Chapter 14
“Good morning, Mr. Duncan.”
Still drowsy from being awakened by the call, Aria sounded slightly confused. Archer paused, sensing that she had just woken up. Her voice carried a softness and sweetness that she couldn’t detect herself–completely different from her usual public image.
Apparently because she wasn’t fully awake yet.
Aria shook her head, her mind blank for a moment before her eyes suddenly widened as she realized she was on the phone with
Archer.
She checked the time–it was nine o’clock, certainly not early by any standard.
She felt unusually embarrassed.
If she had made plans with her friend Christina in the morning, she wouldn’t have thought twice about keeping her waiting until
noon.
But Archer was different.
Her future second husband… and one who had witnessed her embarrassment last night. This somehow felt even more
humiliating.
She couldn’t keep him waiting any longer, lest he think she was lazy by nature.
“Are you already downstairs, Mr. Duncan?”
She unconsciously tugged at the corner of her blanket. Before Archer could respond, she hurriedly added, “I’ll be right down!”
After she spoke, the line went dead.
Archer: “…”
He touched his phone and rubbed his temple with a hint of resignation, though his dark eyes concealed a faint smile that even he
might not have noticed.
Aria quickly jumped out of bed and grabbed the first piece of clothing she saw. About to put it on, she realized it was black and
thought it looked too formal, so she switched to a green dress instead. After washing up, she didn’t even have time for makeup or
a bite of breakfast before rushing out.
The car wasn’t the same one she had seen before. This time it was a more understated Range Rover SUV.
The door opened, and as she got in, she met the man’s exceptionally handsome face, causing her heart to skip a beat.
“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting so long, Mr. Duncan.”
“It wasn’t long,” Archer said, looking at her, his gaze sweeping over her grass–green dress.
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With her fair skin, the fresh green color made her look even more vibrant. The man’s eyes deepened for a moment before he
rubbed his fingers together and asked, “Have you had breakfast?”
He seemed to be asking casually.
“Yes, I have.”
Even if she hadn’t eaten, she would say she had–otherwise, it would be too awkward.
Hearing this, Archer tilted his head and gave her a casual glance, then unhurriedly handed her a wooden bento box. At first
glance, her attention was drawn to the delicate cherry blossoms carved on it.
But no matter how exquisite, it was still just a breakfast container.
“Mr. Duncan, I’ve already had breakfast.”
Aria pressed her lips together, wanting to refuse, but he pressed a button somewhere that raised a partition, blocking the driver’s
view. A small table unfolded in front of her seat, perfectly sized for meals.
He placed the bento box on it.
“It took you only ten minutes from answering the phone to getting in the car. Between confusion, washing up, and changing
clothes at double speed, where did you find time for breakfast?”
Archer’s voice was calm.
Aria couldn’t help but blush again.
He had known she hadn’t eaten breakfast but asked anyway, making her feel even more embarrassed.
“My housekeeper made breakfast. I’m not sure if it suits your taste.”
Aria, feeling too embarrassed, quickly replied, “Actually, I’m not picky. I eat everything.”
“Hmm,” he said casually. “As it happens, my chef made okra in sauce this morning with a couple pieces of carrot. I’m sure you’ll
enjoy it.”
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Aria’s motion of opening the bento box froze.
Okra with carrot?
What kind of nightmarish combination was that?
Who would eat this in the morning? These were two ingredients she would absolutely reject even in a Whole Foods salad!
And okra in sauce–even more horrifying. The slimy texture plus sauce would be even more revolting.
She slowed her movements, completely reluctant to open the box. She suddenly felt full.
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“Not eating?”
Though she hadn’t opened the box, he was already asking.
So she had to open this container and eat this breakfast whether she wanted to or not?
It was just breakfast, but it gave her the feeling that she was about to face some terrible ordeal.
Archer seemed to laugh softly.
“It’s just breakfast. Why do you look like you’re about to make a heroic sacrifice?”
He wasn’t wrong.
The faint smile Aria had been maintaining on her face stiffened slightly.
Since Archer had said this, she couldn’t keep delaying.
She prepared herself mentally and opened the bento box.
The box had three compartments, which she opened one by one.
Hard–boiled egg, sourdough toast with a slice of bacon, and kiwi and strawberries cut into pieces with a silver fruit fork.
No okra. No carrots.
Not even in the middle compartment.
It was just the most ordinary, standard, and healthy breakfast she would normally eat.
She’d been tricked.
No, that wasn’t right.
She’d been teased.
Aria couldn’t help but puff her cheeks slightly as she stole a glance at the man beside her.
When she married Larry, she had just reached the legal age of twenty–one. After five years of marriage, she was still only about
the age of a recent college graduate–still young.
Yet she usually maintained such an elegant and gentle demeanor that people often forgot her actual age.
She was in the bloom of youth, an age meant for vibrancy and flourishing.
Now, with her cheeks puffed up as she secretly glared at him, she looked even more lively and adorable, like an angry chipmunk
-small and sweet, making one want to reach out and pinch or poke her.
Archer felt his fingers twitch slightly, but in the end, he didn’t reach out.
“I thought you weren’t picky?”
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13 DOTUS
Aria’s puffed cheeks deflated.
“I only avoid these two things.”
Archer gave a slight nod, “Brussels sprouts.”
Aria’s eyelid twitched.
Archer didn’t look at her as he continued, “Zucchini.”
Aria guiltily stared at the lunch box on the table and began counting the strawberry pieces.
The man spoke again, “Liver?”
Having counted exactly twelve strawberry pieces, Aria wanted to cover her ears.
“Okay, I admit I’m a bit picky. But Mr. Duncan, how can you so precisely name the things I don’t like?”
It was uncanny.
Archer responded casually with complete honesty, “These are also things I don’t like to eat.”
That was quite a coincidence.
Aria poked at the fruit with her fork, leaving multiple holes in the kiwi pieces, when she heard the man beside her say slowly, “We have compatible tastes, good thing we can eat together.”
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Aria nearly choked on her own saliva.
But his words didn’t seem wrong, either.
“Is this breakfast also part of Mr. Duncan’s usual menu?” she asked.
Archer lifted his eyelids slightly and made a sound of agreement, then handed her a bottle of warm milk–her favorite brand.
“You drink milk for breakfast too?”
Without waiting for Archer’s response, Aria muttered to herself, “I don’t smell any milk on you though.”
“The milk was prepared for you,” Archer paused before responding to her earlier comment, “I drink black coffee for breakfast.”
Aria froze for a moment, then silently opened the milk bottle, inserted the straw, and mechanically took a sip.
Hmm, so he had specifically brought warm milk for her.
