Mr. Warner, Your Wife is Running Away Again!-Chapter 658: You Were Already Bullying Me

Stephen Sutton looked at Phoebe King’s tear-streaked face, sighed helplessly, took her hand, and led her to the bathroom. He wrung a towel with hot water and gently said while helping her wipe her face, "This is my first time being someone’s husband too. I have many shortcomings, and I’ll correct what you mentioned earlier."

Just hearing Stephen’s gentle tone made Phoebe feel like everything was okay again.

"No more crying. If Mom sees you later, she’ll think I bullied you."

Though Phoebe had stopped crying, she still sniffled involuntarily and complained, "You did bully me!"

"Okay, I’m sorry." The tone was sincere, with no perfunctory intent.

Hearing this, Phoebe felt her anger dissipate, and taking the towel to wipe her face herself, she sniffed and said haughtily, "If you’d done this earlier, there’d be no problem!"

"Now you’re proud. Go downstairs, eat the dumplings, and reflect on yourself. It’d be best if you write me a self-criticism letter."

Phoebe walked out of the bathroom, saying, "You should be the one writing it for me."

After speaking, Phoebe asked him, "Did you get my new nightgown?"

Stephen walked to the wardrobe, saying, "Didn’t I tell you? All the clothes you need for a change are packed in the suitcase, so you don’t have to rummage around."

Saying this, Stephen opened the suitcase, pinpointed the dress she mentioned among many clothes, handed it to Phoebe, and said, "Mad as you are, aren’t you going to eat?"

Phoebe took the dress and, not minding Stephen watching, started changing by the bed, saying as she undressed, "I’m full with anger; my head hurts, and my chest feels tight."

"That’s your own doing. Hurry and change, or the dumplings will get cold."

Seeing Stephen walk toward the door, Phoebe hurriedly called out, "Wait for me to go down with you!"

"I’ll wait outside. Hurry up." With that, Stephen closed the room door.

Despite Phoebe’s openness in front of him, he still took care to protect her privacy.

Besides, he was already barely holding back, and seeing certain scenes would only make it harder for him.

Audrey Sutton sat in the dining room, watching her brother and sister-in-law come down from upstairs together, and a comforting smile appeared on her face.

Though she didn’t know how Stephen resolved the conflict, maybe just by softening his tone and placating Phoebe with a few words, the issue seemed over.

She knew very well that sometimes when girls act up, it’s not because they want something, nor do they want to hear any advice; they just need you to say a few nice words to immediately let go of everything.

Phoebe didn’t look at all like her droopy self from earlier, happily sitting next to Audrey. Picking up chopsticks, she said, "I’m starving; it feels like ten won’t be enough!"

Audrey took two dumplings from her bowl and gave them to Phoebe, smiling as she asked, "Do you have an appetite now?"

Phoebe simply smiled, clearly looking more spirited than before.

Stephen came over, glanced at the group, and said, "If you’re still hungry, I’ll cook more."

Norman Sutton, having stuffed down about a dozen, seemed unable to eat more and generously pushed his bowl toward them, "There are a few more here, consider it a gift."

Audrey and Phoebe simultaneously showed expressions of disdain, "You eat them yourself!"

"Bah, I wasn’t planning to give them to you anyway!"

Saying this, Norman stuffed the leftover dumplings into his mouth even though his cheeks were still full. Seeing this, Hazel Yates came out of the kitchen and scolded him, "No manners at all. You’re in your late twenties. I was too embarrassed to agree when your aunt said she’d set you up on a date because I was afraid you’d embarrass us."

After a good chew, Norman swallowed the dumplings in his mouth and said, "Do I need a date? I just don’t want to find a partner. Once I want to, plenty of girls will come looking for me!"

Audrey chimed in, "The ones who do must have bad eyesight."

Norman stood up, "Too lazy to talk to you. You wouldn’t understand even if I did, it’s a waste of breath. I’m leaving, going out to play."

Hazel asked, "Where are you going this late?"

Norman replied, "To find a girlfriend, of course."

Norman often went out at night, and though Hazel knew he had his limits, she only nagged a bit without stopping him.

After eating, Audrey probed Phoebe on how Stephen managed to cheer her up. Seeing Stephen’s eyes constantly darting their way, Audrey didn’t keep the couple’s time occupied and sensibly went upstairs to make room for her brother.

After Audrey went upstairs, Phoebe had almost finished eating as well. Stephen came over and asked her, "Are you full?"

Phoebe burped, rubbed her stomach, and said, "Full. Mom’s green pepper sauce is so tasty."

Stephen said, "If it’s that good, bring some back later."

Phoebe pouted and said, "Why don’t you learn from Mom? Then you can make it for me."

Stephen said, "Even if I make the same thing, you’d find it not as good as others’ cooking."

Phoebe chuckled, "It’s not that yours isn’t good; it’s just too bland, like it has no taste. I like it a bit spicy, like this green pepper sauce."

Stephen replied, "Alright." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Phoebe eyed him oddly, prompting Stephen to ask, "What?"

Phoebe said, "Agreeing so quickly, it doesn’t seem like you."

Stephen said, "As long as you like it, otherwise I’d spend ages cooking a big meal only for you to complain."

Phoebe smiled, "I didn’t complain, as long as you cook, I’ll eat."

Stephen said, "Alright then, go upstairs and sleep."

Phoebe mischievously asked him, "Which room should I sleep in?"

Stephen replied, "Whatever room you want."

Phoebe said, "Where do you want me to sleep? If you don’t want to share a room with me, I’ll go find Audrey."

Stephen said, "Audrey’s probably asleep. Don’t go waking her up."

Stephen’s excuse seemed logical, but Phoebe knew Audrey had just gone upstairs, so how could she be asleep so quickly?

However, she understood Stephen’s roundabout way of expressing his intent, so she didn’t expose it, smiling, "Then I’ll reluctantly sleep with you."

Stephen nodded, "You head up first, I’ll boil a kettle of water."

Phoebe hummed a cheerful tune as she went upstairs, and the tension in Stephen’s heart finally released.

It really had been a long day.

Both sides of the river were brightly lit. Because of Christmas, quite a few couples braved the cold to go on dates, standing on the bridge, admiring the night scenery, and chatting.

By the beach under the bridge, there were vendors selling trinkets, and it was the only place in the city where fireworks were allowed, making it lively.

Miles Sterling stood on the roadside by the riverbank, gazing at Vanessa Sterling, standing alone outside the crowd. He didn’t expect to see her there. Compared to those in pairs, her petite figure seemed even more solitary.