Chapter 339
Haley looked down, her delicate chin casting a perfect curve in the play of light and shadow.
She wore a pristine white shirt, the top button undone, revealing the elegant line of her collarbone, along with a hint of her pale skin.
Ivan found it difficult to avert his gaze.
In the past twenty or more years, he had led a life of restraint, so much so that if a woman were to stand naked before him, he wouldn't even give her a second glance.
But now, the absurd thought of stripping Haley of her clothes emerged unbidden.
He prided himself on being a man of integrity, yet at that moment, he realized he was not so different from playboys like Louis.
It was simply that before now, he had never encountered a woman who interested him.
"Let me tie this apron on you."
Ivan pulled an apron from the cupboard and tied it around Haley.
The scent of his masculinity, subtle yet enveloping, was like an invisible net surrounding Haley.
The first time she smelled his scent, it was indeed frightening, but as she got used to it, she found it not so bad...
Haley said while chopping vegetables, "Mrs. Winston, if you're looking for someone to fool around with, there are better choices, like Emily, Keith, and Owen's mother."
Her hand slipped while she said this, nearly cutting her finger.
Ivan's lips curled slightly. "You get attached to her, and you can't shake her off, but you're different."
Haley tugged at her pink lips. "Emily is the mother of your children. Isn't it a bit much to talk about her that way?"
"She should be grateful she's Keith and Owen's mother, otherwise—"
A chilling coldness flickered in the depths of Ivan's eyes.
He didn't finish his sentence, but Haley guessed what he was about to say...
She said in a subdued voice, "Do you hate Emily so much because she had your children without your consent?"
"That's one way to put it."
Ivan's thin lips were edged with sharpness.
Emily had the children without his knowledge and showed up at the Winston family's doorstep the day after they were born, even volunteering to have a paternity test.
Haley's chain of actions was nothing more than an attempt to marry her two children into the Winston family. If Ivan really ended up marrying Emily, he would walk straight into the trap she had meticulously set. Haley's hand tightened around the kitchen knife.
Four years earlier, the person who had secretly given birth to a child from the Winston family was her... If Ivan ever discovered the truth, he probably wouldn't let her off easily. She had to keep this secret buried deep within her.
"Hey, could you give this a rinse for me?" Haley casually changed the subject, dodging the impending conversation.
Ivan glanced over with a side-eye. "I'm your boyfriend. Don't you think calling me 'Mrs. Winston' is a bit too formal?"
Haley didn't even look up. "Ivan, just wash it for me, please."
The simple mention of his name, 'Ivan,' seemed to brighten his mood considerably. He turned on the faucet and started washing with care...
Haley glanced at him, and her heavy emotions lightened considerably. If she didn't think back to the incident five years ago, being this man's girlfriend wasn't too bad. After all, who would have thought that the high and mighty Ivan Winston would help a woman by washing dishes in the kitchen?
With Ivan's help, Haley quickly started the fire, and it wasn't long before dinner was ready. At the dining table, Owen was chattering non-stop, Keith occasionally making a cheeky comment, Angela listened with a smile, and Todd's eyebrows were knitted together.
"Daddy, you're the boyfriend. You should be proactive and serve Mommy some food," Owen said with a beaming smile, calling her 'Mommy' very naturally.
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