CEO, Your Wife Has Left-Chapter 25: Kenneth Yates, Will You Pursue Me?
She brought him a bowl of millet porridge. Though it was plain, he ate it with great relish. After he finished, Summer Lancaster went to wash the dishes.
Kenneth Yates walked to the kitchen and leaned against the doorframe, watching her. The scene was as warm and tender as one between newlyweds.
"Kenneth Yates, what are you looking at!" Summer Lancaster exclaimed, turning to find him watching her with a relaxed expression.
"You!" Summer Lancaster hadn’t expected him to be so direct, and her cheeks flushed faintly.
It had been a truly surreal day. Summer Lancaster would have never dreamed Kenneth Yates would come to see her, let alone bring her flowers. Now, evening had come and it was time for bed. ’Should I let him into my bedroom?’ Just as she was mulling it over, Kenneth Yates suddenly pushed the door open and walked in.
"It’s getting late. Let’s go to bed. You have work tomorrow," Kenneth Yates said casually. Summer Lancaster was flabbergasted. ’How can anyone be so shameless? He just let himself in without an invitation!’
Lying in bed together, Summer Lancaster still wasn’t used to sleeping next to him. Her mind was a tangled mess. Just as she was debating whether to escape to the sofa, Kenneth Yates’s large hand gently wrapped around her waist.
"Don’t move. I’ll hold you while we sleep." Kenneth Yates preempted any protest before Summer Lancaster could even react.
"Kenneth Yates, can I ask you a question?" Summer Lancaster asked, her back still to him. Her finger unconsciously traced circles on the sheet.
"Mm, go ahead." She felt his warm breath by her ear.
Summer Lancaster turned to face him, her eyes fixed on his without blinking, as if trying to see right through him.
"Kenneth Yates, do you like me?" Summer Lancaster had wanted to ask him this for a long time. After what had happened with Thea Shaw, she’d started to feel he was just toying with her. But his actions today had made her resolve waver, and now she needed an answer.
Her question clearly made his breath hitch. ’Like her? He wasn’t sure himself. All he knew was that he got angry seeing her with other men, felt compelled to stand up for her when she was bullied, and couldn’t control his emotions when he was by her side. Is that what it means to like someone?’
A long moment passed, but Kenneth Yates didn’t answer. Summer Lancaster sighed. "Forget it. Let’s just sleep." She rolled over, turning her back to him.
"I do," he said suddenly. His breath tickled Summer Lancaster’s ear, sending a flutter through her heart. Her pupils dilated. ’Did he just say he likes me? Those were the words she had longed to hear for more than ten years.’
Summer Lancaster’s hands clenched the bedsheets, her body trembling with excitement.
The moonlight was exceptionally bright. If Summer Lancaster turned over now, Kenneth Yates would surely see her deeply flushed face.
"Kenneth Yates, are you asleep?"
"Hm? What is it?" Kenneth Yates opened his eyes for a moment, then closed them again.
"Kenneth Yates... you should pursue me," Summer Lancaster said, her hands clasped together.
Kenneth Yates opened his eyes and said with a smile, "Alright."
Summer Lancaster’s heart swelled with happiness. She didn’t mention Thea Shaw, afraid it would make Kenneth Yates hesitate. Right now, all she wanted was to hold on to him.
「The next morning」
When Kenneth Yates woke up, the spot beside him was already empty. He heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom; she was clearly washing up. Still in his pajamas, Kenneth got up and entered the bathroom without knocking.
"Kenneth Yates, don’t you know how to knock?" ’Thank goodness I was just putting on makeup and not...’ she thought. Seeing her at her makeup, Kenneth Yates raised an eyebrow.
"Summer Lancaster, let me do that for you," Kenneth Yates said, moving closer and picking up an eyeliner pencil.
"You?" ’If I let him do it, will I even be able to leave the house? So this is one of his quirks, huh.’ Summer Lancaster tried to block his hand, but he caught her wrist, holding her still.
"Close your eyes," Kenneth Yates commanded.
"Kenneth Yates, have you ever put eyeliner on anyone before?" Summer Lancaster asked, obediently closing her eyes.
"Never. But I’m a natural." Summer Lancaster chuckled. ’There’s that narcissistic streak of his again.’ She could feel his hand trembling, his movements hesitant and halting.
"Done. Take a look." Kenneth Yates turned Summer Lancaster to face the mirror.
"..." Summer Lancaster began, "Kenneth Yates, don’t you think it’s a little... heavy?" She really didn’t want to crush his confidence.
"Not at all, not at all. You’re going to work like this today. This is my first time, you know." Kenneth Yates seemed quite pleased with his handiwork.
