Leap OF Fate novel Chapter 44

After so much pleading and prodding, Justin finally agreed to return Seren’s confiscated laptop. He also gave a green light to resume her work with his finance team.

Her eyes shone when she accepted her laptop. She had never realized how much she treasured it until he took it from her. Receiving it back felt like she held the Holy Grail in her hands.

It had been a week since the hotel incident and Justin halted their project’s implementation. Under the guise of wanting her to recover fully, he confiscated her laptop.

Serene could not help but shake her head when she heard it. Recover? She already recovered the moment she got released from the hospital. She did not suffer any injuries, nor did she have psychological trauma. But Justin believed otherwise.

Every time she told him ‌she’s in tiptop shape felt like arguing against a wall. Justin simply turned a deaf ear and stuck with his decision.

The two started living in his Magnolia Crescent villa. Magnolia Crescent is the most exclusive residential development in Hyacinth Bay. It prides itself not only for its exclusivity but for its top-notch privacy and security. Being affluent was not enough to afford a property here. You need to be in the upper 1% to be granted the privilege.

For the past week that she had not been working, she busied herself in cleaning the house. Although it was unnecessary since Justin had some hired help to do these tasks, she could not just lie around the house and do nothing.

Serene always wanted to be occupied. She hated to sit idly and twiddle her thumb. So, in the past days that she could not do work, she re-acquainted herself with her former hobbies.

One day, she asked Justin to buy her some art materials. She initially thought that he would grab a sketch pad and some coloring materials on his way home. However, for Justin, it's go big or go home.

He hired people to turn one room in the villa into her art studio.

Canvasses of various sizes filled one wall of the room. A slew of coloring media from watercolor, to pastel, acrylic, oil, and a lot occupied one shelf along with paint brushes of various types and sizes.

A library occupied the other half of the room. It had shelves of her favorite books and a day bed filled with soft pillows, making it hard for a bookworm like her to leave the room.

Her heart swelled at the sight of the room because it combined her love of painting and reading.

His response to her simple request was excessive, but she felt happy in her heart. She never told him ‌she wanted to have such a sanctuary, he just gave it to her.

If she’s not busy cleaning the villa, she would pick up her brush and paint or curl in the daybed and read a book or two.

No matter what she planned to do for the day, she made sure she carved up time to cook for him. In the morning, she would get up early to make their breakfast and his lunch, which she would put in a thermal lunch bag. At night, she prepared their dinner.

Their relaxed mealtimes were the highlight of her day. She felt warmth in her heart whenever she saw him enjoying the meal she prepared. Taking out an empty bento box ‌was like receiving a golden star in kindergarten.

In every meal they had, he would insist on washing the dishes. He said since she prepared the food, it’s his share to take care of washing the dishes. Serene did not refute him, because truth be told, she loathed washing the dishes.

After washing up, if he had no conference call with overseas clients, the two would watch TV or would each read a book.

He would read a management or finance book, while she stuck with her young adult. They’d quietly read beside each other, engrossed in their polarized world, but their bodies sitting beside each other connected them together.

After this, they would go up to the master’s bedroom, bathe, make love, and sleep in each other’s arms. To a stranger, their life was a boring routine, but to them, it’s like a dance. Their lives move in the rhythm of each other’s life.

The calmness they felt in their hearts guaranteed them that everything is alright. They were like an old couple who did things for and with each other almost automatically.

Just like the previous mornings, Serene woke up earlier than him. She gently removed the hand that was across her chest and the leg that crossed her thigh, and got off the bed.

She prepared their breakfast. She’s usually okay with just toast with butter and marmalade. However, Justin ate more than she did, so she had to cook something for him. Today she made him chicken soup with macaroni and herbed toast on the side.

Since she’s going back to work, she prepared two bento boxes. For him, she made rice, curry, and tonkatsu. For her, she made a chicken salad sandwich.

When she had everything cooked and prepared, she quickly took a shower and woke up Justin.

He lazily opened his eyes and pulled her in his embrace. Because she was lying on top of him, she could not help but feel his morning wood brush her leg. In a swift move, he pinned her down and kissed her lips.

Serene knew that if she’d let him have his way, their breakfast would turn cold, and they’d get stuck in the morning rush hour. She did her best to push him and get him out of the bed.

He obliged her, but not until he fully satisfied himself in kissing and feeling her. Her face was flushed when he separated himself from her and with heavy steps, he went to the bathroom to wash up.

She’s glad she has not changed to her work clothes yet, or else Justin’s naughtiness would have wrinkled them.

She put on a crisp white button-down blouse and tucked it in her black wide legged slack. She kept the top two buttons of her blouse open to show her layered necklace. Then she wore her black stiletto.

She was putting her laptop in her bag when Justin came out of the bathroom. He only had a towel wrapped around his waist and was drying his hair with a towel.

Without a word, she reached for a couple of hangers she had set aside earlier and gave it to him. Each piece of clothing she prepared hung on them. He gave her a quick peck on the lips, then took the clothes. She did a quick makeup while he changed into the clothes she picked.

Both went down to the dining room for a quick breakfast. As usual, he took care of the dishes before heading out.

Soft music accompanied them as they drove to Rain International. Justin drove quietly while Serene looked outside.

“Justin…” she broke the silence.

“Hmmm?” he responded without looking at her.

“I’m going to Coast City this weekend. I promised Mom. Do you like to come with me?” she almost whispered her last sentence.

Justin looked at her before responding, “Of course”.

He looked so calm when he answered her, but his hands holding the steering wheel felt cold and sweaty. His heart pounded inside his chest wildly, and he felt that the room suddenly became stuffy because he found it a little hard to breathe. He would meet Serene’s parents. This is big, he thought.