Ch. 311..320
Chapter 311
Caught by surprise, Audrey's pupils trembled slightly as her flushed fingertips gently grasped the buttons on his shirt.
Alistair kissed her for a long time, and only when he noticed she was almost out of breath did he release her, but still held her in his arms.
"Audrey, just pay attention to me. You don't need to worry about anyone else; I'll take care of it." Alistair said this without giving Audrey the chance to refuse, and as soon as he finished speaking, he lowered his head to kiss her rosy lips again.
Their lips and tongues intertwined, exploring each other with gentle caresses, lingering softly before tenderly sucking as he patiently waited for her reaction.
Audrey was kissed into a daze, and her body slowly melted like a puddle.
Alistair clasped her fingers, guiding her to his chest to unbutton his shirt.
Her cool fingers brushed over his heated chest muscles, trailing downward.
Faced with such an alluring sight, she couldn't think straight; her whole body heated up as she gradually surrendered.
At that moment, the world seemed to grow much quieter.
Alistair's warm lips moved downwards, kissing her smooth chin and pausing briefly at her delicate collarbone.
The hem of her pajama was lifted, and as his lips touched it, Audrey shivered, curling up like a little shrimp, her legs straightening tightly, toes clenched, and a soft blush spreading over her skin.
Alistair's strong body leaned closer again, his elbows positioned on either side of her head, careful not to disturb her flowing hair as he kissed her all over.
With a click, his belt was unbuckled. The sound of the belt buckle hitting the floor sent a ripple through the air.
Hearing her soft breaths, his kisses became more intense and insistent, his warm hands slowly moving down her gentle waist until she let out increasingly embarrassed sounds.
Audrey impatiently curled her legs, her knees pressing against his thighs as her hands clung to his shoulders, leaving fresh, vivid scratches on his sweaty skin.
If the light were on, it would be easy to see how emotionally moved she was at this moment.
Building her courage, she leaned forward slightly, nestling into Alistair's embrace, responding eagerly to his passionate kiss.
Alistair was stunned for a moment, his gaze turning fierce and his eyes flashing bright red.
The air was charged with tension, and the room was completely messy.
Alistair, full of youthful vigor, had veins bulging on his neck, and his breathing was heavy and chaotic.
At the last moment, Audrey suddenly lifted her hand to grasp Alistair's wrist.
Her cheeks were burning red, and with a hint of shyness in her voice, she softly murmured, "Con...condom..."
She was utterly embarrassed, her words coming out awkwardly, and her neck turned bright red too.
Alistair was momentarily taken
aback. His face also flushed with a faint red, and transparent beads.of sweat trickled down his high-bridged nose, dripping onto Audrey's forehead.
"Why?" He asked softly, kissing Audrey's eyes. "Did I do something wrong?"
Since they got married, they had never talked about contraception; they always left it to chance. They had never taken any safety measures before.
He thought, 'Why bring it up now, all of a sudden? Was I somehow unsatisfactory to her?'
In his slightly breathless voice, there was a careful sense of confusion and helplessness.
Audrey clasped his neck, leaning closer as she whispered, "I don't want to have a baby yet. Sunny's situation is still unstable, and don't have the energy to care for another child."
Chapter 312
Knowing that she might have overstepped with her previous actions, she took the initiative to kiss the corner of his mouth. This should have been discussed earlier, not dropped on him at the last minute. Alistair's face was tense, his green, deep-set eyes exuding a brooding aura, making it hard to understand his emotions.
Audrey was uncertain, her voice softer. "I don't want to rely on a child to make your family accept me. We're still young, so why not wait a couple of years?"
In this situation, Alistair couldn't bear to tell her "no".
He held her close, kissing her softly. Though reluctant, he could only agree.
A night of indulgence. The next morning, Audrey woke up with the sun already high in the sky.
Getting up, she noticed the mess in the trash can, and her cheeks flushed red again.
Maybe it was because they hadn't seen each other for a few days, but Alistair was especially rough last night.
In the end, she passed out on the window seat, her eyes red and swollen, and her knees scraped.
Before she fell asleep, she vaguely remembered him carrying her to the bathroom, bathing her, and then placing a warm towel on her eyes.
So her body wasn't too uncomfortable, just terribly drained, with no energy to move.
Alistair had already gone to work, but not before making her some porridge and keeping it warm in the cooker.
After eating, Audrey went to check on Sunny.
His emotions were still unstable, and it was clear he hadn't slept well last night, with dark circles under his eyes.
Moreover, she could feel that he was relying on her even more.
After getting out of bed, she noticed his gaze following her everywhere, looking helpless and pitiful.
To comfort Sunny, Audrey moved her work home, leaving the non-essential tasks to Michael and Emily. During the day, she would play games with him, and at night, she would tell him stories.
Even though they didn't go out, they weren't bored.
In her free time, Audrey prepared for next week's Supergalactic Idol contest.
Since she decided to participate in the contest, she knew she had to show her true abilities.
Their first-stage victory was somewhat by chance; now, with the remaining teams being quite strong, they would need to bring their best if they wanted to win.
Alistair ended his business trip early and had to handle unfinished work online, so he got busy once more. For several consecutive days, it was just Audrey and Sunny at home.
Sunny was well-behaved when he was with Audrey.
After lunch, Audrey wanted to write
lyrics in the living room but was uneasy about leaving Sunny alone, so she allowed him to bring his little bunny out to play on the balcony.
en FindNovel
Noticing she was busy, Sunny didn't bother her and instead cuddled his bunny while sunbathing on the recliner, feeling calm and comfortable.
The window was half-open, allowing a gentle breeze to softly rustle the draft papers on the table.
Audrey pressed one hand on the paper, biting the end of her pen with a thoughtful frown.
Just as she finished writing the last line of the lyrics, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Sunny obviously heard the noise too, instinctively hugging his little bunny tighter, his body tensing slightly.
Audrey observed this scene, a flash of sympathy appearing in her eyes.
The events of that day clearly left a significant impression on Sunny's mind, so much so that even the doorbell almost startled him.
She sighed, got up, and went to answer the door.
She thought, 'At times like this, who could possibly be visiting?'
When the door opened, Audrey was a little surprised to see Francis, whom she had met not long ago. Francis had a face like he thought the world owed him millionsO
QUMS
His lips moved as if to say something, but he was subtly stopped by a strikingly beautiful woman beside
him. "Francis, what did I tell you before we got here?"
Audrey slowly turned her gaze to the elegant woman next to Francis.
The elegant woman wore a
tight-fitting dress embroidered with golden phoenixes; her hair was styled up, with bright pearl earrings that shone on her ears. Her smile was graceful and warm, likea refreshing breeze.
Seeing her close to Francis, Audrey realized this must be her mother-in-law.
Their first meeting was as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. She couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.
Women from such prominent families usually looked down on daughters-in-law from more modest backgrounds.
Audrey thought, 'Is she here to offer me 2 million dollars to leave her son?'
Chapter 313
Just as Audrey was lost in thought. Evelyn smiled as she approached, naturally taking her hand and complimenting her, "Oh wow, you must be Audrey. You're so beautiful, even prettier than in the videos!" Audrey blinked slightly, puzzled, and asked, "Videos?"
Evelyn was embarrassed to admit she was a huge fan of Audrey on Supergalactic Idol, so she quickly changed the subject, saying, "Oh, that's not important. Audrey, we're here for something else that's very important."
Hearing this, Audrey's heart suddenly tightened. She thought, 'Here it comes! Finally, they're going to pay me to leave!'
Just when Audrey thought she was about to witness a classic drama scene between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, she heard Evelyn say sincerely, "I'm really sorry, Audrey.
"My husband said some things that hurt you before, and I brought him here specifically to apologize to you. I hope you can forgive him!"
As she spoke, she pushed Francis forward. "What are you standing there for? Say something!"
Francis still looked a bit reluctant. But Evelyn turned to glare at him, whispering a threat, "If you don't apologize, don't even think about stepping into my room tonight!"
Francis was speechless. He thought, 'Is three decades of marriage so easily shaken? She's so unreasonable to me when seeing Audrey.'
Though a bit unwilling, Francis explained, "I was too focused on Sunny before, and I didn't mean to single you out."
Audrey was somewhat surprised. She thought, 'Who would've thought the well-known Francis is actually a henpecked husband?'
Evelyn wasn't quite satisfied with Francis's apology and specifically told Audrey, "Audrey, it's alright if you don't forgive him. Just let him go back to Willowdale by himself!"
Audrey thought, 'What does that imply?' She didn't quite understand.
Seeing her puzzled look, Evelyn explained, "Alistair said, if Francis doesn't apologize, he'll stay in Riverdale with Sunny from now on!"
She gave a sly smile and added, "With my son and grandson here, I'll definitely stay too. He can go back alone, and let's see if he'll still dare to act all superior towards you!"
Upon hearing this, Francis looked a bit annoyed. He had already made an effort by visiting personally, essentially giving in.
If she were sensible, she should give him a way out. But instead, she stubbornly insisted he say sorry.
He couldn't bring himself to say it, yet he couldn't blame Evelyn for making it awkward.
With no choice, he firmly said, "Didn't I already apologize? Besides, I came here specifically to see my grandson today..."
"What a stubborn old man you are!" Evelyn snorted and rolled her eyes without mercy.
Regardless of whether they genuinely came to apologize or not, Audrey couldn't just turn them away at the door.
She stepped aside to let them in, smiling. "Mr. Francis Hayes, Mrs. Evelyn Hayes, please come in." She didn't change how she addressed them.
Evelyn didn't mind, but Francis was clearly a bit upset. But since his wife didn't mind, he decided it wasn't his place to say more.
Once inside, Audrey went to the kitchen to make two cups of coffee for them.
When she emerged with the coffee, she noticed that both Evelyn and Francis were focused on Sunny.
But Sunny was busy petting the little bunny in her arms, not paying any attention to the new guests in the house.
Even though they knew about his condition, Francis and Evelyn couldn't help but feel a bit sad about his indifference.
"Mr. Francis Hayes, Mrs. Evelyn Hayes, please have some coffee." Audrey patiently served the coffee and then sat down next to them.
Evelyn took a sip of her coffee
without much thought, quickly putting the cup down before eagerly asking Audrey, "Audrey, can we go see Sunny?"
She had heard from Francis that Audrey was an excellent psychologist. That's why she sought her opinion first.
Seeing that Evelyn really wanted to see Sunny, Audrey stood up and said, "I'll go and bring Sunny over." "Okay, okay." Evelyn quickly agreed.
Audrey walked to the balcony, gently
ran her fingers through Sunny's soft black hair, and softly said, "Sunny, Grandpa, and Grandma are here to see you. How about you go play with them?"
Sunny let her touch him, neither agreeing nor refusing.
Seeing him completely comfortable with Audrey getting closer and touching him. Francis couldn't help but feel a little jealous. His grandson was really being taken away like that.
Chapter 314
Evelyn felt more relieved than anything else. Seeing it with her own eyes, she realized how well Audrey treated Sunny. She took great care of him and showed him a lot of respect.
After hesitating for a moment, Evelyn couldn't resist and went up to Sunny. "Sunny, it's Grandma. Do you remember me?"
She crouched in front of Sunny, holding up her hands to mimic bunny ears on her head.
This was a game she used to play with Sunny back in Willowdale.
Sunny blinked blankly, a look of confusion in his eyes.
Evelyn sighed with a sense of loss, feeling a bit disappointed.
Audrey, unable to bear it, encouraged, "Sunny, can you say hi to Grandma?"
Evelyn's eyes lit up with anticipation as she looked at Sunny.
Two seconds later, Sunny still showed no response.
Just when Evelyn thought he was going to ignore her, Sunny suddenly spoke, "Grandma..."
Even though it was just a simple greeting, Evelyn was instantly teary-eyed. She has been waiting to hear
the word "Grandma" for six years. Her emotions spilled out like a flood.
Evelyn lost her composure for a moment, hugging Sunny joyfully with tears of happiness. "Oh, such a good boy! Grandma is here."
Evelyn only lost her composure for a few seconds. She quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, let go of Sunny, and looked at Audrey a bit sheepishly.
Audrey knew she was embarrassed and just gave her a gentle smile.
Feeling very touched, Evelyn held Sunny's hand and talked excitedly.
Sunny glanced at both Audrey and Evelyn but ultimately chose not to pull away.
Francis stood hesitantly at the balcony door, hoping Sunny would call him Grandpa. He cautiously asked, "Sunny, do you remember me?"
Sunny didn't even look up when he heard the voice.
Francis was quite helpless, but really wanted to hear the word "Grandpa."
Knowing that his grandson listened to Audrey, he could only place his hopes on her, looking at her pleadingly.
The mighty Mr. Francis Hayes looked rather pitiful at this moment.
With a soft heart, Audrey asked, "Sunny, could you also say hello to Grandpa?"
Sunny lifted his head to glance at
Francis, Francis suddenly got excited, thinking that this little guy
was finally going to call him by
name.
But in the end, the little guy just shot him a glare, then turned around and faced away from him coldly.
Francis was speechless. He thought, 'Am I really that unlikable?'
Evelyn laughed heartily at her husband's frustrated expression.
After laughing enough, sheet
help but add with some
schadenfreude, "That's for picking on Audrey in front of Sunny earlier. You deserved it!"
Seeing Francis looking aggrieved yet unable to talk back, Audrey almost burst out laughing but managed to hold it in.
The tense and awkward atmosphere in the room gradually eased with this little episode.
They didn't stay on the balcony for long before returning to the living room.
Evelyn was currently fond of Sunny holding his hand and chatting away, though she did most of the talking as Sunny didn't respond much.
Evelyn didn't mind and her smile became even brighter.
BUMS
After sitting for a while, she noticed a few sheets of paper on the coffee table.
She reached out and picked one up, discovering it was a sheet of music.
Looking up at Audrey, she asked, "Audrey, is this the new song you're going to sing on Supergalactic Idol?"
"Yes." Audrey nodded calmly.
Evelyn's eyes sparkled with excitement and she eagerly asked, "Can I take a look?"
She thought, 'A new song written by my idol! I want to be the first to see it!'
Chapter 315
Audrey thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Sure, but this is just the first draft; some parts might need to be changed later on.'
Hearing this, Evelyn beamed with joy, excitedly opening the lyrics sheet, her expression sincere. After a moment, she slapped her thigh in excitement, her eyes shining, and said, "This is fantastic! And this is just the draft? I think it's perfect already, much better than those popular songs out now!"
Just by looking at the lyrics, Evelyn could tell the song had incredible depth; it might even outshine Toasting in popularity.
Audrey smiled humbly and said, "You're too kind, and there's still a lot that needs improving." Hearing this, Francis became interested in the lyrics.
But he didn't want to admit it openly, thinking it might be embarrassing, so he said with a touch of sarcasm, "It's just a song, and how good could it really be?"
Evelyn, knowing her husband's personality, handed him the lyrics and said, "If you don't believe me, see for yourself."
Francis got the lyrics sheet as he wanted, and after reading it, he felt a bit surprised inside. He had to admit that the lyrics were really well-written.
Each line seemed heavy, but together, they exuded an indescribable sense of power.
It was like stubborn seeds breaking through the dark soil under the spring rain, making one's soul tremble involuntarily.
Especially the chorus-each line had a stirring force.
Francis read the lyrics, "Never bowing to pain; not surrendering to a life weathered by storms; only to emerge anew from the depths of life's valleys."
Francis's fingertips trembled slightly as he held the paper, looking at Audrey, and asked, "Did you really write these lyrics yourself?"
Audrey's expression suddenly tightened. Those words unconsciously brought her memories back to the moment when Yelimia and others accused her of copying.
She was about to explain, but before she could even start, Evelyn interrupted with obvious dissatisfaction, "Francis, what do you mean by that?"
Evelyn stood with her hands on her hips, fiercely glaring at her man, and said without mercy, "You should be proud to have such a talented daughter-in-law. How dare you question her? What, do you think she copied this song?"
Her mouth kept going like a machine gun, not giving Francis any chance to speak.
Francis felt a bit wronged and waited for her to finish before he explained softly, "I just said it without thinking..."
To restore his image in Evelyn's
eyes, he could only say, "I wasn't accusing her of copying. I just thought the lyrics were too heavy
and different from her
songs. It doesn't seem like
something a young girl her age could write."
In theory, Audrey shouldn't have had the experience to capture the oppressive, desperate struggle for survival, yet she did.
Francis was genuinely astonished, which is why he asked.
Evelyn started scolding him again, calling him narrow-minded. She said, "Artists create based on imagination, not just real experiences. Haven't you ever heard of the saying, 'You don't have to eat pork to know what aptg
a pig looks like'?"
Without facing major hardships, Audrey still managed to write such exciting lyrics, proving she's genuinely talented.
Audrey listened to their chatter, surprised that Francis knew she had written lyrics before. It even seemed he might have heard them.
For a moment, Audrey found Francis's awkwardness unexpectedly charming.
She chuckled softly and confessed, "Mrs. Evelyn Hayes, don't blame Mr. Francis Hayes. This song wasn't written about my life; it was actually written for Sunny."
Chapter 316
As soon as she said this, both Evelyn and Francis fell silent, looking at her intently.
Audrey watched Sunny's head gently and said softly, "I hope Sunny can, like the song says, break through the darkness and grow freely in the sunlight!"
Hearing this, Sunny suddenly looked up, those big, beautiful eyes staring without blinking at Audrey.
When they heard that Audrey wrote the song for Sunny, both Evelyn and Francis had mixed emotions in their eyes.
Sunny seemed to understand too, staring straight at Audrey, his eyes full of amazement.
After a moment, Francis's eyes darkened a bit. Even though he didn't say it out loud, he was genuinely moved at that moment.
Evelyn was deeply touched too. She held Audrey's hand and said sincerely, "Audrey, you're wonderful! That rascal must've been really lucky to have you as his wife."
She truly felt that her thick-headed son didn't deserve such a beautiful and kind daughter-in-law.
Audrey gave a slightly shy smile. Evelyn couldn't stop singing her praises, "Next time you're on a show, I'll definitely be there to support you. I mean, I'll rent out the whole place just to cheer for you!"
Audrey raised an eyebrow and laughed. "If you want to come watch, Mrs. Evelyn Hayes, you're more than welcome, but there's no need to waste money on that."
She didn't need any cheering squad; she wanted to win on her own merit.
Evelyn gazed at her like a starstruck fan. "Alright, I'll do as you say. I believe you can win with your talent! Since you don't need a cheering squad, I'll just have to give you this instead..."
Before Audrey could respond, she felt a coolness on her wrist.
She looked down and saw Evelyn slipping an elegant emerald bracelet onto her hand.
The green of the bracelet beautifully highlighted her perfect skin, making it look like an exquisite, smooth gemstone, radiating a harmonious grace.
Evelyn looked pleased and said softly, "The size is just perfect like it was made just for you. It should be yours!"
"Mrs. Evelyn Hayes, this is too valuable..." Audrey hesitated a bit, resisting the urge to take off the bracelet. The bracelet looked expensive, and she was too cautious to accept it.
"Oh, don't do that." Evelyn held her fingers to stop her from taking it off and said seriously. "This bracelet is a family heirloom of the Hayes family, only given to the acknowledged daughter-in-law." Audrey's eyes flickered slightly with surprise.
Evelyn continued, "Alistair's grandmother passed the bracelet to me, and I should have given it to you when you married Alistair.
"But that rascal Alistair went ahead without informing us, and it's only today that I finally got to meet you. If you don't accept it, does that mean you don't want to be part of the Hayes family?"
Audrey was suddenly at a loss for words. She thought, 'With words like that, how could I refuse?'
Evelyn patted her hand gently and
advised kindly, "Just take it. It's
a bracelet, and all of Alistair's things
will be yours in the future. Things
no
need to feel shy."
Audrey blinked softly. The Hayes family heirloom was just given to her. She thought, 'Does this mean I'm already accepted as a daughter-in-law by the Hayes family?'
Audrey, who thought she would still have to work hard to gain approval, was a little speechless now. Audrey exhaled softly and said slowly, "Then I'll keep it for now."
If they changed their mind, they could always take it back. Anyway, she didn't think that accepting a bracelet would truly mean she was acknowledged.
Evelyn, seemingly not noticing the underlying meaning, nodded in satisfaction. "That's better."
As it got later, Evelyn didn't want to make Audrey feel awkward, so she made an excuse to leave. "Alistair should be back soon, so we'll leave you young ones alone."
Seeing that they insisted on leaving, Audrey didn't try to stop them and saw them at the door. Watching as they walked away into the distance, a mix of emotions welled up inside Audrey. She knew that if Alistair hadn't intervened, Francis wouldn't have changed his attitude so quickly. Evelyn wouldn't have been so welcoming, even giving her the Hayes family heirloom.
Even though everything seemed to be going well, she still couldn't feel happy.
It wasn't that she was ungrateful; she was very thankful for everything Alistair had done for her.
But she hoped that one day, the Hayes family would truly accept her, not just pretend because of Alistair's influence.
Chapter 317
After leaving the neighborhood, Evelyn noticed that Francis still wore a stern expression, and she was a bit annoyed.
She said, "Francis, I'm telling you, Audrey is the daughter-in-law I've approved. If you dare put on airs or show her attitude again, you'll be in for it!"
Francis was speechless. First, it was his son, then his wife-both were threatening him one after the other. As if he could really eat Audrey or something. It's not like he ever said he didn't like her, anyway. Francis felt frustrated inside, unable to express his anger. All he could do was mumble, "Got it. I won't give her the cold shoulder anymore."
Evelyn finally brightened up, looping her arm through his, and said with a smile, "That's more like it. We're all family now, so we should get along. Honey, what do you think about having a grand wedding for them?"
Evelyn clung to Francis's arm, looking up at him with bright, lively eyes, just as she had years ago. Francis took his wife's hand, his once stern expression softening into a tender smile.
Time hadn't left many marks on her face, and every time Francis looked at her, his heart would still skip a beat.
Suddenly, he stopped, held the back of her head gently, and planted a kiss on her forehead.
Evelyn paused and gave him a nudge, half-annoyed. "What are you doing? Can't you be serious for a moment?"
Francis looked at her with a smile. "He knows what he wants. He might not even appreciate our gesture." Francis understood his son's temperament well.
Over the years, the communication between him and Alistair dwindled, and they often disagreed whenever they met, leading to arguments. He didn't support Evelyn's involvement in Alistair's wedding. Evelyn, unaware of what he was thinking, muttered, "I just noticed the ring on Audrey's hand. It's such a simple band. She's Mrs. Hayes in the future; how can she wear such a cheap ring?"
She pouted slightly and complained, "Alistair has become so stingy since he's been in Riverdale for just a few months!
"Since he doesn't care, as parents, we should make it up to Audrey. Let's throw her a grand wedding and have Alistair give her a luxurious diamond ring. We can't let Audrey feel she's marrying into our family at a disadvantage."
Francis was a little speechless.
He was too embarrassed to admit that in the eyes of outsiders, their son not only seemed stingy but also appeared to be a gigolo living off a woman, and was even proud of it.
Francis wrapped his arm around his
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wife's shoulder and gently said, "Let's let the young people handle their own issues. Maybe Audrey likes wearing a simple ring. We should stay out of it to avoid upsetting our son."
"That's true." Evelyn nodded thoughtfully. The two of them gradually walked away.
Evening. When Alistair came home from work, Sunny was already asleep.
The lights in the living room were on. Audrey was there working on some lyrics. Seeing him change shoes, she said, "Your parents dropped by this afternoon."
This didn't surprise Alistair. After
changing into his slippers, he sat next to her and said softly, "If they're bothering you or if you find it.
troublesome, I'll talk to them and ask them to visit less often."
Francis and Evelyn were planning to stay in Riverdale for a while so they could visit their grandson frequently.
But if Audrey found it inconvenient, they would have to reduce their visits.
"No need, it's great for family to visit often." Audrey quickly explained, worried it might cause tension between him and his family. "Plus, your mom treats me very kindly and even gave me a bracelet." As she spoke, Audrey lifted her hand to show the bracelet to Alistair.
Alistair took her hand and gently played with her fingers, saying, "If my mom gave you this bracelet, it means she has approved of you."
Audrey was surprised and asked, "Didn't you ask her to give it to me?"
"Of course not." Alistair chuckled lightly and said seriously. "My mom used to have the most say in our family. If she didn't like you, no matter how much I tried to convince her, it wouldn't work."
But he wasn't going to let his mom have a chance not to like Audrey
Chapter 318
"And what about your dad..." asked Audrey.
Alistair gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, his voice gentle. "My dad's opinion isn't important, so you don't need to worry about it."
Audrey paused for a moment, then started to laugh, teasing, "I didn't expect Mr. Francis Hayes to have such a low rank in the family. I almost feel sorry for him!"
Alistair lowered his head and kissed the corner of her lips fondly. "It's a tradition in our family, to put the wife first. From now on, I'll listen only to you."
Audrey raised her hand to cover her face, her voice trembling. "You're playing dirty..."
She thought, 'How could he say something so heart-melting with such a handsome face?'
Alistair let out a soft chuckle, his chest shaking slightly.
Thinking about Alistair's behavior lately, Audrey decided to take charge.
She put her arms around his neck, gave him a quick kiss, and then said mysteriously, "I've prepared a surprise for you as a reward."
At her words, Alistair's eyes lit up like a glow in the dark. He wrapped his arm around her waist, his voice deep and smooth. "What's the surprise?"
Before Audrey could respond, the doorbell rang.
She jumped out of Alistair's arms excitedly. "The gift's here. I'll get it."
Local delivery was really fast; it arrived shortly after she ordered it.
Receiving a surprise gift from Audrey for the first time, Alistair was in a great mood, casually following her.
"Thanks, take care!" Audrey took the gift box from the delivery guy, bid him farewell with a smile, and then turned to give the box to Alistair.
She hid her hands behind her back, tilted her head, and confidently said, "Open it? You're going to love it!" She had chosen this gift very carefully.
Under Audrey's expectant gaze, Alistair slowly opened the box he was holding.
The instant he saw the item in the box, his eyes widened and he remained lost in thought for quite a while.
Audrey asked proudly, "So, do you like it?"
Alistair's throat moved a bit as he nodded sincerely. "I do... If you wear it, I'll definitely like it."
Audrey felt completely confused. She thought, 'Wear it? Me? How could I wear it? It isn't even my size.' While she was puzzled, she saw Alistair slowly lift his hand, his well-defined fingers gently picking up a fine strap.
Audrey suddenly got a bad feeling, but it was too late to stop now.
Alistair carefully took the item out of the box. A rose-red, sexy nightgown was revealed before their eyes.
Alistair leisurely dangled the thin
strap in his hand, his eyes
as hat Audrey.'
you
should put it on right noving up
"No!" Audrey's face changed dramatically as she lunged to grab the box. "The delivery person must have made a mistake. This isn't mine!"
She thought, 'How could I possibly have sent Alistair lingerie?'
Audrey's whole body was flushed with embarrassment, and she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
Alistair dodged her attempt to snatch the box, glanced at the delivery label, and raised an eyebrow. "It has your name on it."
Audrey, her face red and ears
burning, hastily explained, "No... this
really isn't the gift I wanted to give you. had something else planned..."
Alistair didn't believe her at all and, with a playful and teasing grin, said, "Of course, I know this isn't for me. It's your size. Honey, I love this surprise. Why don't you put iDon for me?"
Audrey wanted to refuse, but he silenced her with a kiss.
Chapter 319
There was an undercurrent of endless affection in Alistair's eyes. Yet, he held back, his voice was husky as he said, "Honey, how about I help you put it on..."
Audrey's lashes trembled like petals in the wind. Her legs felt weak, and she grabbed Alistair's arm to steady herself, having no resistance at all.
Seeing the blush on her cheeks, Alistair chose not to hesitate any longer. He lifted her by her hips with one hand and carried her quickly back to the room.
As her back pressed into the soft bed, Audrey felt like her heart might jump out of her throat.
Alistair quickly tore open his shirt, popping a button off.
He looked down at her, his eyes deep and wild.
Audrey stared at him, unconsciously swallowing. She felt she was getting more into this.
She tried to escape, finding an excuse. "You haven't had dinner yet, and let me make something for you!"
Alistair grabbed her slender waist effortlessly, pulling her back, then lowered his head to kiss her lips and pressed down on her, saying with a chuckle, "I'm eating right now."
Audrey was speechless and she thought, 'Turns out I'm still too innocent after all! No way, since it's been mistaken for a surprise, it's my turn to make the first move!'
For some reason, Audrey suddenly pushed Alistair off her, flipping him over and pinning him down.
With positions reversed, Alistair lay beneath her, visibly pleased, his eyes burning with increasing intensity.
Audrey caught her breath and slowly began to unbutton his shirt, mimicking his moves.
*****
The next day. In a daze, Audrey heard her phone's alarm blaring like a drill sergeant.
Her sleep had been restless, frowning with irritation as she
groaned, kicked off the blanket, and grabbed a pillow to press against her ear, trying to block out the
annoying alarm.
But it seemed like it was coming from inside her head; there was no escaping it.
"Who is it? So annoying!" Irritated, Audrey tossed away the pillow, felt for her vibrating phone with her eyes still closed, and brought it to her ear.
As soon as the call connected,
Violet's overly excited voice came through. "Hey Audrey, how was the gift I helped you pick out yesterday? Was your husband surprised?"
Audrey was speechless. Not fully awake, her brain froze for a moment before she suddenly sat up. "So it was you... gosh!"
She got up too quickly and pulled a muscle in her back, the pain almost made her go pale, so she lay back down gently.
Audrey rubbed her sore back, gritting her teeth and cursing, "Damn you, Violet. You messed me up!"
Violet, not scared at all, laughed even louder. "You totally enjoyed it, and stop pretending."
Audrey felt a bit embarrassed. She thought, 'I really have a wonderful best friend. She never misses a chance to prank her friend!'
en,
Violet was quite shameless. She knew Audrey was shy, but she still pushed for details, asking, "Come Audrey, tell me, what was your husband's reaction when he saw you in that outfit? Did he turninto a beast or what?"
Audrey was silent. Her mind couldn't help but think of Alistair's intense gaze last night and his deep, sultry breaths.
She blushed bright red immediately and said, "Alright, stop asking, or I'll cut ties with you!"
Violet got anxious and raised her voice. "Audrey, you're so unfair! I'm trying to get you some perks, and you want to break up with me."
Chapter 320
Audrey wasn't thankful. "Come on, give me a break; I think you're just enjoying the show." Violet couldn't argue back and laughed with delight.
Audrey sighed helplessly and switched the topic. "How come you have time to call me so early today? Aren't you supposed to be in the lab?"
Violet's lab had strict rules; once she entered, all electronic devices had to be handed in, leaving her practically unreachable. This was the first time in years Audrey had received a call from her so early. Violet let out a long sigh, her tone dropping. "Well, don't even get me started. I wish I was in the lab right now."
Sensing something was off, Audrey became concerned. "What's wrong?"
Violet shrugged helplessly and said softly, "It's the folks at home causing trouble. Since you got married, they're trying all sorts of ways to push me into blind dates."
Violet loved having fun and was not interested in settling down right now. Her parents knew this, but this time, they'd set their minds on having her cooperate.
Thinking about the past few days, Violet sighed again and said, "You have no idea. My parents even called the lab to get me some time off.
"If I don't go on these blind dates, they threaten to cause a scene at home. So here I am, having no choice but to agree to meet the guy."
Audrey felt deeply sympathetic towards her. Audrey hadn't been pressured by her family to marry, but knowing Violet's personality, the idea of her marrying and becoming a housewife was more torturous for her than anything.
"But..." Audrey smirked teasingly and said. "Violet, based on what I know about you, even if you agree to a blind date, you definitely won't attend it willingly. What do you have in mind?"
"That's my bestie! You know me so well!" Violet didn't bother to hide her true feelings and seemed even a bit excited as she said.
"Sure, I'm not going to take this blind date seriously. I've already figured it out I'm going to scare that clueless guy away!" she added.
She would never admit defeat. If her parents could find someone willing to date her, she was definitely capable of scaring him away.
After a few tries, nobody would dare approach her again.
Audrey initially felt a bit sorry for Violet, but now she felt pity for the guy on the blind date. She thought, 'How unfortunate must they be to end up on a blind date with Violet?'
They continued chatting for a while, and Violet shared her bizarre tactics with Audrey. For instance, pretending to be wild, pregnant, or even into girls. Audrey silently shed a tear of sympathy for the blind date guy once more.
They chatted a little more, and when Audrey kept yawning, Violet, not wanting to disturb her, said thoughtfully, "Alright, you should get some rest. I'll hang up now."
After hanging up, Violet pulled out a small mirror to fix her wild hair, took out a piece of gum from her bag, unwrapped it, and started chewing.
With her bright red lips, she blew a bubble at the mirror, raising her eyebrow in satisfaction. Perfect, she looked just like a rebel.
After putting the mirror away, Violet paused abruptly. She forgot to ask Audrey if her husband had any brothers out there.
A couple of days ago, she was
watching financial news and saw someone who looked a bit like Audrey's husband. She wondered if that person could be Audrey's husband's long-lost brother
While Violet was lost in thought, someone suddenly walked up to her. The man stopped in front of her table, leaned down, and asked "Hello, are you Violet Monroe Ms. Monroe?"
Violet thought, 'My blind date guy has arrived, and his voice is quite nice.'
Violet looked up and saw someone with the most outrageous style standing in front of her.
The person approached wearing a golden bodysuit, loafers, and even a nose ring.
She thought, 'Wait a minute... is this really my blind date guy?'