I Once Married You (Harper and Benjamin) novel Chapter 73

Chapter 73 Attention

"Where would you like to eat?" Benjamin asked, staring at her.

Harper was taken aback. "Aren't we going home?"

The words "going home" seemed to please him. He smiled faintly, his face softening as he said, "We are going to a restaurant, right?"

Caught off guard, Harper was still processing when Benjamin stepped on the gas.

Then, he asked, "What do you feel like eating?"

Harper didn't reject and thought for a moment. "Let's go to The Silver."

The Silver's menu focused on simple, fresh cuisine, which was perfect. Benjamin wasn't a fan of overly spiced dishes, and she was avoiding strong flavors herself these days. It suited them both.

They had been married for a year, but this was the first time the two of them were dining out alone.

Throughout the year, Harper had wanted to have a meal alone with him but hesitated to ask. She was afraid of his rejection, or maybe he would find her annoyingly clingy.

During the meal, both of them remained silent. Benjamin was used to eating in silence at home.

Just as she wondered why he had taken her out alone tonight, his deep voice broke the silence. "Why aren't you talking?"

Harper looked up, meeting his deep eyes, and replied softly, "Don't you usually prefer it this way? No talking and chatting..."

"Who said that?"

"That's how it is at home," she explained.

Benjamin smirked, leaning in closer. "Harper, you pay a lot of attention to me, don't you?"

Her eyes flickered away. "Benjamin, we're married. We've been together for a year. Of course I know a few things about you."

What she really wanted to ask was whether he had ever paid attention to her at all.

But the potential answer was too painful to confront, so she swallowed it back.

Benjamin didn't respond to that and just spoke indifferently, "You seem distracted, Harper. What's been going on with you lately?"

She was stunned, not expecting him to notice.

"It's nothing. Maybe a lot of things going on lately."

Benjamin didn't buy it, and his eyes never left her as he frowned. "Has your relationship with the Mitchell family always been like this?"

Harper assumed he meant she wasn't close with the Mitchells.

She pressed her lips, not avoiding his gaze or question. "Like what? Distant?" She laughed nonchalantly, "Maybe. Only my grandpa who had the most influence on me in that family."

Although she didn't grow up with the Mitchells, her grandpa always treated her kindly. He'd often visit her at her grandma's house, bringing all sorts of interesting gifts.

A soft smile touched her lips as she remembered those happy times.

Benjamin watched her, a strange feeling stirring within him.

They had shared a bed for a year, yet only now did he realize how little he understood her.

Who was Harper, really?

After dinner, they returned to Pineview Villa. Benjamin went to his study to work while Harper headed to the bedroom.

It was Paul's birthday, and she wanted to give him a gift.

Since Paul loved collecting oil paintings, she decided to focus her search there.

After taking care of the details, she checked her phone again. Still no word from Frank.