CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 81: CUTE TO DEATH!

After all the fuss, exhausted, Natalie Vaughn sat on the counter, feeling the coolness.

Tonight was too chaotic.

The floor was strewn with white porcelain fragments, making her dizzy.

Why did she drink, why was she angry, why did she throw a tantrum at Zane Thorne. Everything tangled together.

So tired, her head ached.

She didn’t want to move at all.

She should have continued being angry at Zane, but seeing the helplessness and affection in his eyes, she started reflecting on herself.

Was she really being unreasonable?

Zane reached out to gently pinch Natalie’s chin and lifted it.

"Feeling bad?"

Natalie nodded obediently.

Even after vomiting, the dizziness in her head didn’t ease much, and her stomach churned terribly.

Zane once again picked Natalie up from the counter with a stance like holding a child, trying to place her on the living room sofa, but Natalie shook her legs in refusal.

"Where do you want to go?"

Natalie wrapped her arms around Zane’s neck, greedily leaning into his warmth, even nuzzling her head in the crook of his neck.

She whispered.

"Just here."

Her voice was a bit hoarse, Natalie was usually straightforward and bold, rarely speaking softly like this, adding a touch of a girl’s shyness and cuteness.

Zane’s voice also softened.

"Want to stay in the kitchen?"

"Yeah."

"Then let me get you a chair to sit on nicely."

"Okay."

Zane securely held Natalie in one hand, while fetching a chair from the dining room and setting it at the doorway, then placed Natalie securely on it.

When he let go, Natalie’s hands still clung around his neck, unwilling to let go.

Zane raised an eyebrow.

"How can I make soup if you don’t let me go?"

Natalie seemed to just realize and abruptly withdrew her hands.

This cute side of Natalie made the previously angry man chuckle lowly.

No wonder she leaned against him on the mountaintop after drinking, turns out she’s clingy when drunk. Having been used to Natalie’s proud and lively demeanor, seeing her muddled and cute like this occasionally also had its charm.

Thinking of it, Zane laughed again.

He hoped Natalie could recall everything that happened tonight when she sobers up tomorrow.

The saying circulating in the circle: The Vaughn Family’s eldest daughter, seemingly sweet and soft natured. It’s not entirely wrong, at least when Natalie’s drunk, she is indeed sweet and soft.

Zane didn’t rush to make soup for Natalie but cleaned up the shards on the floor first.

A man of privilege obviously wasn’t the type to do such chores, his movements were awkward and clumsy, yet he showed not a hint of impatience, being very serious and meticulous.

If Natalie were sober at the moment, she would’ve recorded this rare "domestic side" of Zane instead of sitting there smirking at him.

Compared to sweeping, making hangover soup was much more challenging.

Zane searched how to make hangover soup, various recipes made his mind spin, simply tossed the phone aside, relying on the little cooking skills he learned from barbecuing, he began to improvise.

Smart people quickly pick up new things because they excel in observation, thinking, and summarizing, then drawing analogies. Though grilling and making hangover soup are vastly different, the essence remains the same.

Just mastering the heat and seasoning.

Soon, the kitchen filled with the aroma of fish.

Bored waiting, Natalie’s eyes lit up upon smelling the aroma.

"Smells so good."

Zane had always kept part of his attention on Natalie, noticing her little movements of sniffing, his brows fully relaxed.

"Want a drink?"

Natalie nodded eagerly, even impatiently jumped off the chair, standing barefoot on the cold floor.

The man frowned again.

"Back to the chair."

Natalie obediently sat back on the chair, but she craned her neck staring at the boiling pot, swallowing forcibly a few times.

Seeing Natalie like this, Zane also completely relaxed.

All those thoughts about Gideon Sheffield, guilt, happiness or not, he tossed them behind.

He’s six years older than Natalie, having experienced more. At Natalie’s age, she’s already living freely and with understanding.

Which is why he finds her interesting.

That’s why he, who usually avoids complicating things, is willing to play along with Natalie.

What happened tonight, it’s understandable for Natalie to be upset, he was angry just because of Natalie’s careless remark.

Divorce, don’t even think about it.

In a good mood, naturally, he felt like teasing.

Zane slyly coaxed.

"Want my soup, don’t you think you owe me something, a fair trade?"

Natalie naturally loves a good deal, nodded without hesitation.

"Sure, what do you want?"

The man chuckled lowly, blocking Natalie’s view of the soup deliberately as she looked at him expectantly.

"Call me husband first."

Natalie’s stomach burned, throat too dry, seeing Zane blocking her view, anxious and flustered.

"Husband!"

Zane’s lips curled up, slightly moved aside, letting Natalie see the creamy white soup, mimicking Natalie’s persistence.

"Say something sweet."

"Husband, it smells so good, I want to drink it!"

Zane laughed so hard, his chest trembled.

How could Natalie be so adorable, so interesting.

Thinking, Zane turned on his phone’s camera, aimed at Natalie, and started recording. This whole process, Zane made no attempt to hide, blatantly obvious.

Natalie’s whole attention was on the fish soup, completely oblivious.

Zane, seeing the soup wasn’t too hot, set his phone on the counter and, carrying the bowl, walked to Natalie.

He scooped a spoonful to her mouth, but as she opened it, he withdrew it back.

Natalie anxiously tried to grab the bowl from Zane’s hand.

Of course, he wouldn’t let her succeed, tapping a finger on his own cheek.

Natalie tilted her head slightly, blinking her eyes.

"Hmm?"

The usual flirtatious little vixen, who would throw herself into his arms for a kiss, had turned into an innocent bunny, clueless even about demanding a kiss when drunk.

Those innocent doe eyes were enough to make anybody’s heart ache.

Zane couldn’t resist her gaze, neither deliberate seduction nor feigned innocence, purely confused.

Too cute.

Simply irresistible.

Zane cleared his throat, leaning his face closer.

"Give me a kiss."

Natalie fluttered her big eyes, finally understanding his intention.

Without a hint of shyness, without hesitation, she leaned in and pecked Zane on the side of his face, then immediately kissed him on the lips.

"Is that enough?"

Zane: ...

Now she learned to extend the olive branch, willingly offering favor.

Seeing how much Natalie was craving, Zane decided not to tease her further.

He knew how uncomfortable it feels being drunk.

Having come this far, being more considerate wouldn’t hurt. Zane intended to feed her, but Natalie, finding it bothersome, simply took the bowl from his hand.

Well, he offered to serve for once, yet someone doesn’t seem grateful.