Do You Still Love Me When We Meet Again? (Aubrey and Damon) novel Chapter 289

< Chapter 289 Love After Marriage 5

Chapter 289: Love After Marriage 5

Zach slept straight through until noon the next day.

When he woke up, the midday sun was streaming through the curtains, lighting up the entire room.

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He got up to wash his face. When he walked out of the bathroom and pulled open his closet door, a faint fragrance hit him. It was light and fresh, a scent that cleared his head instantly.

Zach froze for a second. He looked at the clothes in his closet–everything was perfectly organized by color and category. It was the first time he realized his wardrobe could actually look this good. And the smell? It was incredible.

Something stirred in his chest. He noticed a small, knitted sachet hanging from the rod. He reached out, grabbed it, and brought it to his nose. A rich floral scent hit him. He couldn’t help but let a small smile tug at his lips.

He was just a rough guy; he didn’t know anything about stuff like this. He used to think his brother wore cologne because he’d always catch a scent whenever he got close, but back then, his brother had flat–out denied it.

He didn’t expect a cute, fragrant little thing like that in the closet would actually make his clothes smell so good.

He hung the sachet back up, grabbed a white casual shirt and black pants, and changed.

He grabbed his dirty pajamas and stepped out of the room.

Under the warm early fall sun, a figure was busy in the small garden. It was Olivia. She was wearing a cute floral hat and a light sun shirt, crouching low as she worked on a small picket fence.

The patch that had been overrun with weeds was now completely clear. In its place, she’d planted a few small, drooping saplings that looked a little pathetic.

He hurried to the laundry room, tossed his clothes into the washer, and walked out into the yard. “What are you up to?”

Olivia jolted upright at the sound of his voice. Her heart skipped a beat.

Sunlight drenched his tall, muscular frame, making him look incredibly sharp. As he walked toward her, he carried a natural, commanding presence that made her feel instantly self–conscious.

“Zach, you’re up?” Olivia said, her tone laced with a hint of anxiety. She spoke carefully. “I… I cleared the weeds out of your garden. I planted some mock orange saplings since they’re easy to keep alive, and I scattered some flower seeds, too. I’m just putting up this little fence to make the place look better.”

Zach looked at the pile of fencing, his expression calm and steady. “Relax,” he said. “I don’t bite. Besides, we’re legally married. This is your garden too. You don’t need to be so formal about what’s mine or yours.”

“Oh.” Olivia let out a breath, relieved. She’d expected him to be annoyed.

Zach stepped forward and took the fence from her hands. “The midday sun is too hot. Go find some shade. I’ll handle this.”

“It’s fine, I can do it myself- Olivia tried to reach back for the fencing.

Zach reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.

He was tall, and his long reach easily kept her at a distance. The touch of his large hand made her go stiff with a sudden, nervous tension. “Zach, you should go eat. I already made lunch; it’s warming in the kitchen. Let me finish this.”

“I won’t die from skipping a meal, but you’ll get a sunburn if you stay out here any longer.” His tone was gentle, but it held a clear edge of authority. “Go inside. Don’t make me say it twice.”

Olivia wasn’t familiar enough with his personality to push her luck. She didn’t want to challenge him.

She turned immediately and headed toward the shade of the porch.

kay,” she murmured obediently.

Zach slowly pulled his hand back, his fingers curling into a fist. She felt so fragile under his touch, like her shoulders were nothing but bone. She was too damn thin

Olivia retreated to the shade of the porch and turned back to look at him.

He was squatting on the ground now. The fence stakes she’d struggled to jam into the dirt went in easily for him. He worked fast, making it look effortless.

She used to think Zach was a total workaholic with zero interest in home life. Maybe she’d been too quick to judge. Seeing him like this, her opinion of him started to shift.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket.

Olivia pulled it out and checked the screen. It was her father, William Summers. Her heart sank instantly. She answered and put the phone to her ear, her voice going cold. “What do you want?”

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< Chapter 289. Love After Marriage 5

I’m outside your house,” William said, his tone hard and demanding.

“Which house?” Panic flared in her chest.

“Your place. I’m right at the front gate.”

Olivia went pale. She spun around and bolted toward the gate.

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Zach caught her movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked up, watching her sprint toward the entrance, a look of pure panic on her face.

Olivia shoved the iron gate open. Standing there was her father, William, and her half–sister, Tabitha.

Tabitha was two years younger than her. She was the illegitimate daughter born from her father’s affair while he was still married to Olivia’s mother.

She was decked out in designer gear worth thousands–expensive clothes, shoes, and a bag that cost tens of thousands. She held the latest iPhone and wore perfect makeup, looking every bit like a rich socialite.

Their dad only ran a small machine shop. He used to drag his feet on Olivia’s child support every month. Whenever she asked for help with tuition, he’d claim business was slow and he was broke. He refused to give her a single extra dime.

“Dad,” Olivia said, her voice flat. “What are you doing here?”

William was bloated and obese. His round face was stiff with anger, his eyes cold as he scoffed. “Do you even think I’m your father? You got married without even talking to me? You’re only twenty–two. I made sure you were beautiful so you could marry well, not throw yourself at some thirty–two–year–old guy. He’s ten years older than you! You don’t even know him. It’s a blind marriage, and you didn’t even ask for a marriage settlement? Are you insane?”

Olivia’s heart felt like lead. Her hands clenched into fists. “I didn’t have a choice. I needed money to save Grandpa, and I needed money for grad school. You wouldn’t pay for any of it, so I had to find someone to rely on.”

William was livid, his hands planted firmly on his hips. “Your grandfather is nearly seventy! He’s lived his life. Spending that kind of money on treatments is just flushing it down the toilet. It’s a total waste.”

He jabbed a finger at Olivia. “And you–why does a woman need so much school? A college degree is more than enough.”

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