Chapter 266: I Like You Too

Chapter 266: Chapter 266: I Like You Too

It turned out she had misunderstood Alaric Blackwood from the very beginning.

He’d never been unfaithful; he’d only ever had eyes for her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. "I like you too."

Alaric Blackwood froze, and the hand around her waist tightened.

He was holding Sophie so tightly she could barely breathe. "It’s too tight."

"What did you just say? I didn’t quite catch that. Say it again."

"I said... I like you too."

"How much do you like me?"

"Very, very... very much."

A wide, triumphant smile spread across the man’s lips, and every cell in his body seemed to hum with excitement. "So, do you love me?"

"I do."

He looked down at her tear-brimmed eyes, wiped away the moisture at their corners, and cupped the back of her head, pulling her into an eager kiss.

He masterfully pushed her down onto the bed. Kissing her deeply, he rolled them across the mattress until she was on top of him.

He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, holding her flush against him, wishing he could absorb her into his very being.

"Honey, you just got out of the hospital. Are you feeling up to this?"

He asked softly, then brushed her lips with another kiss.

"I am."

Alaric Blackwood was exceptionally excited...

For two full hours.

Lawson had dinner ready, but the two of them never came down to eat.

After a long wait, she finally saw Alaric Blackwood carrying Sophie Shaw downstairs.

It looked as if they had both showered and changed into bathrobes—a matching set, one black and one white.

She quickly took the now-cold dishes to the kitchen to reheat them.

With the Spring Festival approaching, Lawson wasn’t sure when her holiday leave would begin. As she brought the reheated dishes to the table, she decided to take the opportunity to ask.

"Sir, Madam, the New Year is almost here. I was wondering when my vacation starts? I’d like to go home to prepare for the holiday."

Beaming, Alaric Blackwood was clearly in an excellent mood. "You can start your vacation tomorrow. Come back to work after the Lantern Festival."

Lawson realized that was a very long vacation—she would be able to spend plenty of quality time with her husband and children. At the thought, a wide grin spread across her face.

"Yes, thank you, Sir."

Lawson chuckled happily and went into the kitchen to prepare some fruit for after dinner.

After dinner, Sophie took a plate of fruit to the living room sofa and ate while watching TV.

Alaric Blackwood went straight upstairs to the study to handle some work emails. It was past ten when he finished. He returned to the bedroom but didn’t see Sophie, so he hurried back downstairs. He found the main living room light turned off, but the TV was still on, and Sophie was fast asleep on the sofa.

He softened his steps, walked over to the sofa, and bent down to lift her into his arms.

The sudden feeling of weightlessness startled Sophie awake. She instinctively reached out and grabbed the collar of Alaric Blackwood’s robe. When she realized he was holding her, she let out a sigh of relief, leaned her head against his shoulder, and began to doze off again.

"Why didn’t you go up to the room if you were sleepy?"

Sophie murmured something, wrapping her arms around his neck and nuzzling her cheek against his. "Was waiting for my husband to carry me."

Alaric Blackwood chuckled, turning to carry her upstairs.

"You’re much lighter, honey. Do you even weigh 110 pounds now?"

"I do."

"Looks like we need to put some meat on your bones. You’re too skinny; it’s all sharp edges when I hold you."

After her serious illness, Sophie’s weight had plummeted from her usual 132 pounds down to 110, a loss of over twenty pounds.

She felt as light as a feather in his arms, with almost no weight to her at all.

As far as Alaric Blackwood was concerned, she was far too light. He had to use the upcoming Spring Festival to put some weight back on her.

He carried Sophie back to the room, gently laid her on the bed, and pulled the blanket over her.

Sophie was out the moment her head hit the pillow. When she woke up the next day, Lawson had already left. Alaric Blackwood had prepared breakfast, and first thing in the morning, he was serving her fried food.

Fried dough sticks, fried cakes, and steamed buns. Worried that wouldn’t be enough, he’d even cooked noodles.

He had woken up very early to prepare several dishes, so Sophie could eat whatever she wanted.

In the end, Sophie only ate a bowl of the noodles.

"Is that all you’re eating?"

He remembered Sophie having a rather large appetite.

"I’ve suddenly realized that being this slender and delicate makes clothes look better on me."

Alaric Blackwood wagged an index finger at her. "Nope! I want you a little plumper."

"Don’t all you men like slim women?"

"I like them with more to hold."

"What if my weight shoots up to 165 pounds? Could you still carry me then?"

"If I can’t carry you in my arms, I’ll just throw you over my shoulder."

Sophie shot him a fierce glare, but her eyes lingered on the fragrant steamed buns on the table. Unable to resist, she picked up two and took a bite.

"These are delicious."

A smile played on Alaric Blackwood’s lips. He used his chopsticks to place another bun on her small plate. "Have one more."

Sophie demurred for a moment. "Darling, I can’t eat anymore."

"I know you still have room."

"..."

After Alaric Blackwood coaxed her into eating two more small buns, she was truly stuffed. She grabbed her handbag and headed for the entryway. "You’re feeding me like a pig. I’m not talking to you anymore. I’m going to work."

She left the house without waiting for Alaric Blackwood.

She drove to Heart of the Ocean. Just as she entered the office building, she spotted a familiar figure in the first-floor lobby’s rest area.

It was Vianne Kane.

Upon seeing her, Vianne Kane immediately stood up and walked over.

"Where’s the necklace?"

Vianne Kane looked annoyed. "Yuri won’t sell it."

She had pestered him with calls all last night until he finally answered. She’d raised the price to sixty-five million, but Yuri still refused to sell her the necklace.

"I’m out of options. You tell me what we’re going to do!"

Vianne Kane adopted a defiant, what-the-hell attitude. "Kill me or torture me, do whatever you want."

Sophie hesitated for a moment, then took a notepad from her purse, wrote down her bank account number, and handed it directly to Vianne Kane. "Wire sixty million to my account."

Although sixty million was no small sum, if it meant completely settling the uproar over the necklace, Vianne Kane could only agree to pay.

She took the note, glanced at the account number, and crossed her arms. "If sixty million goes into your account, is this matter considered finished?"

"Yes."

"You said it. You’re not allowed to bother me about the necklace ever again."

"Just remember to make the payment."

With that, Sophie walked straight toward the elevators.

That afternoon, she received a text notification on her phone confirming the sixty-million-dollar deposit.

Shortly after, a message from Vianne Kane came through. "I’ve sent the money! We’re even now!"

Sophie replied with a simple "Okay." Just as she put her phone down, Hannah Sutton knocked and came in. "President Shaw, the renovations on the two new storefronts are complete. Should we hold the grand opening and ribbon-cutting before the New Year, or after?"

She thought for a moment. "Let’s wait until after the New Year."

’While I was in the hospital, work stopped and the company took a week off. After successfully getting the shares back from Damian Morgan, the employees have been working nonstop. Anne even selected two store locations and has been busy with the renovations. I want everyone to have a peaceful, well-deserved holiday.’

"Understood, President Shaw."

Hannah Sutton nodded. Just as she was about to leave, Sophie stopped her. "Assistant Sutton, could you please ask Vice President Austin to come in? There’s something I need to see her about."