She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 424

She gasped in surprise, but a deeply familiar, magnetic voice brushed against her ear. "Don't be scared. It's me."

She pulled Preston's hands away. She was fully prepared to scold him, but the moment she turned around, a massive, vibrant bouquet of Juliet roses filled her vision. The sharp words on the tip of her tongue instantly melted away.

"Why did you sneak up on me like that?" she murmured softly.

"Sorry, I just wanted to surprise you."

Taking the lavish bouquet from his grasp, she inhaled the rich, sweet fragrance. Her foul mood instantly evaporated. "Just having you show up out of nowhere is surprise enough."

He paused, his sharp features softening into a look of pure amusement. "Are you saying... I look better than the roses?"

Closing the distance between them, he dipped his head until their foreheads were practically touching.

Melanie found herself captivated by his strikingly handsome face—his chiseled jawline and piercing gaze were nothing short of breathtaking.

"Maybe just a little bit better," she teased.

The corner of his mouth twitched upward in a faint, satisfied smirk at her compliment. "Let's go, sweetheart. I'm taking you home."

Realizing there was no stopping him from using these painfully domestic pet names, she gave a helpless shrug. "Didn't I tell you I could drive myself back?"

"But I missed you... and I wanted to see you sooner."

He delivered the smooth lines casually while keeping his eyes on the road, yet there was a deep, undeniable sincerity anchoring his words.

She didn't say a word, but a brilliant, giddy smile spread across her face.

He was always a focused driver, and she wasn't one to disrupt the peace. There was no need to force small talk.

The silence stretching between them wasn't cold; rather, it was wrapped in an easy, comforting warmth.

They walked hand in hand from the garage up to their floor. However, the moment he punched in his passcode and swung the front door open, she genuinely thought they had stepped into the wrong apartment.

Taking her hand, he led her into the master bedroom. The bedding here had obviously been replaced as well—with a Peppa Pig duvet set.

She stared at the bed in utter disbelief.

He had been covertly tracking her every expression, and it was blatantly obvious that she was less than thrilled with his interior design choice.

"Did I... pick the wrong pattern?" he asked with such cautious sincerity that she burst out laughing.

"You picked this out yourself?" she asked, pointing at the cartoon pigs splashed across the pillows.

"Yes." He nodded earnestly, only causing her to laugh harder.

"You have those Peppa Pig pajamas. I thought you liked the cartoon ones..."

Hearing his perfectly logical, deadpan explanation, it finally clicked—he had gone out of his way to guess her preferences and bought this ridiculous set specifically to make her happy.