Chapter 219 Both of Them Put On Wedding Rings
Nora was so happy, sweetness wrapping around her heart like delicate threads. She couldn't help but lean over, wanting to kiss Steven.
Steven raised his hand to stop her. "Don't kiss me. I'm still sick, I might give it to you."
Nora paused, realizing that was why he hadn't touched her.
She felt a bit touched and said softly, "It's okay, we're sleeping in the same bed anyway. I'll catch it sooner or later."
"No." Steven's tone was firm.
Nora froze, not daring to bring it up again. She went back to her side of the bed and lay down, feeling a bit disappointed.
She had wanted to kiss him, but he rejected her. It stung a little.
"Why are you turning away from me?" Steven noticed her mood, moved closer, and hugged her from behind.
"I'm not."
"Then turn around." Steven wanted her to face him.
Nora turned over and naturally wrapped her arms around his neck.
Steven asked quietly, "Are you disappointed that I haven't touched you?"
Nora wouldn't admit it. Blushing, she said, "No, I just wanted to sleep on my side."
"You're lying. You definitely want it."
"But not now. I'm sick, I might give it to you. When we're both better, I'll make you happy."
"I really don't!" She lowered her head, her face even redder.
Steven ruffled her hair. "Don't be disappointed. When the time comes, I'll satisfy you so much you won't be able to get out of bed."
Nora really wanted to hit him.
Early morning, the two were sleeping soundly in each other's arms.
The phone on the nightstand kept ringing. Nora groggily reached over to answer it.
"Steven, are you coming to work today? I want to talk to you about the project." It was a woman's voice on the other end.
Nora was still half asleep and didn't recognize who it was. She replied casually, "My husband is still sleeping, wait a moment."
Vivian's breathing hitched on the other end. Her sweet voice instantly turned cold. "Husband? Nora, are you clinging to Steven again?"
Only then did Nora wake up—it was Vivian!
She said coldly, "Vivian, you really should see a doctor. Steven and I aren't divorced. How is this clinging?"
"Honey, who is it..." Steven was woken by her voice. His light gray eyes opened as he leaned toward her.
Under the covers, Steven held her tighter.
"It's Vivian..." Nora handed him the phone.
Steven didn't say much. He just hung up and held her, saying, "Let's sleep a bit more."
Vivian was so angry she threw her phone.
There, the two slept until after eight.
Nora changed into a dress and made breakfast.
After eating, Steven asked her, "How are you feeling today?"
"Still fine." Nora laughed. "I'm probably the most suitable person for work. Everyone else got sick, just not me."
Steven smiled. "That means you're healthy. But I need to go to the office today too. There are some things about the project I need to handle."
"Okay."
Steven went into the master bedroom to change.
He found all the clothes in the closet were wrinkled. The light-colored shirt hanging in front even had a water stain on it that looked like tear marks.
Steven picked it up and looked at it, seeming to understand.
Had Nora been crying while holding his clothes?
Nora finished applying her face cream in the guest bedroom and walked to the master bedroom. "Steven, I'm ready. How about you?"
He said he'd drive her to work.
As soon as Nora entered, she saw him standing in front of the closet, holding that shirt, his expression very quiet.
Her face heated up. She had cried while holding his clothes before, wrinkling all the clothes he kept at the Riverside Apartment.
He always cared about his appearance. How could he possibly wear such wrinkled clothes?
She quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Steven. Which outfit do you want to wear? I'll iron it for you—"
Before she could finish, Steven turned and hugged her.
They held each other for a long time.
Steven asked quietly, "The day I left, did you cry while holding my clothes?"
Nora paused, then gently wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Yes." Since he knew, she wouldn't deny it.
Steven tightened his embrace.
He thought only he had been hurting, but she had been just as reluctant to let go.
He kissed her.
This kiss was different from all the others.
Before there had been forceful ones, gentle ones, tender ones, but never one this cherishing.
Nora liked him more than he had imagined.
His kiss was full of devotion.
From now on, he would treasure her, protect her no matter what happened.
In the end, Steven wore that wrinkled shirt to work.
Nora said she'd iron it for him, but he refused. "No need, it's getting late. I'll just go like this."
"But this shirt..." Nora looked at the tear marks, feeling complicated.
"It's fine, I don't mind." Steven smiled and put his tie in her hands. "Did you learn how to tie a tie?"
Nora blushed. "Yes."
"Then help me?" He lowered his head, his face in the sunlight impossible to look away from.
Nora took it, flipped up his collar, and carefully tied a Windsor knot.
Steven was a bit surprised. He put his arm around her waist. "When did you learn this?"
"I learned online." Last time she watched tutorials and secretly practiced with his tie. "I thought the Windsor knot looked nice, so I learned it."
Steven nodded, watching her adjust the tie, his gaze falling on her hand. "Where's the diamond ring?"
Her ring finger was still bare.
"In the computer desk drawer." Nora finished adjusting the tie and stepped back, satisfied.
She knew Steven didn't like ties hanging loosely. She asked him, "Where's your tie clip?"
"In the small compartment in the closet."
Nora walked to the closet and opened it, finding several elegant watches and over a dozen high-end tie clips inside.
"Did the company give you these?" she asked curiously.
Steven's expression changed. He walked over. "I bought them myself."
"So you like shopping this much." Nora smiled at him, then looked at each watch. "They're all so nice."
Steven was afraid she'd notice something. He randomly grabbed a tie clip and closed the drawer. "Alright, let's go to your room and get the diamond ring."
He casually clipped on the tie clip and went into her room to get the ring from the drawer.
He put it back on her ring finger and looked at her deeply. "Grandma gave this to you. Don't take it off again, and you don't need to return it."
"I know," Nora responded sweetly.
Steven held her hand. Both wearing their wedding rings, they were in a good mood.
When Steven arrived at York Development Group, Clarence came up to him. "Mr. York, Ms. Bennett is waiting for you in the office."
Steven glanced at his wedding ring and walked elegantly into the office.
Vivian was sitting on the sofa with documents beside her. She had come every day these past few days, and today was no exception.
"Steven..." She smiled and stood up, her gaze drawn to the wedding ring on his hand.
A wedding ring?
From Nora?
She pretended not to care, but inside, she was burning with jealousy.
She clenched her fingers and said through gritted teeth, "I'm here to discuss the project."
Steven looked at her coolly and sat down, deliberately placing his hand on the desk so she could see the ring clearly.
Vivian's gaze stayed on it for a long time.
It didn't look expensive.
She smiled and asked, "You bought a ring?"
"My wife gave it to me," Steven said flatly.
Vivian's smile froze.
Steven looked at her. "Vivian, let's call off our engagement."
Vivian's face fell. She looked at her heels, then back at him. "What if I say we can't? My fiancé was taken away, and I'm just supposed to accept it?"
"We never had feelings for each other anyway." Steven's face was expressionless.
"Feelings can be developed. I like you. I fell for you the first time I saw you."
"But I don't like you, and I won't marry a woman I don't love." In the past, he might not have cared, but not now.
Vivian's face was covered in tears. She knelt in front of him. "Steven, please don't do this. What's so good about her? Is she prettier than me? She doesn't have my family background. Marrying her won't help you. Your father won't agree to you marrying her."
"Calling off our engagement is between us. As for whether my father agrees, I'll handle it myself. You don't need to worry about it." Steven's rejection was decisive.
"What's so good about her? A gambler father, a useless mother—"
"Enough!" Steven interrupted, his face cold. "You should go. Stay away from me from now on."
Vivian wanted to say more.
Steven said coldly, "Clarence, show her out."
Clarence walked over. "Ms. Bennett, please."
Vivian's eyes were red. She looked at Steven's cold back, and the hatred in her heart hardened into a knot...
Nora arrived at the office carrying a box of snacks.
Olivia was already busy. She smiled and asked, "Why did you buy snacks?"
Nora's face flushed slightly. "I got them from Steven's car."
"He drove you here?"
"Yes." Nora put down the snacks. "Olivia, help yourself if you want any."
"I'm not hungry yet." Olivia continued entering the orders.
Nora went to the back to process orders. After some operations, the printer spat out sheet after sheet...
In the afternoon, someone knocked on the door.
Their office had frosted glass doors, so you couldn't see outside.
Nora walked over to open it.
It was Vivian, wearing an expensive women's suit, her manner proud and cold.