CHAPTER 146. CLAIRE

CHAPTER 146. CLAIRE
We drove for about thirty minutes. Our destination was a quiet suburb. It wasn’t the countryside. It was still part of LA, but far from the hustle and bustle of downtown. There weren’t any nosy people wandering around. There were plenty of trees and a soothing grassy area. I saw a giant iron gate in the distance.
“What’s that?”
Instead of answering me, Raviel drove closer to the giant gate. It automatically swung open, and Raviel drove into the courtyard of a magnificent mansion.
“Welcome home.”
I frowned, confused.
“Whose house is this?”
Raviel’s car stopped in the driveway. He unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to me.
“This was supposed to be our home. I built it after my old mansion was bombed. I prepared it for you.”
I was once again speechless. All I could do was gape and stare at Raviel, who had just jumped out of the car.
"Don't you want to see the inside of this house?"
I got out of the car and followed Raviel hesitantly. He was pushing Aiden's stroller toward the main door.
This house was magnificent. It was almost identical to Raviel's old mansion, but in a fresher version. The walls were predominantly white and cream, giving the house a brighter and more homey feel. There was a fountain in front of the house, which served as the centerpiece of a circular walkway that led to the driveway.
"Rave, you've given me so many surprises, and I'm feeling overwhelmed."
My eyes welled up, and I discreetly wiped them with the back of my hand.
"I should have given you this surprise a year ago. It's not really a surprise anymore, but I still wanted to show it to you."
"This place is beautiful."
"It doesn't have much furniture because I planned to let you choose it yourself. I wanted this house to suit your tastes, as this will be your castle."
"This is truly a beautiful house, Rave. Thank you."
We passed through a very spacious but empty entryway. The place was unfurnished, but I could imagine it would be a beautiful mansion once all the furniture was arranged in the right places.
"This is the hall. The hallway on the right will lead to two rooms that I originally planned to turn into an office and perhaps a library for you. Or, if you'd like a home office, we can set it up there."
“Will there be a secret room with dozens of monitors?” I teased him.
“I guess that won’t be necessary. If you were my wife, I wouldn’t have to be a peeping tom. But I might need to install some cameras in your apartment,” he shrugged nonchalantly.
“You pervert,” I chuckled, lightly hitting his arm.
Raviel showed me the rooms he planned to use as his office and library. They were very spacious. Even more spacious than Raviel’s office in his old mansion. There was a modern fireplace with a gold rim combined with ivory, and it was beautiful.
“I’m going to install five or maybe more computers on this side to control my businesses.”
“You’re that detailed?”
“I’m a perfectionist. I’m itching to fill every corner of this house with the furniture we need, but it wouldn’t be fair if I were the only one doing it. I also want to give you the opportunity to create your own taste.”
After briefly showing me around a few rooms on the first floor, Raviel led me to the kitchen. It was the only place I could find the essential household items that are usually found in every home.
"I moved the fridge from my apartment here because I was too lazy to pack groceries."
"You could have asked me what I wanted to cook tonight, so we could have just brought the ingredients we needed, instead of bringing your fridge here."
“I don't want you to be fixated on specific ingredients. I know you like to be creative with food, and you need an unlimited supply of ingredients.”
“You know me too well for me to deny it.”
I was amazed by Raviel's kitchen. It was enormous. If I lived here, I would spend hours in the kitchen. I could create a variety of dishes to feed everyone in the house, including Raviel's men.
“You can even play ball in here,” I chuckled.
“I want you to be able to move freely while cooking.”
The kitchen island was very classy, ​​with black marble and gold trim. The color combination perfectly complemented the kitchen's predominantly ivory interior. It made Raviel's kitchen look even more expensive.
"I only had time to install the essential cookware yesterday. But they're not permanent."
"You mean you're still going to replace them?"
"This is just a makeshift kitchen for tonight."
"You're not going to live here?"
Raviel stared at me deeply. His blue eyes burned with a determination that sent shivers down my spine.
"If we never got married, I wouldn't be living here. This house is meant for a family, not a single man like me. I can live in a simpler place like an apartment because I'm a nomad by nature."
"So, you're just going to abandon this house?"
Raviel shrugged slowly.
"We'll see."
The thought of abandoning the house made me sad. I loved his house. If I had the money, I would build a house just like Raviel's. He was truly amazing because he knew my tastes. He was a quietly keen observer. He was very discerning. And I regretted disappointing him because we couldn't be together. The many obstacles in our previous relationship made me think we were just not meant to be.
"I'll take Aiden for a walk while you cook."
"Okay. Be back in half an hour."