CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me-Chapter 80 - 78: Going to Meridia Together 2

She first dropped off Arnold’s meal, and after giving him a few instructions, she hurried to leave. Arnold laughed at her,

"Miss Naomi, don’t tell me that other one is a bento you made with love for Julian, is it?"

She gritted her teeth.

"It’s for him, but it’s not made with love!"

’It’s a bento to show my sincerity, okay! Besides, she had to admit, Julian Donovan was so childish.’

After leaving the hospital, she went straight to his company. She had already told Ken that she was bringing Julian dinner and had asked him to keep it a secret, so Ken came downstairs to meet her. The moment he saw her, Ken’s eyes crinkled into a smile.

"His meeting isn’t over yet. There’s about ten more minutes!"

"Okay, I’ll wait for him then."

Naomi Shaw walked beside Ken. As they crossed the ground floor lobby, the stares of the other employees made her feel very self-conscious.

As Ken led her toward Julian Donovan’s office, he offered some well-meaning advice.

"Naomi, I don’t mean to overstep, but you’re far too low-key. If you were a bit more assertive, all those other women wouldn’t dare to throw themselves at him so openly! You should be showing off your sweet relationship more. Put on a display wherever you go. Follow him wherever he goes. That way, you won’t give anyone else an opening!"

Naomi Shaw just smiled and pointed to her own chest.

"Ken, while my not being around is certainly a factor, the most important thing depends on what’s in his heart, doesn’t it?"

’If his heart isn’t with her, what use is it for her to do everything right and watch him like a hawk?’

’If his heart were with her, what could a hundred other women do?’

They both had a point, so Ken didn’t say anything more. He just smiled and opened the office door for her.

"You can wait in here. I have to get back to the meeting."

Naomi Shaw nodded and walked inside, bento box in hand.

As Naomi Shaw had requested, Ken hadn’t told Julian Donovan she was bringing him dinner. When the meeting ended, Julian Donovan shot a puzzled look back at Ken, who was walking behind him.

"Ken, did something good happen today?"

’Why did he step out during the meeting and come back with a smile he couldn’t quite hide on his usually serious face?’

Ken cleared his throat, masking his amusement.

"Oh, it’s nothing. Dinner’s been prepared for you. Go on and eat. You have another meeting in an hour."

Julian Donovan gave Ken another look before entering his office. But the moment he stepped inside, he froze. He saw a petite woman bustling about, carefully taking dishes out of a container and arranging them. The entire office was filled with the aroma of the food.

This was completely beyond his expectations. Her slender, busy figure was like a soft feather, gently tugging at his heartstrings.

The woman saw him standing there and gave him a gentle smile.

"Julian, your meeting’s over. Hurry up and eat, I’m starving!"

Julian Donovan finally snapped out of it. He strode over to her and asked,

"What are you doing here?"

Naomi Shaw simply beamed at him and asked,

"Is this sincere enough for you?"

’Judging by his expression, she knew she had truly stunned him.’

Julian Donovan then remembered what he’d said to her before he left. His gaze swept over the sumptuous feast on the table, and, suppressing the joy in his heart, he quietly uttered a single word.

"Enough..."

"Then does this mean you’ll stop giving me a hard time?"

Julian Donovan gazed into her bright, expressive eyes and found himself involuntarily uttering another word.

"Fine..."

Hearing his confirmation, Naomi Shaw let out a long sigh of relief, only to hear his voice pipe up again.

"But starting tomorrow, you have to bring me dinner every day!"

Her face instantly fell.

"Every single day?"

Julian Donovan replied, completely unfazed and with an air of absolute conviction.

"Yes. Unless I have a business dinner or I’m going straight home to eat, you’ll bring me my meal."

’Who could blame him? He had instantly fallen in love with this fresh, warm atmosphere.’

Naomi Shaw was completely dumbfounded. ’Does he really have to torment me like this?’

While she was still standing there, stunned, he pulled her into his arms and sat them both down. Seeing that she still hadn’t answered, Julian Donovan’s tone grew chilly.

"What? Is this a problem for you?"

"It’s not that it’s a problem for me... I’m just worried it will be a problem for *you*..."

’After all, she didn’t have much to do at home. Other than reading her nursing books, occasionally attending a class on the subject, and checking on Dylan, she had nothing else to do.’

’He was asking her to come every day, no longer trying to hide her from everyone. Was he finally willing to acknowledge her role in his life?’

"Naomi, once your hand has healed a bit more, bring Dylan and come live with me in Meridia."

Naomi Shaw froze, unable to process his words. ’He was... asking her to bring Dylan to Meridia to live with him?’

’In the four years he had been in Meridia, this was a dream she’d never dared to have. She knew he disliked her and their marriage, so she never fantasized that he would ever ask her to be by his side.’

She stared blankly at his calm expression, taking a long time to come back to her senses.

But when she did, her first reaction was to bite her lip and ask him a question in her mind.

’If she and Dylan went to Meridia, what would happen to his first love, Juliet Jennings?’

Julian Donovan knew what she was about to ask. He cut her off gently before she could say the words.

"I won’t put you in a difficult position. I’ll take care of everything."

She didn’t need a passionate vow. That simple promise not to put her in a difficult position was enough to move Naomi Shaw deeply. She chose to trust him, believing that since he had given his word, he would keep it.

"You heard what I said to Tyson downstairs this morning, didn’t you?"

He had noticed the wet tear tracks on her face when he went to kiss her, so he knew she had overheard his conversation.

"So, come to Meridia. We’ll live together."

This was the first time Julian Donovan had actively tried to repair their relationship, so his invitation was stiff and clumsy. Thankfully, she had overheard him, saving him the effort of a more elaborate explanation.

Naomi Shaw nodded softly.

She replied with a single word, yet it felt as if it weighed a ton.

No one knew how much courage it took for her to make that decision. Her heart had withered for him over the past four years, but now, his decision had caused her deadened heart to flare back to life.

’She didn’t know what awaited her—his gentle companionship for the rest of their lives, or his ultimate, merciless abandonment. But she was willing to try. If not for herself, then for Dylan.’

Julian Donovan suddenly raised a hand and gently ruffled her soft hair.

"Once I go back and sort things out, I’ll bring you and Dylan over. For now, let’s eat. I have another meeting to get to."

But her hand, holding her chopsticks, trembled traitorously. Several times, she almost failed to pick up a piece of food, all because she was overcome with genuine joy and anticipation.

Julian Donovan, of course, saw her hand trembling. He felt a faint prick of pain in his heart. He had always known she loved him, but he never expected his decision would make her this joyful.

He picked up his own chopsticks and began piling food from every dish into her bowl, his tone teasing.

"Do I need to feed you, too?"

Extremely embarrassed, Naomi Shaw picked up her full bowl and lowered her head to eat.

They ate the rest of their meal without another word. When they were finished, Naomi Shaw began to clean up again. Julian Donovan came over, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace.

"I have another meeting. I’ll have Ken arrange for a driver to take you home."

’The thought that once she and Dylan were in Meridia, she could be with him like this every day... it was a wonderful feeling.’

Naomi Shaw murmured in agreement and was about to push him away to leave, but he glanced at his watch and leaned in closer.

"No rush. The meeting doesn’t start for another half an hour. Otherwise... we could do something else?"

Blushing, Naomi Shaw pushed against him.

"You should get ready for your meeting. I need to get back to Dylan!"

’They were in his office! She could see their reflection in the adjacent floor-to-ceiling window, his tall frame enveloping her petite one against the backdrop of the dark night. The sight made her feel warm and happy.’

"Young Master Donovan, shall I arrange a car to take Naomi home now? Or would you prefer to go back together after the meeting?"

Only then did Julian Donovan release Naomi Shaw.

"Arrange a car to take her back now."

Ken agreed and left to arrange for the car. Feeling quite bashful, Naomi Shaw straightened her slightly rumpled clothes. For a moment, silence descended upon the vast office.