Stuartās eyes glistened with excitement as he opened the lunch box. Edie took a spoonful of the porridge and put it in her mouth. The oatmeal was so sweet and tasty that it melted in her mouth. The thought of Stuart doing this for her warmed her heart. After Edie finished eating, Stuart quickly cleaned it up.
Watching Stuart bustling about, Edieās heart flipped, she suddenly asked, "Do you remember what we talked about that night?"
When hearing her words, Stuartās heart skipped a beat. His face grew serious, and he said, "What did we talk about?"
"A divorce," she said, a familiar tremor of uncertainty fluttering through her.
For the past two days, it had never left Stuartās mind because he didnāt know how to bring the topic up, nor did he want to. Ever since Edie woke up, he acted as if nothing happened. Stuart was surprised that Edie mentioned it so soon.
He knew that if Edie stayed with him, it would put her in more danger. Her leaving him would be in her best interest, so he was prepared to let her go. However, when the moment actually came, his heart ached uncontrollably.
Stuart pursed his lips and returned to his frigid state as if doing this could cover his real thoughts. "Yes, I remember, and no matter what decision you make, Iāll respect it," Stuart said as he was trying to stay calm.
"Really? No matter what I say?" Edie deliberately asked. "Didnāt you say that you would never let me go? Itās only been a few days, and youāve already changed your mind?" Eddie said with the sound of disappointment in her voice.
Stuart took a deep breath and, in a low voice, said, "Yes, I will respect whatever decision you make."
Seeing Stuart looking so serious, Edie didnāt know what to say. Stuart noticed that she was contemplating over something and said, "After we get divorced, I will give you a sum of money to help you invest in several different stocks and bonds. You can receive interest from them every month so that you donāt have to worry about how to live. Itās like alimony." He paused and then continued, "I donāt want you to live in that old apartment anymore. I still have several apartments in the city. You can choose one for yourself, and Ivan will take you to look at them. If you want, Scarlet can live with you. It would probably be safer for you, anyway."
Stuartās voice became bitter, "I... I will not appear in your life again. You can restore to your former peaceful life, but if you ever encounter any difficulties, you can contact me at any time."
He seemed rational, and it was well thought out, but no one knew when he said those words, his heart was so twitched that he could barely breathe. Stuart looked at Edieās face almost in greed, touching it inch by inch with his eyes. Because he knew after today, he could no longer look at her in this way. The woman in front of him was the love of his life, but he had to let her go.
Silence occupied the room. Edieās head was down; he couldnāt see her expression clearly. Stuartās heart sank inch by inch in the endless silence. Stuart wondered what Edie was thinking, "Is she not saying anything because she doesnāt want to hurt me?"
The coldness came back on Stuartās face, he suppressed the pain in his heart and casually said, "I understand what you mean, sorry to have bothered you."
Stuart stood up and was about to leave. Unexpectedly, he was grabbed the next second. Edie raised her head, and her cheeks were covered in tears. She tried to hold them back, but she couldnāt. It was not until this moment that she realized how much the man in front of her loved her, and she loved him.
"Why do you always make decisions for me? Did I tell you I wanted to leave?" she said. Her eyes were swollen and filled with tears.
Stuartās heart ached when he looked at her. He immediately sat back and coaxed her in a soft voice, "Donāt cry, what do you want to say? Iām listening."
He reached his hand to wipe away the tears on her face. Stuartās movement was gentle and careful as if he was caring for the most precious treasure in the world. At times, he could be the most frigid person.
Yet his gentleness always made her heart melt. How could she leave a man like this? Edie took a deep breath, looked into Stuartās eyes and said seriously, stressing each word, "Stuart, I donāt want to divorce you. I want to stay with you forever!"
Stuart looked at her, and his eyes opened wide as he couldnāt believe what he just heard. Such a blank expression rarely appeared on Stuartās face.
"But," he said with a puzzled expression. Stuart suppressed his eagerness to hug her tightly in his arms and said in a husky voice, "You already know what happened to Marina ten years ago, right? If you stay with me..."
Edie interrupted his sentence and said, "I know, Jason and Mr. Bates already told me. I know the risk of my being with you."
Stuart winced hard and said, "Then why..."
Edie interrupted him again, but this time with a kiss. She put her arms around Stuartās neck and kissed him again. This time it was imitated like the way Stuart kissed her. Her kiss was gentle, and it gave Stuartās heart a big shock. He quickly gained the initiative and started tantalizing her tongue. Edie discovered for the first time how a kiss could be so beckoning.
The two parted after a while. Edie was breathless from the kiss, and her face turned red. Her watery eyes became dazed, which made her especially seducing. Stuart gazed at her intensely, his eyes full of tenderness, and asked, "Are you sure? Do you know what you may have to face?"
Edie nodded firmly and said, "Yes, Iām sure, no matter what kind of danger it is, I want to face it together with you. I donāt care whether your ex-girlfriend is Marina Daisy or Hicks Day. In the days to come, I just want you to be more honest with me. Always remember that we are a family."
"I love you, Edie Yates," Stuart responded without hesitation. For the first time in his life, his eyes filled with tears.
"From now on, you decide on the important matters. I will decide on minor matters. We will both discuss whether the matter is major or minor, do you agree?" Stuart said decisively.
"Yes, just be honest with me." Edie said and continued, "You canāt see Hicks Day alone. I have to intervene with everything between you and her. I donāt want you looking at other women, and you can only be mine, do you understand?"
"I understand," he then said in a quiet voice.
Edie wasnāt satisfied with his reticence, "Iāve said so much, and you only answer in one or two words, donāt you have anything else to say?"