He left the bedroom with his phone and soon appeared outside the house. A delivery guy stood outside and handed him something. He took it but was empty-handed when he returned to the bedroom.
Noelle asked, “Is there a problem at work?”
“No, it’s nothing. You don’t need to worry about anything, Elle. I’ll go make you breakfast.”
Noelle didn’t know whether it was out of guilt or genuine concern that the food yesterday had affected her, but Shawn prepared a feast for breakfast. There was milk, eggs, bread, jam, and her favorite oatmeal.
“You can’t eat whatever you want from now on. Also, I think I’ll hire someone to come over to cook for you daily,” Shawn said.
“That’s not necessary.”
“Be good, Elle, or I’ll worry about you when I’m working.”
“Can I ask you something, Shawn?”
“Of course.”
Noelle set her cutlery down and asked, “Do you think it’s true that couples will get an itch to be with someone else after being married for a number of years?”
Shawn’s expression turned contemptuous. “That’s just an excuse men make to explain why they’ve fallen for someone else. I’m not like them—you’re the only one I’ll love in this lifetime.”
“Really? You’ll love only me?”
“Yeah.”
“What will happen if you do fall for someone else, then?”
“Then, I’ll get struck by lightning and die a horrible death.”
Noelle smiled mockingly. “Aren’t you afraid it’ll really happen?”
“I’m telling the truth. Why should I be afraid?”
She picked up her cutlery again and started spreading jam on her bread.
“You have to trust me, Elle,” Shawn said earnestly.
All she said was, “Eat your breakfast.”
“Do you not believe me?”
“Your staff are waiting for you at the company. You don’t want to be late.”
This made Shawn relax. He sat across from her and said, “Let them wait. They’re useless, anyway. I’ll fire them sooner or later.”
“Can you bear to fire her?” Noelle asked. She’d used “her”, not “them”.
She didn’t know whether he noticed. All he said was, “I can bear to lose everything but you.”
