Chapter 430 A Serious Man Is Most Attractive
Nathaniel moved swiftly, quickly preparing the beef brisket, blanching it in cold water, and finally placing it in the stew pot with the prepared tomatoes. The whole process was so skillful that it seemed like he had done it a thousand times.
He was busy in the kitchen wearing an apron, while Aurelia leaned against the counter, quietly watching him.
Nathaniel washed and chopped the vegetables, and everything was ready, just waiting for the beef brisket to be done so he could stir-fry the vegetables and serve the meal.
After washing his hands, he finally had time to notice Aurelia and saw that she had been observing him the whole time.
"Aurelia, are you hungry now?"
Aurelia spoke honestly, "Not really hungry, just watching you cook is quite pleasing."
Nathaniel put his hands on his hips, glanced down at the apron he was wearing, and teased, "What kind of strange hobby is this, a uniform fetish?"
Aurelia's ears turned red. He could make an inappropriate comment even while cooking.
She ignored his cheeky remark, "Have you ever heard the saying, 'A man is most attractive when he's serious about his work'? Men should work more, especially someone like you, with outstanding looks. If you work seriously, it would be perfect."
Nathaniel glanced at her sideways, "So, if I work seriously, do I have a chance to make it official?"
"What do you think?"
Nathaniel chuckled a few times, "I think I do. Actually, I think I have a chance to marry you."
"I don't want to deal with in-law issues."
"I'll handle it, you don't have to. If you're willing, none of that will be a problem. My mom..."
Nathaniel paused for a moment, "You can meet my family if you want, or not if you don't. As for the house, you can keep anyone out if you don't want them in. It's your freedom."
Aurelia said, "But she's your mother, and she loves you very much. If I do that, people will criticize you, saying you forgot your mother after getting married, that you're ungrateful."
Nathaniel's eyelids twitched, "Why is everyone worried about me being criticized? I'm marrying a wife to love, not to have her take care of my parents. Aurelia, being Mrs. Heilbronn shouldn't be stressful. Just be yourself. You don't need to engage in unnecessary social interactions."
Aurelia understood his point, but two people in love would naturally consider each other's feelings. She would care about his feelings too.
In-law conflicts were always tough, and the man caught in the middle would inevitably suffer.
Aurelia lost herself in thought, realizing she was overthinking. She hadn't planned on stepping into the realm of marriage again. She had been in and out of that fortress and knew what it felt like inside.
She had no desire to re-enter marriage. The suffocation it once brought her was not forgotten. She wasn't confident that a second attempt would bring happiness.
Couples needed a bit of distance to keep things fresh and maintain a lasting relationship.
Aurelia asked, "The water's boiling. Should you turn down the heat a bit?"
Nathaniel turned to adjust the heat, both of them lost in their own thoughts.
In the living room, Nathaniel's phone rang. Zack was efficient; in just a few hours, he had booked the tour group and even paid the deposit.
"Mr. Heilbronn, this group departs from Coral Bay, visits famous spots in nearby countries, taking about five months, then continues to other continents. The group mainly consists of vacationing ladies, focusing on a comfortable, leisurely pace, with plenty of time to rest at hotels and no rushed schedules. The whole trip, including hotel stays and sightseeing, will take about three years."
"Did you check it out? Is it a legitimate and safe group?"
Zack assured him, "Mr. Heilbronn, rest assured, it's a legitimate group. I found it through a reliable contact."
"When does it depart?"
"The day after tomorrow."
"Pay the fees and handle the paperwork. I'll transfer the money to you."
"Got it."
With that settled, Nathaniel thought it would be good for Beatrice to see the world, enjoy the scenery, and take some photos, rather than staying home and causing trouble during menopause.
The key was that he needed time to change Ashley's worldview. With Beatrice around, it was all in vain.
Aurelia sat down next to Nathaniel on the couch with a glass of water, "Are you really sending her abroad?"
Nathaniel smiled, "Why do you make it sound like I'm an ungrateful son? She's been talking about traveling abroad for a long time but hasn't gone because she's worried about the family, mainly Ashley."
"Now I think Ashley doesn't need her supervision anymore. If my mom stays, she'll only lead Ashley astray. It's better to let her fulfill her dream and stop nagging us about how she missed out on travel because of us."
Aurelia agreed with Nathaniel, "Ashley has indeed been led astray. She needs to reflect on herself. She's only in her early twenties; this can't go on. If your mom has always wanted to travel abroad, this is a good solution."
Nathaniel pulled her into his arms, touching her earlobe with one hand, "I'm not an ungrateful son, and it's not because of you that I'm sending her away. You won't feel pressured because of this, will you?"
Aurelia snorted, "Your mom going abroad makes me happy. She comes to the office to scold me. Who can stand that? Everyone values their dignity."
"Good. It's nice to see you considering yourself now. No matter what, I want you to prioritize your feelings first and then consider other things. I just want you to be happy."
Aurelia was taken aback, "You now..."
Nathaniel looked at her sideways and asked, "What about now?"
"You're quite good with words now. Did Zack train you?"
Mentioning Zack made Nathaniel's brow twitch. That love-struck fool only taught him cheesy ways to woo a woman, which he disdained to learn.
"Zack is getting married soon and invited me to be the best man. Do you want to come with me?"
"When?"
"A few weeks before Christmas. I've already approved his wedding leave."
Aurelia thought for a moment and replied, "I won't go. We're ex-husband and ex-wife. Showing up together at someone's wedding doesn't seem auspicious. You can be the best man yourself."
Nathaniel's chest trembled. He was an atheist and didn't believe in those superstitions, thinking they were all nonsense.
"You believe in that?"
"Marriage is a big deal, maybe a once-in-a-lifetime event. Whether you believe it or not, you have to be mindful. You don't believe, Zack might not believe, but can you guarantee the bride, Zack's parents, relatives, and in-laws don't believe?"
"Good point. But attending as a regular guest should be fine, right?"
Aurelia thought seriously, "There's no problem, but Zack and I aren't that close. I don't even know if he plans to invite me."
Nathaniel thought to himself, Zack must invite her, or he'd dock his bonus next month.
"If you don't go, how will I get back to Imperick alone?"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
