Dakota's voice was soft and a bit cloying.
A sweet "husband" slipped into Curtis's ear, like a feather tickling his heart, sending an electric current through his spine, making it tingle.
"..."
Curtis looked at her with a complex expression.
No man could withstand such adoration from their wife, causing his Adam's apple to bob.
And Dakota unexpectedly lifted her face.
She nuzzled Curtis's shoulder, resting her chin on his arm, and blinked her sparkling eyes.
Curtis: "..."
He stiffly turned his head, avoiding her gaze, with only one thought remaining—
This woman was flirting with him again.
And Dakota retracted her gaze, rubbing against Curtis's arm as she turned back, smiling charmingly at Andre and Reagan, "Good morning, Dad and Mom."
She looked so obedient, it was almost unbearable.
And she was so close to Curtis, they looked like a loving newlywed couple.
Reagan was stunned.
She turned to her husband, almost doubting if she was living in a dream.
So affectionate?
Could it be an act for her benefit?
Andre raised an eyebrow calmly, silently communicating with his wife: What else?
Reagan immediately became sullen again and reached out to pinch Andre's bottom to alleviate her negative emotions.
Andre: "..."
He choked for a second, not reacting.
Then he frowned at Curtis, "What? Are you going to leave us standing outside?"
"No," Curtis drawled lazily.
He shuffled into the foyer in his slippers, bent down to retrieve two pairs of slippers from the shoe cabinet, "Please come in."
Curtis hadn't even changed out of his pajamas.
He casually stuck his hand in his pocket, lazily leaning against the wine cabinet behind him, "All the rooms are unlocked. How do you want to check up on us today? Help yourselves."
Reagan gave him a slight scolding glance.
She feared Dakota might be bothered, "What nonsense are you spouting? I came on my day off to check if you've been bullying Kota!"
Curtis arched an eyebrow lightly, neither confirming nor denying.
But Dakota warmly linked her arm with his, "Mom, you worry too much. Curtis treats me well. He even made me grilled lobster tail the other day!"
Curtis didn't register the extra words.
He only heard one name—Curtis.
It was the first time he heard her use this term.
It sounded nice.
"Really?" Reagan's eyes suddenly lit up.
She was like a fan whose ship was about to sink, finding hope in a sweet moment amid a troubled romance, "Curtis made grilled lobster tail for you?"
"Yes," Dakota's eyes curved.
When she looked at Curtis, her clear and beautiful eyes held tenderness, "And he peeled them himself."
Curtis met her gaze with a low gaze.
For a moment, he had an illusion that he was indeed in a sweet post-wedding romance with Dakota.
Tsk.
He might have underestimated Dakota's feelings for him.
He originally thought it was just a simple crush, but now it seemed like a deep-seated one for many years.
Sigh, she shouldn't love him too much...
Usually, she was stubborn and wouldn't express it, only letting it all out when drunk or acting in front of the parents.
Curtis considered himself someone with a soft heart.
Seeing how much Dakota loved him, he lifted his chin and smiled, reaching out to gently pull Dakota into his arms by the waist.
"Yes, I made them for her with my own hands."
He glanced at Dakota carelessly, but this time his gaze held a clear smile, "She liked them very much."
Dakota: "..."
Thanks, now she wanted to throw up.
She also wanted to disinfect her waist.
Dakota forced a stiff smile, resisting the urge to kick Curtis away.
Reagan suddenly became happy, "That's wonderful."
Reagan leaned close to Dakota, whispering, "Although the men in the Pineda family aren't very useful, they're arrogant and deserve a beating, but they're good cooks and great at mopping floors. You should make good use of him, Kota."
"Okay." Dakota couldn't help but laugh.
Compared to the fake smile she had earlier, this one felt more genuine, especially when she turned to look at Curtis with a brighter smile after hearing about the mopping skills.
Her eyes shone brighter than before.
The sparkle in her eyes was more captivating than ever.
Curtis felt a tingling sensation in his heart.
He couldn't stand it when Dakota smiled at him with that flirtatious look.
Andre observed the two of them subtly.
He saw Dakota teasing Curtis about mopping the floor, but his son mistook it for flirting and was almost smitten, acting like a show-off.
How disappointing...
Why can't he learn something good from his father?
Andre averted his gaze, unable to watch.
Reagan didn't notice these details. She smiled warmly at Dakota, "Can we go upstairs and take a look?"
"That's good." "Sure!" Dakota agreed happily.
After all, she had worked hard to set the scene. If Reagan didn't even go upstairs, wouldn't all her effort be wasted?
So, Dakota led Reagan and Andre upstairs cheerfully to inspect her work.
The renovation of Whispering Pines was designed by Dakota herself.
She had always been full of fantasies and expectations for her home since childhood, so whenever she would live in a property where she had a say in the renovation, she would personally oversee it.
The color scheme was warm and inviting.
The design of Whispering Pines was in a creamy pink-white style, making it look like a girl's home.
This was the first time Reagan and Andre had visited their wedding home, and they found it hard to imagine their proud and arrogant son living in such a pink house.
"Can we enter the room?"
Reagan asked Dakota, and it happened to be the guest bedroom where Curtis slept.
Dakota stepped forward to open the door, "Of course, but the bed isn't made yet. Don't mind it."
Reagan was a bit surprised.
She thought her surprise visit would make the young couple nervous, perhaps preventing them from seeing the room.
Could her information be wrong?
Or maybe Dakota just sent things to Maplewood Lane but actually lives in the wedding home with Curtis?
With doubts lingering in her mind, Reagan pushed open the door of the room, and sure enough, she saw a messy bed, with a few golden square packages scattered on the bedside table.
Curtis looked over with a casual expression.
He walked briskly into the room, bent down to pick up the condoms, straightened up and stuffed them into his pocket, raising his eyebrows cockily, "I'm sorry."
Dakota pretended to be shy and playfully hit him, "How could you not put these away!"
Andre: "..."
If he hadn't immediately recognized that the packaging was for ten pieces and all ten were still there, he might have believed them.
But Reagan was completely oblivious.
She whispered into Andre's chest, "Curtis and Kota seem very much in love, don't they?"
Maybe she was overthinking things before...
"Mm." Andre didn't want to break his wife's fantasy.
But to some extent, Reagan wasn't entirely wrong; the newlyweds were quite affectionate, at least in one person's mind.
