going to the crowded square they had passed on the way, Julian drove her and Dylan to one by the sea. The scenery here was more beautiful, and there were far fewer people. Julian bought a kite and started flying it with Dylan on the lawn, while Naomi sat on the grass, quietly watching the tall man and her little boy.

It was obvious that Dylan was having a wonderful time. And Julian... he seemed genuinely happy, too. She had never seen him laugh so freely, with the pure joy of a child.

’If only,’ she thought, ’if only this could last forever. How wonderful would that be?’

Dylan came running toward her, giggling.

"Mommy, Dad got the kite so high! You should come fly it, too!"

She just smiled and shook her head.

"Mommy’s hand is hurt. You two have fun!"

’I really want to join in their fun,’ she thought. ’I wish we could be like that family of three nearby, so happy and close.’ But her hand just wouldn’t cooperate.

He walked over to her, letting the kite string out as he went.

"Come on. You can just let out the string. You won’t have to use your injured hand."

She tilted her face up to look at him. He stood before her, tall and imposing like a god. His handsome face still carried the remnants of his laughter with Dylan, and his voice was gentle, almost... fond.

She hesitated. It wasn’t because she was worried about her hand, but... ’Does he really want to share this moment with me?’

When she didn’t move, he frowned slightly and held out a hand to her. Dylan began to coax her from the side. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Mommy, hurry up and fly the kite with Dad!"

In the end, between Dylan’s coaxing and Julian’s steady gaze, she gave in. She placed her uninjured left hand in his outstretched palm. Its warmth instantly soothed her weary heart. With a gentle tug, he pulled her to her feet and drew her into his embrace, guiding her hand to the winder.

He held her from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder, and murmured instructions by her ear.

"I’ll hold the reel. You just let out the string with your left hand."

"Like this?"

Naomi asked nervously. It was her first time flying a kite. She had no idea how the thing even got into the air, much less how to control its altitude or direction. Even though she was only letting out the string, she felt completely flustered.

"Mhm, that’s right. Just like that. Here, let it out slowly..."

His voice was as steady as ever. He held her as he taught her, moving with her to follow the wind. Under their combined effort, the kite soared higher and higher. Dylan clapped happily nearby.

"Wow, Mommy and Daddy are the best! Our kite is the highest one!"

Seeing Dylan so happy, Naomi couldn’t help but laugh softly along with him. ’I can’t even remember the last time I laughed like this,’ she thought. It seemed she hadn’t, not since the day they’d entered into their strained marriage.

The more string she released, the higher the kite flew. Naomi squinted at it soaring high in the sky, and a sudden panic washed over her.

"Julian, I’m scared it’s just going to fly away and never come back!"

He chuckled softly behind her. His large hand covered hers, stopping her from trying to reel in the string.

"Silly girl. As long as you’re holding the string, you never have to worry about that. All you have to do is hold on tight. Unless the string breaks... but if it does, then there’s no point in longing for what’s gone."

"As long as the string doesn’t break, it will always be mine?"

She murmured to herself, her head tilted back to watch the kite. The truth was, her panic came from seeing the kite as Julian—soaring higher and higher, to a place she could only gaze up at in awe. Every day, she worried he would leave her.

Julian didn’t say anything more. Instead, he took her hand and began reeling in the string.

"When you reel it in, go easy. Slow and steady. Don’t rush..."

With his guidance, Naomi successfully reeled the kite all the way back in. Dylan ran up to her, puckering his lips for a kiss.

"You were great, Mommy!"

She smiled and kissed Dylan. After their family kite-flying adventure, Dylan was finally content. He fell fast asleep in her arms on the drive home. It was a struggle for her to support him with only one good arm. Julian noticed her discomfort and accelerated, and she shot him a grateful glance.

When they finally arrived home, he got out of the car and took the sleeping Dylan from her, carrying him inside. By the time the little one was settled in bed, she was exhausted, too. Julian straightened his clothes and glanced at her and his son.

"I’m heading to the office."

She stood to see him out, but he pulled her into an embrace.

"About what we discussed this morning... you’d better think of a sufficiently sincere apology. Or else, we’ll see how I ’deal with you’ when I get back."

Flustered and annoyed, she decided to throw caution to the wind.

"Well, I can’t think of anything! So you can ’deal with me’ however you please!"

’He’s already subjected me to every kind of "extreme torture" in bed, anyway,’ she thought. ’What’s left to be afraid of?’

Seeing his normally good-natured wife flustered by his teasing, Julian chuckled. He pulled her close and whispered something in her ear. Naomi gasped, her face instantly turning bright red. Before she could retaliate, Julian laughed and strode away.

He had suggested the one thing she had never done for him. And it was something she would rather die than do.

Terrified he would actually try to torment her with his suggestion when he got home that night, Naomi spent the entire day racking her brain for a suitably "sincere" alternative. Finally, she decided to bring him dinner at the office. ’That’s sincere enough, right?’

First, she called to ask if he was coming home for dinner. As it happened, he said he was working late and wouldn’t be back. Next, she called Ken and told him not to order dinner for Julian. Then, she and Mrs. Sommers began preparing his favorite dishes. Even though her hand prevented her from cooking herself, assisting Mrs. Sommers was at least a show of sincerity, wasn’t it? They prepared two meals: one for Arnold at the hospital, and the other for Julian Donovan.