Chapter 16

Chapter 16


She turned and walked briskly back to the room—their bedroom—to change and prepare. As she walked, she felt it fully settle in.

She quickly tied her hair into a neat bun and wrapped a scarf around it. She trimmed her nails without hesitation, her heart skipping with excitement.

In her joy, she didn’t even realize when she picked up her phone and called Tanya.

Tanya answered with a teasing tone, “How does it feel being a married woman for one day?”

Anna giggled softly. “I don’t know. I guess… I’m the happiest woman in the world, Tanya. I just called to tell you that this is the happiest day of my life. I know I’ve said this to you before, but I can’t say it enough. Thank you for all your support.”

“Wow, wow, I can’t believe this,” Tanya replied, genuinely touched. “You’re really making me so happy. Anna, you know what? Let’s talk all about it after our test tomorrow. Today, you have to give your husband the maximum attention he deserves.”

“Of course... of course I will,” Anna replied, beaming. “Um, actually, he’s not around. He went for a meeting.”

“What?” Tanya asked, almost offended. “You mean he left you—his new wife—to go for a meeting? How can he do that?”

Anna chuckled. “Come on, you know he’s a busy man. Well, right now, I want to make something delicious for him. So when he gets back, he’ll be happy.”

“That’s a good plan,” Tanya agreed. “Well, tell me how it goes tomorrow when we see.”

“Definitely. I won’t keep it from you,” Anna said before ending the call.

She hurried back to the kitchen, still wearing her bright smile, and joined the maids as they continued cooking. She took joy in every moment—chopping vegetables, checking the pot, stirring gently. She wanted everything to be perfect.

Meanwhile, at his company, Henry sat in a meeting room surrounded by executives and analysts. But his mind wasn’t there.

He yawned quietly, leaned back, and crossed his arms. Usually, he’d be the one dragging these meetings longer than necessary. But today? Everything felt… dull.

His thoughts drifted to Anna.... her soft lips, her nervous touch, the way she had surrendered herself the night before. A smirk slowly pulled at his mouth.

A few of the people around him exchanged glances. Henry Duke wasn’t known for smiling during meetings.

Suddenly, he sat up and said, “Um, actually… we’re done for the day. This meeting is boring.... I can’t be here any longer.”

His assistant leaned toward him and whispered, “But sir, you love having meetings like this. In fact, you’re usually the one who drags them for hours.”

Henry gave him a sideways look. “Really? Are you saying I’m not considerate?”

The man immediately flinched. “Oh, no, no! That’s not what I meant, sir. It’s just that... it’s unusual.”

“Whatever... whatever,” Henry muttered, rising to his feet. “I guess I won't be working late.... because I have something better waiting for me at home.”

Without another word, he picked up his jacket and walked out of the room.

When Henry arrived home, the staff hurried to greet him. One of the maids took his bag from him while another bowed politely.

“Where’s my wife?” he asked.

“She’s in the kitchen, cooking,” one of the maids replied with a smile.

Henry frowned slightly. “Why should she be cooking?”

“She insisted,” the maid said. “She even went as far as chopping her nails. She said she wanted to make something delicious for her husband.”

His frown softened. A smile broke across his face.

“Hmm… interesting,” he murmured.

He walked slowly toward the kitchen, his steps light as he peeked in without making a sound.

There she was, standing by the cooker carefully pouring sauce into a dish. Her scarf was neatly tied, her sleeves rolled, and her focus was completely on the food.

He watched her silently, an unfamiliar warmth settling in his chest.

Without a word, he turned and walked away, heading to their bedroom.

“I guess this must be why Colby is so happy to be married,” he thought. “Having a wife is indeed a sweet feeling.”

Once inside, he noticed the subtle changes in his room, and, her scent lingering in the room, a few of her clothes in the closet. He smiled faintly.

“Having a wife also means losing my personal space,” he muttered under his breath. “But I guess I can live with that.”

He headed into the bathroom for a quick shower. He was hungry, but he also felt strangely eager to see her again.

Downstairs, Anna had just finished cooking. The aroma of the food filled the kitchen, and the maids were already preparing to serve the meal.

Anna turned to them and said, “Thank you all. I’ll go take a quick shower before dinner is served.”

They nodded as she left the kitchen.

She made her way back to the bedroom, feeling pleased with herself. She untied the scarf and let her hair fall freely as she reached for the bathroom door.

Just then, the door opened from the inside, and Henry stepped out, his body glistening with droplets of water, a towel wrapped low around his waist.

Anna gasped. “Oh my God… you’re—you’re back?” she asked, taking a step back.

He smiled. “Yeah.”

Her eyes moved instinctively—his wet chest, his abs, the curve of muscle down his side. Before she could stop herself, she reached out and touched his chest with her fingers.

Henry’s fingers curled softly around her wrist as she touched his chest. His skin was warm and damp from the shower, his abs flexing slightly under her fingertips.

“You like it?” he asked, his voice low and teasing.

Anna nodded, her throat dry, her eyes wide as she stared at him.

A slow smirk tugged at his lips. “You’ve been acting like such a good little wife today,” he murmured. “Cooking for me. Trimming your nails. Playing house.”

His hand slid from her wrist up to her neck, his thumb brushing the edge of her jaw as he leaned in.

“You really want to please your husband, don’t you?”

She swallowed, then nodded again. “Yes.”

“Then turn around.”

She hesitated, but the heat in his eyes made her breath catch. She turned, her back now facing him, heart pounding.