CHAPTER 144. CLAIRE

CHAPTER 144. CLAIRE
Coming to Raviel’s apartment every night at six in the evening had become a habit. Every time I got home from work, I would automatically shower and get ready to go to Raviel’s apartment. It wasn’t just me who was excited, but Aiden was too. He spent every night playing with Raviel before falling asleep in his warm arms. Raviel and I would have a lovely dinner afterward. We talked about everything, from the basics of everyday life to personal matters like annoying clients.
We talked about almost anything at the dinner table except for things that concerned our feelings. That topic was taboo. Raviel was very careful not to mention it because he knew that bringing it up would only damage the harmony of our relationship. Even though we didn’t say it verbally, we both compromised for Aiden. He deserved complete love from his parents. Even though we would never marry, that wouldn’t stop Aiden from getting what was rightfully his.
“This salmon burger is so delicious. Where did you learn to make it?”
“YouTube, Google, they have so many amazing recipes. All you need to do is type it into the search bar, and you'll find whatever recipe you need.”
“Even if I watched it a million times, it still wouldn’t make my cooking taste as good as yours. You have skills I don’t possess.”
“I guess that’s fair enough. I can cook, but I can’t manage multiple companies like you. How can you look so calm when your brain is busy juggling so many different things at once?”
I stared at him, shoveling salad into my mouth.
“I just do it. There’s nothing special.”
“You say that as if managing multiple companies is easy and simple. I couldn’t manage one company without bankrupting it.”
“That’s like me not being able to cook without burning it. Everyone has their own specialty. The world would be boring if everyone had the same skill set.”
I threw the lettuce at him in annoyance.
“That’s not my point. I’m curious about how your brain works with all those businesses. Even if you have so many employees, you still have to give them orders.”
“How do you cook something this delicious? How do you know it’s just right before you even taste it?”
I gaped at his question.
He was damn smart.
“I just did it.”
“Well, now you get my point.”
“Damn. You’re getting back at me, huh?”
“I made you understand without having to explain it at length.”
I shot him an annoyed look.
I shouldn’t have forgotten the fact that he was the top graduate in his college and that he was taking a double degree in two prestigious majors. Both were incredibly difficult, and he was conquering them like it was nothing.
My lips curled into a smile, remembering the fact that I had a son from a very smart man.
I hoped Aiden inherited Raviel’s intelligence.
“Why are you smiling?”
“It’s nothing.”
“It must be something.”
He gave me a searching look.
“It’s nothing. Really.”
“I can tell when you’re thinking about indecent things with a face like that.”
I gaped at his comment.
“Are you accusing me of lewd thoughts?”
“You don’t?”
“No,” I exclaimed loudly.
I stood up and cleared all the dirty dishes off the table.
“Leave them in the sink. I’ll wash them.”
“You’re washing the dishes? Really?” I shot him an incredulous look.
“You cooked, I’ll wash the dishes.”
“I thought you were the kind of man who never did housework.”
“I’m not that sexist.”
I crossed my arms across my chest, watching him rinse all the dirty dishes in the sink before putting them in the dishwasher.
“What?” he asked.
"I thought you'd focus on activities outside the home if you were a husband. You'd focus on earning money, while household chores and childcare would be your wife's responsibility."
"You're wrong. If I were a husband, I would indeed be the primary provider for my family. I wouldn't let my wife work because she would be the queen of our home. Household responsibilities and raising our children would be our shared responsibility. We would share power at home."
"Wow."
"Wow what?"
Raviel loaded the plates and cutlery into the dishwasher. He worked skillfully. He looked like someone who was used to handling dirty dishes. I'd never seen him fuss around in the kitchen since we used to have Bertha, who always handled everything.
"You have a very structured plan for the future. Whoever your wife is, she's a very lucky woman."
Raviel straightened his back after closing the dishwasher door. He shot me a sharp look, and I raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"What?"
"We have a child together."
"And?"
"You should be my wife."
I chuckled dryly.
We'd managed to avoid the topic for a week, and I didn't want it to ruin the harmony of our relationship.
"Aiden's asleep, but I don't want to go back to my apartment yet."
"What do you want to do?"
Raviel closed the distance between us. His body heat radiated into mine. I didn't back away as our bodies pressed together. I challenged myself to see how far I would let Raviel go. It would be good to overcome my irrational fears of him.
"Do you have any ideas?"
His eyes met mine before shifting to his bedroom door. He didn't say a word, just made a gesture clear enough for me to understand.
Raviel placed his arm on the kitchen island, imprisoning me. From this close, the scent of his perfume and aftershave filled my nostrils. He smelled of pine with a very fresh hint of mint. Very manly and masculine.
"I was just thinking about watching a movie. You have a giant TV, a plush sofa set, and a shag rug. Wouldn't that be perfect for watching a movie?"
"The only movie I want to watch with you is porn."
I chuckled.
"Don't joke around."
I pushed his chest away and stepped aside.
I went to the guest room to check on Aiden. He was sleeping soundly in his new crib. Raviel was a man who never played around with his words. When he said he would buy a crib and make a room for Aiden, he actually did it the next day. Aiden no longer had to sleep in a cramped stroller while we were enjoying dinner.
“Sit here.”
Raviel patted the empty spot next to him. He then handed me the remote after I landed my butt on his super-soft sofa.
“I’m not going to watch porn like you suggested.”
“Fine. Pick any movie you like.”
“I think I’ll watch Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans.”
“Seriously? Avengers?”
He frowned in disgust as I pressed play and the movie started.
"The film will be filled with nothing but explosions and screaming. There will be no romantic scenes at all, let alone bed scenes."
“I like explosions and screaming. It reminds me of when your mansion was bombed,” I shrugged quietly.
I leaned back against the back of the sofa and tucked my legs under me. Raviel pulled my shoulders closer to his, and I let our sides press together. It was the perfect position for watching a movie.
Fifteen minutes into the movie, I rested my head on his shoulder. Raviel didn't complain anymore and enjoyed the movie, even though we were watching something completely different from his taste.
"Rave..."
"Hmm?"
"Why didn't we ever spend time watching movies like this?"
"I guess I was too busy avoiding you. And after we confessed our feelings, that little bitch sabotaged our lives to the point where we couldn't even breathe for a second."
"You're right. After Palm Springs, we've barely had a quiet life like this."
I sighed softly, my eyes focused on the increasingly tense movie. The explosions and screams made it exciting. I pressed myself against Raviel, hiding behind his arm as the villain tried to hurt Tony Stark.
"It's just a movie."
“I don’t want to see Tony get hurt.”
“Did you choose this movie on purpose because the main character is named Tony? It’s the same as your fiancé’s name.”
I snorted.
“Of course not. I do like Robert Downey Jr.’s acting.”
“I don’t think there’s anything special about his acting.”
“I’m not asking for your opinion. Just watch the movie and shut up.”
We curled up on the couch, the movie getting more and more tense with each scene. I didn’t realize I’d sunk too deeply into Raviel’s arms. We weren't just sitting side by side on the couch anymore, but I was actually in Raviel's arms. His arms were wrapped around my back.
“Rave, honestly, I prefer the current version of you.”
“You didn’t like the old me?”
“I did, but if you were this gentle, and you weren’t a murderer, I would have fallen in love with you more than you could ever imagine.”
“I’ve changed for you.”
“Thank you. And you’re a great father to Aiden. I’m sorry I ever asked you to stay out of Aiden’s life.”
“I understand. You just want to protect our son.”
“I want you to be happy.”
“My happiness is with you and Aiden.”
Raviel pressed his lips to my temple, and I closed my eyes, savoring it. My heart twisted in pain. I never imagined Raviel and I would be at this point. It was easier for me to hate him when the misunderstanding blinded me than when the truth was all laid bare before my eyes.
“Can’t we have a chance?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
“I imagined you being the queen of the palace I built.”
I sighed softly.
“I can’t be your queen, Rave. I’ve already said yes to another man, and I don’t want to disappoint him.”
“And that means you’ll disappoint me.”
I tried hard not to cry in front of him. My heart ached even more at his words. I expected him to yell at me or curse me, that would make it easier for me to hate him, but instead, he said it in a soft, regretful tone.
“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Rave.”
My voice cracking with emotion.