Chapter 65: ...come find me in the bedroom

Dominic’s expression darkened the moment he noticed Clara zoning out.

(Is she still thinking about Mark?)

The mere possibility made his gaze turn noticeably colder.

Clara, completely oblivious to the storm brewing beside her, finally snapped out of her thoughts.

Before she could even look at him—

A firm hand wrapped around her wrist.

"What—"

With one swift tug, Dominic pulled her toward him.

She let out a tiny squeak as she lost her balance and landed squarely on his lap.

"..."

For a second, neither of them spoke.

Dominic’s arm instinctively circled her waist to steady her while his sharp eyes searched her face.

"What are you thinking about so seriously?" he asked quietly.

A brief pause.

"...Is it Mark?"

Clara blinked.

"What?"

"Are you worried about him now?"

There wasn’t much emotion in his voice.

Which somehow made it even more obvious.

Clara stared at him.

Then she noticed it.

The slight tightening of his jaw.

The way his fingers unconsciously tightened around her waist.

The faint glint of possessiveness in his eyes.

...He’s jealous.

The realization almost made her laugh out loud.

Back then...

She used to find this side of Dominic suffocating.

His habit of keeping tabs on her every move had only made her dislike him more.

But now...

Now it was unexpectedly...

Cute.

The mighty Dominic Sterling... jealous of his own assistant.

The corners of her lips twitched.

No... don’t laugh.

You’ll only make him grumpier.

Then another thought crossed her mind.

Actually... teasing him sounds fun.

Her smile widened.

Although...

She glanced at the closed study door.

Maybe not here.

I can always tease him later.

Preferably when he has absolutely no escape route.

Clara quickly cleared her throat before that dangerous train of thought went any further.

Instead, she gently wrapped both arms around Dominic’s neck.

Dominic stiffened.

His eyes remained locked on hers.

"Dom..."

Her voice softened.

"You promised you wouldn’t interfere with my work."

She wasn’t accusing him.

Nor was she trying to argue.

"I know who I hired."

"And I know the risks."

She smiled gently.

"So... trust me this once."

Dominic remained silent.

Clara continued,

"And don’t forget..."

"I’ve already asked the police to find the man who came looking for Gen."

"I won’t ignore something like that."

Dominic looked at her for several long seconds.

He wanted to object.

He really did.

(She’s too trusting.)

(One day that kindness is going to get her into trouble.)

(And then...)

He stopped himself.

Before he realized it, Clara leaned even closer.

His breath caught.

She smiled mischievously.

"Oh..."

"One more thing."

Dominic frowned.

"What?"

"Jealousy suits you."

"..."

His eyebrows immediately knitted together.

(Jealous?)

(Who exactly is jealous?)

(Me?)

"I-I’m not jealous."

He answered a little too quickly.

"I’m simply preventing you from making reckless decisions."

"And have you forgotten?"

"You still have a company to prove yourself in."

His tone returned to its usual calmness.

Unfortunately...

His eyes had already betrayed him.

He deliberately avoided looking at Clara.

She couldn’t help smiling.

Gently, she cupped his face with both hands and forced him to meet her gaze again.

"Dom..."

"Thank you for worrying about me."

Her voice was warm enough to melt even his stubbornness.

"I really appreciate it."

"But trust me."

"I’m not walking into danger."

"And if something feels wrong..."

"I’ll tell you first."

Dominic quietly stared at her.

His expression softened almost imperceptibly.

"...Fine."

It was clearly an unwilling surrender.

Clara beamed.

"Good."

Then—

She slipped off his lap.

The sudden absence of her warmth made Dominic instinctively tighten his hand...

Only to grab empty air.

He blinked.

His lap felt...

Unexpectedly cold.

(...She got up.)

His eyes followed her retreating figure.

(Why did she get up?)

(She was comfortable there.)

(I was comfortable too.)

(Actually... very comfortable.)

(...Wifey.)

(Come back.)

(It’s cold.)

(I require emotional support.)

Clara bit the inside of her cheek.

He’s unbelievable.

She had to resist turning around immediately.

No.

She needed to maintain the upper hand.

Otherwise this man would become impossible to deal with.

Stopping near the study door, she looked over her shoulder.

A playful smile appeared on her lips.

"If you’re still feeling cold..."

She deliberately paused.

"...come find me in the bedroom."

Dominic’s eyes lit up.

"..."

"You can have your cuddle there."

She winked.

"But only if you behave."

With that, she turned gracefully and walked out of the study.

Dominic remained frozen in place.

His brain completely stalled.

"...Cuddle?"

The single word echoed inside his head.

A second later—

His thoughts finally restarted.

(Cuddle...)

(She said cuddle.)

(That means she isn’t angry.)

(This is definitely an invitation.)

His chair scraped loudly against the floor as he shot to his feet.

Without a shred of dignity befitting the great CEO of Sterling Group—

He hurried after his wife.

(Yes.)

(I need cuddles.)

(Maybe a hug too.)

He paused for exactly one second.

(...If I’m lucky... maybe she’ll even let me steal a kiss.)

Outside the study, a passing maid watched the usually composed Dominic Sterling briskly chasing after his wife.

She blinked twice.

"...Did the young master just... run?"

Another servant nodded solemnly.

"Marriage changes people."

Neither of them noticed Mark returning from the hallway.

He watched his boss disappear around the corner before looking toward the study.

"..."

He slowly shook his head.

"So..."

"I almost lost my job...because Boss wanted cuddles."

With a dramatic sigh, Mark slipped his phone back into his pocket.

"What a terrifying sight."

***

The man pulled the hood of his jacket lower as he stepped out of the crowded marketplace.

He never looked back.

Looking back was how people got caught.

Instead, he blended into the sea of pedestrians, taking random turns, crossing the road twice, and even stopping at a roadside tea stall long enough to make sure no one had followed him.

Only after ten minutes did he let out a quiet breath.

"...Looks like I lost them."

His destination wasn’t far now.

A narrow alley hidden between two abandoned warehouses.

No cameras. No people. Exactly how he liked it.

As he walked deeper inside, the city’s noise gradually faded until only the sound of his own footsteps remained.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out an old key. The rusty iron door stood only a few feet away. Just as he stretched out his hand—a calm voice echoed from behind.

"I’ve been waiting for you."

The man’s entire body froze. His pupils shrank.

Slowly... very slowly he turned around.

At the mouth of the alley stood a lone figure in the dark and the second it stepped forwards, the man’s eyes widened.

"W-Who are you and what do you want?" He held the sight of the person’s eyes while his heart pounded violently in his chest.

***

The next morning, Clara slowly opened her eyes only to find the other side of the bed empty.

She stretched lazily before glancing at the clock.

"Already gone?"

A small smile found its way onto her lips.

Ever since she had started sharing the bed with Dominic, she’d noticed something surprising.

She slept better. Much better.

It was as if the warmth of the man beside her somehow lulled her into the deepest sleep imaginable.

Then another memory surfaced.

Last night... just before falling asleep, she’d planted a quick kiss on Dominic’s forehead out of habit.

Instead of pretending to be indifferent like he usually did...

He had simply accepted it.

Actually...

He’d looked rather pleased.

"Sneaky hubby," Clara chuckled to herself.

"He acts all stoic during the day, but the moment it’s bedtime, he turns into a giant teddy bear."

She buried her face into the pillow, remembering how Dominic had insisted on cuddling her the entire night.

At one point she’d gently pushed him away just so she could turn over.

"Dom, give me some space."

"Mmm."

That had been his only response.

The next thing she knew...

His arms had wrapped around her waist again, pulling her right back against his chest.

She had rolled her eyes.

"Seriously?"

Still half-asleep, Dominic had only tightened his embrace.

His chin rested on top of her head as if that settled the matter.

"No escape."

Clara had laughed so hard she nearly woke him up.

Now, remembering it, warmth spread across her cheeks.

"He really has no shame when he’s sleepy."

Then—

Her eyes widened.

"Oh no!"

She shot upright.

Last night, after returning home, she’d received a call from Mr. Logan.

He had sounded unusually excited.

"Miss Clara, my boss would like to personally taste your desserts before we finalize the contract. Please bring your best selection to the address I’ll send you tomorrow morning."

The contract!

"I completely forgot!"

She threw the blanket aside and bolted toward the bathroom.

Within minutes, the mansion echoed with hurried footsteps.

"Where are my shoes?"

"...Found them!"

"My bag—"

"Oh!"

She grabbed it from the sofa before rushing toward the kitchen.

"Desserts?"

Already packed.

"Perfect!"

She picked up the insulated boxes, slung her bag over her shoulder, and hurried toward the front door.

The butler James watched her sprint past him like a whirlwind.

"Young Madam, would you like breakfast first?"

Clara didn’t even slow down. "I’ll eat after I secure the contract!"

The front door slammed shut. Butler James blinked.

"...Young Madam has become more energetic."

A nearby maid nodded with complete seriousness. She was the same one who had seen Dominic run behind her last night.

"It must be true love."

Both servants unknowingly smiled as Clara’s cheerful humming faded into the distance.