A crescent moon hung in the boundless night sky, and the rustling leaves outside the window were serenaded by the gentle breeze.
Cayden lay in bed, holding Mikayla from behind. She struggled to free herself from his grip and scooted to the other side of the bed.
He sighed helplessly and sat up halfway, dragging the blanket over to her. Mikayla glared at him angrily, "What are you doing?" "Cover your stomach, or you'll catch a chill. You just recovered from gastroenteritis a few days ago."
Fuming, Mikayla yanked the light quilt over her stomach and turned away from him.
Cayden hesitated for a moment, then pulled her back into his arms. Mikayla both angry and flustered, pushing against him, "Don't touch me! I hate you!"
He gently but firmly turned her to face him, seeing the lingering resentment in her eyes from the previous night.
"...I was wrong."
"Hmph!"
Cayden kissed her lips softly. "I was wrong. It won't happen again... honey."
Mikayla stared at him in disbelief, her anger slightly dissipating. "There can't be a next time!"
"Alright." "Okay." The immediate goal was to soothe her.
Mikayla scrutinized him for a few seconds. Before she could speak, Cayden, slightly lacking confidence, said, "Can we not sleep in separate rooms... please?"
"Why?" "I'm cold." Mikayla said coldly.
It's already summer, and he's complaining about being cold? Mikayla found his lame excuse amusing and struggled to keep her mouth from twitching into a smile. "Alright, I'll forgive you this time."
Mikayla turned her back to him, pulling the blanket up to her chest. "Let's sleep." She closed her eyes, smiling to herself as she thought she had found a way to handle Cayden.
Cayden held her, and in his warm embrace, they both drifted into a sweet sleep.
For the following week, Mikayla dutifully followed Cayden's instructions at work, but at home, she didn't give him much attention. Mr. Novak always listened to his wife, adjusting his behavior to her wishes in bed, gentle when needed, and more intense if she desired, never crossing any boundaries.
Peace lasted until the weekend when she took Cayden back to the Mclean household. Though not as grand as the Novak residence, the Mclean family's villa boasted a luxurious living room, with elaborate lighting casting a cold, bright glow. The opulent decor couldn't mask the oppressive atmosphere.
Mikayla's eyes showed a hint of disdain and impatience, and Cayden silently held her hand tighter.
A middle-aged man sat on the couch, rising to his feet upon seeing them. His voice was deep and raspy, "You're back?"
Mikayla reluctantly called him "Dad," while Cayden nodded at him. Felix approached them, his gaze on Mikayla unreadable. Perhaps mindful of Cayden's presence, he forced a smile to greet his son-in-law.
"You've been married for so long and never thought to bring Cayden back to visit."
Mikayla rolled her eyes, clearly not wanting to engage with her father. She retorted sarcastically, "If you wanted to see him so much, you could have visited W Group. Just so you know, I won't be entertaining you."
Felix's temper flared instantly, "Mikayla! If I hadn't arranged for Cayden to find you a job, you'd still be lounging around in your shabby little apartment!"
"What's wrong with sleeping? Why don't you try going without sleep all day!"
"With that lousy attitude of yours, you will cause trouble to Cayden every day!"
Seeing the two about to erupt into a full-blown argument, Cayden wrapped an arm around Mikayla's waist, gently interjecting, "Dad, Mikayla is very capable. At work, she's an excellent employee."
It was as if a bucket of cold water had doused a budding fire. Mikayla looked up at Cayden's profile, while Felix was left speechless.
"As long as you're happy, Mikayla has never been a source of ease for me."
"Hmph, as if you've ever cared about me."
A young man had appeared at the top of the stairs, leaning lazily over the railing. He glanced at Mikayla with casual indifference, his chin tilted up slightly.
"Hey, Sister's back! Is that your husband next to you?"
