My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin novel Chapter 167

Chapter 167: How To Make Your Wife Happy

"Were you really hiding in there?"

"Mhm."

"Why?"

"...Force of habit."

Silence fell over Lucian and Ashley as they did the dishes together. He washed, and she wiped them dry before setting them aside.

Then she spoke to break the silence.

"Didn’t you say you couldn’t make it home last night?"

Lucian took a second before answering. "Nolan sent a message."

"He did?" She turned to him. "Did he curse you out or something?"

"No." He turned, facing her squarely. "However, he sounded very upset."

Her brows rose as she tried to imagine Nolan angry. She couldn’t picture it.

"I was curious," he added, gazing down at the sink. "And worried."

"Worried about what?"

"You."

Ashley blinked several times — long enough for Lucian to finish the last plate and reach for the cloth in her hand to wipe it dry.

"I’m glad I came," he added, holding her gaze as he wiped the plate. "Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known."

With that, he leaned over to set the dry plate on the counter. As his body drew close, Ashley lowered her head slightly.

She pursed her lips, tempted to pinch her own cheek to stop herself from smiling and blushing. But she couldn’t help it.

Last night, her heart had been torn to pieces. Her mind had been busy accepting everything and making sense of it all.

But now her heart was just too full — it was almost ridiculous. Just an apology and a warm breakfast, and she was already folding. Even when she tried to tell herself to guard her heart a little more, it just kept fluttering.

When Lucian drew back, she lifted her eyes to him.

He paused and met her gaze, their faces a palm’s length apart. Seeing her smile — even if it wasn’t as bright as before — touched something in him. If only he could hold onto that look forever.

Then his gaze drifted to her lips.

Lucian swallowed and mentally shook his head, telling himself not to rush. He hadn’t done enough yet to deserve a kiss.

"Do you have plans today?" he asked, snapping his eyes back up to hers.

Her brows rose as she snapped out of her thoughts. "Huh? Uh, no — well, maybe. I’m looking at a few buildings again."

"I see."

"Why did you ask?"

Lucian was about to say "nothing" out of habit, but caught himself. Looking at her, seeing that she was waiting, he mustered the courage to share his own plans instead of defaulting to being "considerate."

"I’ve made plans for us," he said. "But I can reschedule —"

He stopped when she abruptly grabbed his arm. "Really?"

He nodded.

"Then let’s do them! Don’t you have work today? It’s not even the weekend yet." She blinked and watched him shrug. "How about you come with me first? I think I’ll be able to pick a building more easily with you there. Then we can go to whatever plans you have."

For a second, Lucian’s brows rose. He hadn’t thought of that.

He had only assumed that if she had other plans, he should reschedule his so she wouldn’t feel pressured. Or too tired.

"Okay," he said quietly, a quiet relief in his voice, while she bit her lip, smiling from ear to ear.

Before he knew it, he reached out and pinched her cheek lightly. The second he did, she pouted.

"Lucian, why do you keep pinching my cheek?" she asked. "It’s not even chubby or anything."

He let go, watching her rub her cheek with her palm. "Did it hurt?"

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