Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 288

He didn’t quite get it, but he respected it.

< Chapter 288: Married First, Love Lat….

Chapter 288: Married First, Love Later 4

While Olivia was busy in the kitchen, Zach went to his room to clean up. He shaved off the few days of stubble he’d been sporting.

Menu

He came back out in a grey T–shirt and black pants. His short hair was still damp, giving him a rugged, wild look. With his sharp features and fresh face, he looked clean and undeniably handsome.

He sat down at the dining table, facing Olivia.

Two people, two dishes, and a soup.

On the table sat tomato and egg stir–fry, garlic cabbage, and winter melon soup with pork.

For Zach, it was a bit too light on the meat, but he didn’t mind a healthy meal every now and then.

Olivia’s cooking was surprisingly good.

You’re a great cook,” Zach said between bites. “Do you do this often?”

Yeah, Olivia replied. “I’ve been cooking since I was six.”

Zach froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. He looked up at her, stunned. “Six?”

“My parents divorced when I was six. Neither of them wanted me, so they dumped me with my grandpa.” She spoke casually, a faint smile on her lips as she looked down, poking at her rice. “Grandpa worked construction and didn’t have time to cook, so I learned to do it myself. I was too short for the stove, so I had to stand on a stool just to reach the pans.”

Zach’s expression darkened. He stared at her, a flicker of pity in his eyes. “They just left you like that? No contact?”

“None.”

“Did they pay child support?”

“Yeah. They each sent $1,000 a month and split my school fees. But that stopped the moment I turned eighteen.”

“Did they ever come back to see you?”

“Never.”

“Then how did you pay for college?”

“I worked while I studied. Between my jobs and my scholarships, I made it work. I just had to be careful with my money.”

Zach let out a long breath and set his chopsticks down. He leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed as he watched her. He couldn’t bring himself to ask anything else.

He finally understood why a girl so young, sweet, and innocent would agree to her grandfather’s arrangement–to marry a man she didn’t know, a man ten years older than her.

She didn’t have the luxury of choice.

As Zach sat there in silence, Olivia looked up hesitantly. She forced a small, shy smile and asked tentatively, “Zach, are you always this busy? Do you rarely come home?”

“Not really,” he replied. “It gets intense when there’s a major case, but otherwise, things are pretty steady. I usually work regular hours.”

“Then… will you be coming home for dinner?”

The corner of Zach’s mouth curled up slightly. “You want me to come home for dinner?”

Olivia gave an awkward smile. “I just… I was hoping we could split the grocery bill.”

She felt pathetic for even asking, but she was just too broke. She had no choice but to pinch every penny.

Zach’s expression tightened. He pulled out his phone and pulled up his QR code on the Grid. “Add me.”

Olivia grabbed her phone immediately. She didn’t understand what he was doing, but she did as she was told and added him.

Once the request went through, Zach went into the settings and set up a Family Credit Line for her.

Olivia’s phone buzzed with a notification. She took one look at it and froze, her eyes wide with shock.

Zachary put his phone down. “Even if this is just a contract, I don’t need you splitting the bills. I’ve set up a $20,000 monthly Shared Credit Line for you. Spend whatever you want. If it’s not enough, just let me know.”

Olivia swallowed hard. “Do cops really get paid that much?” she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Zachary gave a short laugh. “Being a cop is my life’s mission, not my way of making money.”

“Then how did you get so rich?”

“Family backing. I’ve made some investments and own several properties and storefronts in New Haven City. The rent and returns are more

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< Chapter 288 Mamed First Love Lat

than enough. As my wife, you don’t ever have to worry about money.”

Olivia felt a wave of envy wash over her.

It must be nice to have a family that actually supported you.

She had nothing. Her parents barely even bothered to visit her.

And how long would she even be his wife?

She forced a polite, grateful smile and nodded. “Thank you, Zach… for taking care of me.”

In that moment, she felt exactly like a clinging vine–someone with no power to stand on her own, forced to depend on a man just to survive.

She hated herself for it, but she didn’t have a choice.

Taking care of her?

Zachary liked the sound of that.

“Are you settling in okay?” he asked.

Olivia nodded. “Yeah. I’m comfortable.”

“I should tell you about my family’s routine. Twice a month, we spend a couple of days at my grandfather’s house. When we’re there, we aren’t allowed to sleep in separate rooms. So, you should probably be prepared for that.”

Liv froze, her nerves clearly showing. “Why can’t we sleep in separate rooms?”

“Because we’re married.”

Liv let out a heavy sigh, her entire posture deflating.

Zach gave her a small smile, putting some food on her plate. “Eat. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Don’t stress about it too much.”

They fell into silence and continued their meal.

After a while.

Zach, Liv asked again, “how is Aubrey doing?”

“Not good.”

“Is there still a chance her father’s case can be overturned?”

“There will be. I’m still looking into it.”

“Did they catch the hit–and–run driver yet?”

“No.”

“Is it just going to stay like this? Unresolved?”

“No. My brother is on it. His wife went through hell and they lost the baby. He’s not going to let this go.”

Liv felt a wave of emotion. “Damon is the best man I’ve ever known. He won’t let Aubrey down.

She picked up her chopsticks and went back to her food.

Zach chuckled softly. “Liv, calling another man ‘the best‘ right in front of your husband? You’re really not giving me any credit, are you?”

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