Chapter 51 Packing Trouble
Roman swallowed hard, not daring to move.
His legs had gone numb.
“Darling,” he murmured close to Evelyn’s ear, voice low and tight, “please… don’t move.”
Evelyn stiffened.
She stayed seated on his lap, cheeks burning, eyes stubbornly lowered to the tablecloth. She could feel everything—his warmth, his tension, the way his body reacted far too honestly to her presence.
Any slight shift earned a low, restrained breath from Roman.
She bit her lip.
That sound shouldn’t have affected her the way it did—but heat pooled low in her stomach anyway, fast and traitorous. Embarrassment warred with desire, leaving her painfully aware of herself.
She shifted despite herself.
Roman groaned under his breath.
That was it.
He lifted her off his lap in one swift motion, setting her down beside him like quickly.
Evelyn’s whole body was burning.
Roman straightened slowly, jaw clenched, gaze fixed firmly ahead as if nothing was happening.
Mrs. Chen cleared her throat gently.
She calmly placed a bowl of soup in front of Evelyn, eyes deliberately averted.
“Eat while it’s warm,” she said kindly, then glanced at Roman. “Young Master too.”
Mrs. Hartwell adjusted the cutlery professionally, lips pressed into a tin polite line.
Evelyn wanted to crawl under the table in embarrassment.
“Yes,” Roman said hoarsely, after trying to keep calm.
Breakfast resumed awkwardly.
Evelyn picked at her food, painfully aware of Roman beside her. Every time she glanced his way, she saw the very obvious bulge beneath the table.
Leo, who had been ignored all throughout, cleared his throat. Oblivious of the tense and awkward atmosphere.
“Boss, since you're here, I’ll just go over the travel itinerary for the vacation—”
Evelyn turned to look at Roman. “Isn’t this too sudden…?” She said looking flustered. “I haven’t packed anything. I didn’t prepare, I don’t even know where we’re going—”
“That’s fine,” he interrupted gently. “You don’t need to.”
“We’ll shop when we arrive,” Roman continued smoothly. “Everything else has already been arranged.”
Leo nodded enthusiastically. “Oh! You’re going to love it, Madam. First stop is—”
Roman shot him a look.
Leo stopped mid-sentence. Cleared his throat. “I’ll… go make sure everything’s arranged properly.”
He vanished before anyone could say another word.
Evelyn glanced between them, still processing. “First stop? Are we going to more than one place for our vacation?” She paused. “You planned all of this… without telling me?”
Roman’s gaze softened. “It was meant to be a break. No planning. No stress. Just you and me.”
Her chest tightened unexpectedly.
—-
Breakfast ended quietly. Roman stood, pushing his chair back smoothly.
“I’ll be in my study,” he said softly. With a final glance at Evelyn, he left the room, leaving her alone to finish breakfast.
Evelyn sat for a moment, looking at the neatly set table, then finally allowed herself to smile brightly.
“Time to pack,” she muttered, rising and heading to her room.
She searched through her wardrobe, pulling out a few essentials, brushing aside clothes she wouldn’t need, feeling a thrill bubble inside her. Vacations weren’t something she got to take often, even with money in the family—she had saved her own allowances a few times just to dream of something like this.
But this… this was different. This time, she was going as the wife of a billionaire, meaning this is going to be a lifetime worth of experience. She could do anything she wanted. She couldn't stop grinning.
Excited, she reached for her phone to call Lena, eager to share her excitement, but the screen was black. She had forgotten to charge it.
“No worries,” she said softly to herself, with a sheepish grin. “Pictures will do a proper surprise.”
Just as she zipped up the second bag, the door to her room opened suddenly. She jumped, heart racing, and almost dropped a bottle of lotion.
“You scared me.”
Roman stood there, arms crossed, eyebrows furrowed, watching the small piles of luggage.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Packing for our trip,” she replied brightly, trying to keep her composure.
Roman pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing. “I told you, you don’t need to pack. Why strain yourself? You still have bruises on your hand and thigh, dear.”
Evelyn’s grin widened. “I can manage that. The ointment you applied made it fine.” She tugged at the zipper of a suitcase. “Besides, we can’t go on vacation with nothing.”
The zipper stuck.
She leaned into it, putting her weight behind the effort.
“Evelyn,” Roman warned.
“Quickly,” she said without looking up. “Help me with this.”
Roman just stood there staring at her intensely.
Evelyn struggled for a while, seeing he wasn't helping, she stopped and sighed.
“Why won't you help me?” She whined pouting her lips.
“I think you got a little too excited. You're bringing too much.” Roman said calmly.
Evelyn huffed, flustered.
“Well, my things aren’t the only ones here. I packed yours too,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Now come on, help me with the zipper.” She tugged at the luggage, trying not to show how nervous she was.
Roman sighed, but stepped forward anyway, crouching beside her and gently pushing her hands aside. “You’re terrible at following instructions,” he murmured.
“And you’re terrible at letting people do things for themselves,” she shot back, then immediately pressed her lips together, realizing how sharp it sounded.
His lips tilted slightly into a smile. He calmly worked the zipper, Evelyn glanced at him, feeling a rush of warmth at the sight of him—calm, composed, and yet completely her husband. The way he handles things so gently, made her chest flutter.
“There,” he said. “Satisfied?”
She nodded, pleased. Then she looked at him seriously “Thank you... I’m really looking forward to this.”
Roman paused, letting the words hang between them. “Good,” he said quietly. “That was the point.”
He turned toward the wardrobe, disappearing for a moment before returning with a frown.
“You said you helped me pack some of my things?” he asked, raising one dark eyebrow.
Evelyn tilted her head, unsure. “Yeah… I did.”
“I think you’re forgetting something.” His said with amusement in his eyes.
Confused, she frowned. “Like what?”
“My underwear,” he said casually, stepping closer. “Did you help me pack it, or do you want me to go without?”
Her face immediately turned crimson.
Roman crouched slightly, bringing their eyes to the same level, gaze teasing and intense. “You’ve been changing colors a lot today. Are you trying to become a chameleon?”
Evelyn tried to step back, but he caught her waist with one hand, pulling her body closer. Heat pooled low in her stomach, her pulse racing.
“You—pack your underwear yourself,” she finally stammered, cheeks blazing.
Roman’s smile deepened, leaning close enough that she could feel the warmth of his breath near her ear. “Or… if you don’t…” His voice dropped, low and intimate. “…then fine. You’ll just have to see me without them. I look better that way anyway. Might be the better option for this trip.”
Evelyn froze, unsure whether to be mortified or thrilled, heat rising with every heartbeat. She caught herself pressing against him unconsciously, her chest tight, heart hammering like it was trying to escape.