The CEO's Regret: Darling, Don’t Leave Me novel Chapter 86

Chapter 64: The Favorite Food“-1

Clara

The night falls differently when one does not feel like anything. The apartment is quiet, but not an

awkward silence. It is rather empty. As if the walls were too clean, too tidy, too alien..

I leave my bag on the kitchen counter and stay there, leaning for a few seconds.

+25 Points

I should cook something, I have vegetables in the fridge… Pasta. Bread. I could prepare something simple.

But I have no appetite, neither physical nor emotional.

I open the fridge just to confirm what I already know. I close without taking anything out.

The day was long. The meeting with Alexander left something hanging in the air. It wasn’t awkward. He

was honest. And honesty, sometimes, exhausts more than an argument.

I walk to the room and change without thinking too much. I wear the most comfortable pajamas I have.

An old, soft one, which does not intend to impress anyone.

It’s only half past eight, but I don’t want to do anything else. Just lie down.

To turn off the world, to turn off thoughts.

I put my hair up in a sloppy bun and go to the bathroom to wash my face. The reflection in the mirror brings back to me a tired version of me. Not physically, on the inside.

I leave the bathroom, pass through the living room and am about to turn off the lamp when someone

knocks on the door.

I stay still, I wasn’t expecting anyone, I don’t have appointments. I didn’t order anything at home. The blow sounds again. Soft. Not insistent.

My heart takes a small uncomfortable leap.

I walk to the door cautiously.

“Who is it?” I ask.

A second of silence.

“It’s me.”

My breathing barely stops. I open it and there he is.

Ethan.

す

Standing in front of my door, paper bag in hand. I stare at him for a few seconds, trying to process the

scene.

“Didn’t you tell me you’d come?” I asked, still surprised.

1.3

< Chapter 64 The Favonte Food” 1 He seems almost relaxed.

“was passing by nearby.”

I look at him with a slightly raised eyebrow.

“Going by?”

+25 Points

“Yes,” he hesitates slightly. “I was in a meeting with some partners. Then I went to an Italian restaurant

and… I remembered that you liked Italian food

I frown. That catches me off guard.

“How do you know?”

The question comes out before I can smooth it over, he looks at me with something that is not

annoyance.

It is a mixture of irony and patience.

“We were married, Clara. Do you forget?”

It is not a reproach, but the phrase falls with weight among us. I am silent for a moment.

Yes, we were married.

But during that marriage there were many things that didn’t seem to matter to him.

“You didn’t usually pay attention to that kind of detail,” say, more gently.

He holds my gaze.

“Yes, I did.”

And something in his tone compels me to listen.

“It’s just that I didn’t always know how to show it.”

The silence thickens a little.

Lift the bag slightly.

“I bought fettuccine alfredo with shrimp. And meat lasagna. And tiramisu.”

An involuntary blink escapes me.

Fettuccine alfredo with shrimp is my favorite, it always has been.

“I wanted to eat with you,” he adds.

It doesn’t sound like an insistent invitation. Sounds… careful.

I step aside.

“Go ahead.”

୮

213

Chapter 64–The Favorite Food” !

He closes the door behind him and the apartment doesn’t feel so empty anymore.

He leaves the bag on the kitchen table and I go for plates almost automatically.

“You didn’t have to, murmur as I reach for the silverware.

“I know.”

+25 Points

He does not argue, he does not justify himself too much. Take out the containers and the scent fills the

space.

Freshly made pasta. Creamy sauce. Spices.

My stomach reacts before my pride, we sit face to face at the small table.

I serve portions on both plates. I start eating.

At first slowly, then hungrier than I expected.

He doesn’t touch his food, he just looks at me.

I look up after several bites and find him watching me.

“Why don’t you eat?”

He lowers his gaze to his intact plate.

Silence.

Then he sighs.

“I wasn’t really in any meeting.”

I stay still.

“What?”

He leans on the back of the chair.

“I just knew you weren’t going to want to eat.”

す

Comments

LUCK DRAW >

Vote

133

<Chapter 64 “The Favorite Food” 2

+25 Points>

Chapter 64: “The Favorite Food“-2

My heart gives a little sharp blow.

“You haven’t eaten anything, have you?”

I shake my head slowly.

“No. I hadn’t eaten. I had no intention of doing so.

He nods as if confirming something he already knew.

“I couldn’t go to sleep peacefully knowing that you would probably be here… alone… No desire to cook.”

His voice is not dramatic.

He has certainty.

“So I came.”

He barely shrugs.

“And I bought your favorite food to make sure you ate something.”

I stare at him.

I don’t know what to say, it’s not a big gesture. It’s not spectacular, but it’s… Exactly.

It’s what I needed and I didn’t even know I needed.

“How did you know I wasn’t going to eat?” I asked almost in a whisper.

He tilts his head slightly.

“I know you.”

That phrase goes through me.

Because for a long time I felt that it was not like that. That he didn’t know me, that he didn’t see my

silences.

That he didn’t understand my absences. And now he’s here, bringing me food because he knew I was

going to isolate myself.

“You had a difficult meeting today,” he adds.

I look at him surprised.

“How do you know that?”

“Because when I wrote to you last night… You were slow to respond. And your answer was correct. Too

correct.”

I remember the message.

1/4

< Chapter 64 The Favorite Feed” 2

“Yes, I just arrived.” Cold. Neutral.

+25 Points

When you get too formal, it’s because something is affecting you,” he continues. “Of course, adding that you just returned to New York, left your mother and, well, everything that has happened.”

I’m speechless.

I start to feel something uncomfortable in my chest, not sadness.

Something softer, something that resembles care.

“You don’t have to do this,” I say finally.

“Do what?”

“Take care of me.”

He stares at me.

“I’m not doing it out of obligation.”

Silence.

I look at my plate again, I continue eating.

He finally picks up the fork and tastes some of his food.

“How are you?” he asks.

“Good.”

“I know.”

A small, barely perceptible smile crosses his face. The atmosphere changes slightly.

It’s not so tense anymore, it’s not romantic. It is… intimate.

After a few minutes in silence, he speaks again.

“How is your mother?”

The question is genuine.

“Better. Quieter.”

He nods.

“I’m glad.”

He doesn’t mention what he did for her. He does not seek recognition… Just ask.

୮