Chapter 309

Chapter 309

The car downstairs had been waiting for a while. Lisbeth weaved through traffic, and as she approached, she saw the door open on its own.

Sebastian sat inside, a laptop resting on his knees.

"Get in."

Lisbeth climbed in and closed the door, tossing her bag to the side. She was about to say something when she noticed text on Sebastian's laptop screen—looked like some kind of company proposal.

She couldn't make it out clearly, but she felt like now wasn't the right time to speak. So she swallowed the words back down.

The car glided smoothly down the road, but inside it was unusually quiet.

Lisbeth looked out the window, completely unaware that Sebastian's laptop screen hadn't changed in ages.

No matter how slowly he read, he should've been done by now.

Sebastian sighed inwardly, then closed the laptop. He was about to say something to Lisbeth when he realized she'd fallen asleep.

She must be exhausted.

Sebastian pulled a blanket from the compartment beside him and draped it over her.

But Lisbeth rubbed her eyes and woke up. "Are we there?"

"Not yet. You can keep resting."

Lisbeth patted her cheeks, clearing her head. "Never mind. If I sleep too much now, I won't be able to sleep tonight."

Besides…

There was something she wanted to talk to him about.

"Why'd you suddenly come pick me up?"

"Am I not allowed to?"

Lisbeth was caught off guard by his counter-question. "Of course you are."

The car jolted suddenly. Before Lisbeth could react, Sebastian had taken her hand.

She looked down. She didn't pull away.

They stayed like that, hands clasped, all the way until the car stopped in front of the house. Sebastian still didn't let go.

Both their palms were a little damp.

Lisbeth sighed. "If you don't let go, how am I supposed to get out?"

Only then did Sebastian release her hand.

They walked into the house one after the other. Anne and Dennis were sitting on the couch, heads together, whispering about something.

Lisbeth was curious. She wanted to go over and listen, but the two kids were surprisingly sharp. They immediately stopped talking. Anne ran over and tugged on Lisbeth's hand.

"Mommy, Grandma made your favorite ribs today!"

Lisbeth patted Anne's head. "Good. Then Mommy will definitely eat a lot tonight."

Anne and Dennis exchanged a glance—a look only they understood.

Little did they know, both Sebastian and Lisbeth had caught that silent exchange.

But neither adult said anything.

After dinner, Anne grabbed Lisbeth's hand, while Dennis pulled Sebastian away.

Anne dragged Lisbeth into her room and pulled out a gift box from her white backpack—palm-sized and beautifully wrapped.

She held it out with both hands and presented it to Lisbeth.

Lisbeth looked puzzled. "Why are you giving Mommy a gift?"

Anne didn't answer. She looked mysterious. "Just open it and see if you like it!"

Lisbeth unwrapped the gift. Inside lay a necklace.

Silver, with a four-leaf clover pendant in the center.

"This…"

Anne crouched in front of Lisbeth, chin in her hands, watching her. "Do you like it, Mommy?"

"Mommy loves it."

Lisbeth assumed Anne had given it to her. She didn't know why her daughter was suddenly giving her a gift, but it made her happy all the same.

But Anne said, "I didn't give it to you. Daddy did!"

Lisbeth froze.

Meanwhile.

Sebastian had been brought to the study by Dennis, who pulled out an identical gift box from his pocket. Inside was a watch—the same model Sebastian usually wore.

Sebastian nodded and held out his wrist.

"Put it on for me."

But Dennis shook his head. "No, this isn't from me. Mommy asked me to buy it for you, but she was too shy to give it to you herself. So you can't ask Mommy about it, okay?"

Dennis turned and headed for the study door. He pushed it open just as Anne was bringing Lisbeth over.

The two kids exchanged a glance and pushed Lisbeth into the study.

The door closed behind her. Lisbeth instinctively looked at Sebastian. Her eyes landed on the watch on the desk.

She stood still. Sebastian spoke first. "Come here."

Only then did Lisbeth walk over. She glanced at the watch on the desk and couldn't help asking, "Dennis gave you that?"

Mommy was too shy to give it to you herself. So you can't ask Mommy about it.

Remembering his son's words, Sebastian nodded. He looked at the watch with the same warmth he looked at her. "Yes. I love it."

Lisbeth touched the necklace around her neck.

"This necklace…"

Only then did Sebastian notice the new necklace she was wearing. He looked at it and said sincerely, "It's beautiful."

Lisbeth touched the four-leaf clover. It was cool to the touch, but the side pressed against her skin had already warmed up.

"Thank you."

It's just a compliment. What's there to thank me for? Isn't that a little too formal?

Sebastian was puzzled, but he didn't say anything. He just gently pulled her into his arms.

In that moment, the emptiness inside him finally felt full.

He said softly, "Let me take you to work tomorrow, okay?"

Lisbeth hummed in agreement. "Okay."

……

Anne and Dennis stood outside the door, listening. But the soundproofing was too good—they couldn't hear a thing. It wore the two kids out.

Then the door suddenly opened. The kids weren't ready. They nearly fell to the floor.

Luckily, Sebastian was quick. He scooped them both up, one in each arm.

Anne laughed awkwardly. "It's getting late! We came to tell you it's bedtime!"

Dennis didn't have her poker face. He wasn't good at lying either, so he buried his face in Sebastian's arm and pretended he didn't know anything.

"All right. Let's go to bed."

Sebastian carried the two kids back to their room. For once, neither he nor Lisbeth left. They stayed and slept with the children.

But halfway through the night, Lisbeth suddenly felt someone take her hand. She was startled, afraid the kids would notice. She opened her eyes and, across the two sleeping children, saw Sebastian wide awake, a smile in his eyes.

He mouthed something silently.

Lisbeth made it out. Her face flushed. She shook her head. "No. The kids will notice."

She whispered as quietly as she could, afraid of waking them.

Sebastian sat up in bed, walked around it, and approached her side under her stunned gaze.

He leaned down and, very carefully, lifted her into his arms.

Lisbeth didn't dare struggle—she was afraid of bumping into the kids. That would be mortifying. So she had no choice but to go along with it.

The two of them moved cautiously, as quietly as possible, out of the room.

Lisbeth could feel his hurried steps as he carried her. She knew exactly what he wanted to do. Her face heated up. She tilted her head back and caught sight of his throat, his Adam's apple bobbing.

A playful impulse struck her. She leaned up and kissed it.

Just a light touch. But the man holding her stopped in his tracks. Then slowly, he looked down at her.

He pressed his forehead against hers, his voice low and rough.

"Don't regret it."

Lisbeth fell silent.

She already regretted it.