Chapter 122 Because of Love
But she couldn't take back what she'd already said.
Scarlett swallowed her frustration and went back to the bedroom, grabbed a blanket for Daniel, and tossed it on the sofa.
With a stern face, she was about to turn and leave when suddenly a strange sound rang out.
In the quiet atmosphere, it sounded particularly loud.
Scarlett and Daniel looked at each other, and the sound came again.
Only then did Scarlett realize it was her stomach growling.
Instantly, her face flushed red.
How embarrassing, especially when she was trying to act all cold and aloof!
Just as she was about to leave, Daniel raised his hand, his large palm suddenly covering Scarlett's lower abdomen, rubbing it a couple of times.
Scarlett had taken off her coat and was only wearing a thin, form-fitting knit top. The warmth and touch of Daniel's palm were immediately felt with crystal clarity.
He was touching her baby bump!
In an instant, Scarlett froze as if under a spell, her whole body tense, her heartbeat chaotic.
Until Daniel chuckled softly, looked up at her, and asked.
"When did you become such a foodie? You seem to have gained a bit of weight."
Scarlett, nervous and annoyed, pushed Daniel away.
"You're the one who's fat! I'm going to bed!"
She turned and left. Daniel watched her somewhat flustered retreating figure, his lips curving slightly.
Scarlett closed the bedroom door and firmly locked it, then irritably covered her stomach and lay down on the bed.
But it was really too hard to fall asleep while hungry. She tossed and turned for a long time, getting hungrier and hungrier.
She could endure this hunger, but the baby couldn't.
Scarlett had no choice but to get up again. She quietly opened the door, poked her head out, wanting to sneak a peek to see if Daniel was already asleep so she could find some snacks.
But the sofa area was empty, though a delicious aroma floated in the air.
Scarlett sniffed the air and walked toward the kitchen.
Her footsteps made the tall figure in the kitchen turn to look at her.
Daniel was only wearing a white shirt and black dress pants, his collar loose, sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing beautifully lined collarbones and toned, sexy forearms.
The warm yellow overhead light enveloped him, the smoky aroma of food swirling around Daniel's face, creating a scene so warm and beautiful it seemed unreal, like falling into a dream.
Scarlett stood dumbly at the doorway until Daniel spoke in a calm voice.
"The noodles are almost ready, go get the utensils."
"Okay." Scarlett snapped out of it, lowered her head and blinked rapidly, then walked over.
Daniel had made two bowls of egg, mushroom, and shrimp noodles. He brought them to the table. The soup had golden eggs, bright green vegetable pieces, tender pink shrimp, and mushroom slices.
Perfect in color, aroma, and taste.
It was a flavor she knew well. When Scarlett was little, she went through a growth spurt and was always hungry. She wasn't a real member of the Wilson family, and even though Daniel backed her up and Magnolia doted on her, she was still living under someone else's roof.
At night, Scarlett didn't dare trouble the servants to make her extra food. After Daniel caught Scarlett sneaking into the kitchen for food twice in the middle of the night, he instructed the servants to prepare late-night snacks for her.
The servants didn't dare neglect Scarlett, but she couldn't feel at ease about it and would rather go hungry than sneak to the kitchen again.
Later, when Daniel discovered she was secretly eating snacks to fill her stomach at night, he was at his wit's end with her.
He learned to make noodles for her so she could get better nutrition.
Blair even asked him about making late-night snacks, but Daniel just said he was hungry himself and not to worry about it. Blair believed him and let it go.
During that time, when Scarlett got hungry at night, she would sneak over and knock on Daniel's door. Daniel would make noodles and bring them upstairs.
She would hide in Daniel's room eating her late-night snack, and after she left, Daniel still had to clean up and open the windows to air out the smell. It was quite exhausting.
But later Daniel went abroad, Scarlett grew up, and they gradually drifted apart.
It had been a very, very long time since Scarlett had eaten noodles made by Daniel.
"Why are you spacing out? Hurry up and eat, your stomach is growling again."
Seeing Scarlett staring blankly at the bowl of noodles for a long time, Daniel couldn't help but tap her with his finger.
Only then did Scarlett pick up her utensils. She lowered her eyes, took a bite of noodles and a sip of soup, her eyes brimming with moisture.
"It's delicious."
It really was delicious.
Scarlett's nose tingled as she began eating in big mouthfuls.
She thought, no wonder she fell in love with him.
Once upon a time, he had been really, really good to her, cherishing her like a precious treasure in the palm of his hand.
Unfortunately, what he gave her was familial love.
She was too greedy, always wanting more, wanting forever.
Even during these four years, apart from not loving her and neglecting her, he had never done anything excessive to her, and had never deprived her materially.
He just didn't love her.
But he hadn't married her willingly either, so he had no obligation to love her.
It was her own unfulfilled longing that tormented her heart.
Comparatively speaking, attacks and harm from the outside world and others were more numerous, but she could endure all of that.
Yet with Daniel, she had actually been spoiled a bit, unable to bear even the slightest grievance, which would be infinitely magnified.
"Stop eating."
Daniel suddenly grabbed Scarlett's hand.
Scarlett struggled, "No, it's good, I'm not full yet and haven't finished, let go of me!"
She broke free from Daniel's hand and picked up another strand of noodles to put in her mouth, but suddenly found it hard to swallow.
The noodles were clearly delicious, and she really wanted to eat them.
What was wrong with her?
"You're crying while eating, and you still say you want to eat? If you don't want to eat, I won't be mad!"
Daniel took the utensils from Scarlett's hand with a stern voice, gripping her chin with one hand while roughly wiping Scarlett's cheek with the other.
Only then did Scarlett realize she was crying, sobbing.
Here she was again, it was just a bowl of noodles, wasn't it?
Scarlett uncomfortably turned her head away, not wanting him to see her in such a mess.
But Daniel wouldn't let go. He leaned in closer, his thin lips drawing nearer and nearer, as if to kiss away Scarlett's tears.
His familiar, burning breath washed over her. Scarlett looked at his handsome face so close to hers, her eyes full of grief and panic.
She suddenly pushed him away, knocked back her chair and stood up.
"I'm done eating, thank you, good night."
She turned and vigorously wiped her face, then ran into the bedroom and closed the door.
Daniel remained seated, his gaze falling on the tightly closed door, his fingertips still damp, his eyes dark and deep.
Late at night, Daniel lay on the sofa.
The sofa was too small for him, with half his calves hanging off the edge. He couldn't sleep well like this.
He picked up his phone and opened a Facebook group.
【Daniel: Why would a woman cry while eating noodles?】
Alton quickly replied.
【Alton: The noodles must be terrible】
【Daniel: She said they were delicious】
【Alton: Then the person who made the noodles must be really annoying】
Daniel fell silent.
He irritably tossed his phone aside, but just as he closed his eyes, the phone lit up again.
Daniel glanced at it—Chris was joining in too.
【Chris: Could also be because of love】
Daniel's grip on his phone tightened. Chris then sent Daniel a private message.
【Scarlett cried eating noodles you made? Late at night, I reasonably suspect you're showing off your relationship, Daniel.】
Daniel's gaze moved away from his phone, his eyes seeming to penetrate the bedroom door, a faint light flickering in their depths.