CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57: ZANE THORNE TAKES THE INITIATIVE TO STAY OVER

Perhaps it’s because her father and brother at home are too tolerant toward their wives that Natalie Vaughn thinks there’s nothing excessive about this approach.

She can now comfortably enjoy Zane Thorne’s care for her at this moment, and naturally, she will reciprocate at an appropriate time.

But clearly, Felix Langdon couldn’t understand this.

So, Natalie Vaughn winked at him and sharply asked a question.

"Do you not have a girlfriend?"

Felix Langdon: ...

"What does that have to do with whether I have a girlfriend or not?"

Natalie Vaughn lightly tapped her chin with her finger, noticing Aaron Channing had already stood behind Phoebe Quinn, helping her untie her apron and take it off, she smiled sweetly.

"If a man isn’t good to his partner, then who will he be good to?"

Felix Langdon was stunned for a moment, and a problem he had been entangled with for many years was thus resolved by a girl quite a bit younger than him.

Yes, if a man isn’t good to his partner, isn’t good to the one he loves, then who will he be good to? For so many days and nights, he regretted not being able to let go, regretted not being able to stop focusing on that person, even using childish and nasty tactics.

"You’re making a very good point, but..."

Felix Langdon picked up a piece of meat and ate it in big mouthfuls in front of Natalie Vaughn.

"It’s the first time I’ve seen Mr. Thorne taking care of someone like this."

Natalie Vaughn swallowed her saliva, forcing herself to divert her gaze.

"Really? I’m honored."

It’s strange, she’s not someone who usually follows the rules, but because of something Zane Thorne said, she resisted the urge to indulge herself at this moment.

Natalie Vaughn’s dressing room is very large, it took Zane Thorne a while to find the cabinet with the scarves among all the clothing.

By the time he went downstairs, the other three had already started to feast, and Natalie Vaughn was sitting obediently, not having taken a bite.

The man’s mood suddenly improved.

He wrapped some ice cubes in a scarf and placed it on Natalie Vaughn’s face. It was so cold that she couldn’t help but shrink back, so Zane Thorne placed a hand on her nape, keeping her steady.

This feeling of being trapped was not something Natalie Vaughn liked, nor was it something she was accustomed to.

"Why don’t I do it myself?"

As she said this, she reached out to take the ice from Zane Thorne’s hand, but he shot her a glance, commanding without anger. Her fingertips touched the scarf, now devoid of its usual smoothness due to the water, and the cold made her fingers tremble slightly.

Natalie Vaughn abandoned the idea of taking the ice cubes.

Instead, her gaze couldn’t help but fall on Zane Thorne’s hand.

Doesn’t he find it cold? He could actually hold the ice cubes so firmly for so long.

When the ice began to melt, Zane Thorne finally removed his hand, and Natalie Vaughn couldn’t help but raise her hand to touch her own face, which was now icy and numb, completely devoid of sensation.

Zane Thorne returned after dealing with the ice cubes, seeing Natalie Vaughn in this dazed state, his lips curved slightly, finding her overly adorable at this moment.

So the man raised his hand and ruffled her hair several times, not forgetting to smooth it out afterward.

Phoebe Quinn, who had been paying attention to the two, upon seeing this scene, forgot to chew and swallowed directly, choked by the spicy pot’s flavor until tears welled up.

Aaron Channing handed tissues over with a face full of helplessness.

"Why are you staring at Nina while eating?"

Phoebe Quinn coughed desperately, feeling utterly shocked.

Is this still the defiant Mr. Thorne she admired in her youth?

It turns out that no matter how arrogant someone is, they do have a caring side, a gentle side.

She couldn’t guarantee that Zane Thorne liked Natalie Vaughn, but the action of ruffling her hair was too intimate, even if it wasn’t love, it confirmed that Natalie Vaughn was different for him.

Coughing continued, unable to tell if the tears at the corner of her eyes were due to a physiological reaction or mixed with other emotions.

Phoebe Quinn thought, maybe the alliance between the Vaughns and Thorne families would be a celebrated tale passed down for generations.

Due to the injury on her face, Natalie Vaughn ate neither smoothly nor satisfyingly. Zane Thorne seemed to have no particular interest in the hot pot, scarcely moving his chopsticks, sipping wine instead.

Natalie Vaughn asked.

"Aren’t you hungry?"

Zane Thorne leaned back in his chair, looking at her indifferently, his eyes lingering on her lips reddened by the spice, paused for a moment, reached out for a tissue to wipe the oil from her lips, yet they remained strikingly red.

Very much like when he kissed her on the mountaintop, leaving her lips swollen.

"Eat a bit less."

Otherwise, she’ll suffer later.

Natalie Vaughn also felt that her mouth was sore, so she put down her chopsticks, turning to see Felix Langdon drinking freely, clinking glasses with Phoebe Quinn, while Aaron Channing was helping Phoebe Quinn pick out vegetables, reminding her.

"Drink less, eat some meat."

Natalie Vaughn scratched her itchy cheek, the steam from the hot pot making her wrist feel hot and burning.

"How’s Felix Langdon going to get home like this?"

Even though her place is large, the only room suitable for sleeping is her bedroom, all other guest rooms weren’t set up yet.

"Let his assistant come pick him up."

Natalie Vaughn’s eyes flickered, turning to stare at Zane Thorne.

"What about you?"

Zane Thorne hadn’t drunk much, but enough to qualify him as over the limit for driving.

"Do you have an assistant too?"

Natalie Vaughn hadn’t touched any alcohol, yet her face continuously showed a blush, the man gazed at her for a long time, suddenly reaching out a hand to her forehead.

Zane Thorne himself was warm, so this couldn’t determine anything.

Natalie Vaughn blinked, looking at him, and asked again.

Zane Thorne withdrew his hand, his eyes skimming over the injuries on Natalie Vaughn, curling his lips, half-serious as he said.

"I’ll stay."

Natalie Vaughn looked up, meeting the man’s deep eyes, unable to tell if it was true or false.

"Are you going to sleep on the floor?"

At the words, the man slightly squinted his eyes, now watching Natalie Vaughn with more scrutiny.

Earlier, he had been to the second floor, and there were plenty of rooms there.

Natalie Vaughn seemed to know what he was thinking.

"Currently, my home only has one bedroom available for sleeping."

She said, smiling sweetly, her eyes curving.

"If you’re willing to sleep on the floor, I have no objections."

This attitude clearly showed she was certain Zane Thorne wouldn’t agree to sleep on the floor.

Natalie Vaughn’s assumption wasn’t wrong, Zane Thorne was never the type to compromise on his comfort, never one to just settle.

But it was precisely her confidence that stirred something in Zane Thorne’s heart.

He picked up a wine bottle, filled his glass, and looking straight into Natalie Vaughn’s eyes, downed it in one go, then shamelessly uttered some serious nonsense.

"I don’t have an assistant, seems like I’ll have to stay."

Natalie Vaughn’s heart skipped a beat, Zane Thorne didn’t seem to be joking.

"Really?"

The man squeezed a laugh from his chest.

"Anything fake about it?"

Natalie Vaughn remained silent, picking up her milk and drinking it in one gulp after another.

She’s not particularly traditional, besides, in a few days, she’ll be registering with Zane Thorne, officially becoming family, a married couple.

What concerned her more was that Zane Thorne actually brought up the idea of staying over.

In Natalie Vaughn’s view, she’s always been the proactive one in this relationship, and Zane Thorne seemed to just be playing along.

But now...

It seemed a bit different.