8

Suddenly, she sat up and turned on her computer, searching for something.

After a while, her pupils dilated slightly, and her gaze stopped at an advertisement—"Fashion Designer Crash Course." Upon careful consideration, she realized that she should plan her career rather than randomly find a job.

During her time in England, her aunt had hired a drawing teacher to help open her closed heart. Unexpectedly, this skill was proving useful now.

She had always been keen on fashion and trends, perhaps this was the most suitable career for her.

As she scrolled down, worry crossed her beautiful eyes. The enrollment fee was not a small amount.

Should she ask Geoffrey?

She didn't have many friends and didn't want to borrow money from her aunt. Thinking about this, worry intensified in her eyes.

While lost in thought, she heard heavy footsteps outside. Before she could close the computer, the door was pushed open. Aileen disheveled leaned against the bed, her pajamas disarrayed, and her black hair casually draped over her shoulders. Her fair face was filled with panic.

Geoffrey who suddenly burst in darkened his eyes, his gaze stopping on her small arm holding the computer.

Why did he suddenly come back?

Aileen pulled her collar cautiously and forced herself to appear calm.

Geoffrey glanced at her, unfastened his tie, and then laid down on the bed without a word. Aileen couldn't help but lean towards him, opened her mouth, and then closed it again.

He remained silent, and she had no intention of speaking either.

Carefully, she glanced at Geoffrey with her peripheral vision. His face looked tired, with dark circles under his eyes, and some stubble showing. A faint smell of alcohol wafted towards Aileen, and she frowned, recalling the news she had seen on TV. A sense of desolation welled up in her heart as she quietly got out of bed.

"Where are you going?" His voice was somewhat hoarse.

"To the guest room," she replied, somewhat dissatisfied, not wanting to share a room with a man who had just been chatting and laughing with other women.

He opened his eyes, extended his long arm, and grabbed her wrist in mid-air. "Did you see it?"

"See what?" Aileen tried to pull her hand back.

"My scandals," he said in a deep voice, tinged with a hint of helplessness.

Helpless?

Aileen's eyelashes trembled. She must have been mistaken. He shouldn't be the one feeling helpless.

Unable to free her hand, they remained locked in this posture. Geoffrey lay on his side, examining her face with a serious expression in his eyes.

Not getting a response, he moved his thin lips, "With those women, it's all just acting."

Aileen didn't expect him to explain voluntarily. Surprised, she turned her head and met his unfathomable gaze. She felt the warmth from his large hand, and the thick calluses on his hand were somewhat rough.

Gazing at the handsome face before her, Aileen recalled the rumors she had heard at the hospital. Could the rumors about him and female celebrities be part of his business strategy after he quit medicine?

Lowering her eyes, she nodded lightly. "You rest first. I'll get you a cup of hot milk from the kitchen."

As she moved away, her hand was once again grabbed. "Get me a set of pajamas and put them in the bathroom."

Geoffrey, just awake, looked a little dazed. The buttons on his collar were already unbuttoned, exposing his wheat-colored chest muscles.

Aileen tried to suppress the urge to swallow but managed to say, "Alright."

After he entered the bathroom, Aileen sat on the bed, hesitating whether to sleep in the guest room. Before long, the door opened, and Geoffrey with damp hair walked towards her. His bangs covered half of his eye, which seemed to be veiled in a layer of mist. He glanced at her briefly before skipping over her. "I'll blow dry my hair, then turn off the lights."

Aileen could only obediently move to the side of the bed and lie down stiffly. Once they were both lying down, she found that she couldn't fall asleep. The scorching body temperature next to her, mixed with the faint smell of alcohol, stimulated her nerves.

His presence was too strong. After what happened between them last time, there was still a hint of ambiguity in the air. Aileen felt a bit nervous and dared not move.

"Geoffrey, I want to study fashion design," she broke the silence in the dark, trying to divert her attention.

The room fell silent, and moonlight streamed in through the window. It was so quiet that she could hear each other's breathing.

"Okay," Geoffrey replied, his tone was much gentler than before.

"This means... you agree?" Aileen blinked her eyes, confirming once again.

"Sure, I'll cover the expenses."

Surprised, she turned to look at him, only to find his blue and clear pupils looking back at her like a deep, mysterious night sky, as if trying to draw her in.

“I have been thinking these days, you are right, as your husband, I should learn to respect you. I also have a request, I hope that in our future marriage, you can express yourself more to me. I will try my best to understand you.” he continued.

"Y-yes, I will." Frightened, she turned her head back in a hurry, knocked her eyelids, and stopped looking around. And this time, sleepiness came, and she gradually fell asleep.

The next day, when she woke up, she found herself alone in the room. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she went to the bathroom, feeling like yesterday was just a dream. In this second chance at life, Geoffrey seemed to have become much gentler. Was he always like this, or was it her who had been refusing to communicate with him?