CHAPTER 89: CHAPTER 89: ZANE THORNE: EARNESTLY SCHEMING TO WIN ME OVER

Seeing Natalie Vaughn in rare discomfiture, the man laughed softly.

"What, don’t want it?"

Natalie immediately replied.

"Of course, I do! Will you customize it for me after I choose?"

Zane Thorne glanced at her, chuckling.

"You wish."

Natalie grinned and pointed upstairs.

"If there’s no customization, I’ll choose from upstairs."

With such a wealthy husband, she had to take full advantage, or she’d be letting herself down.

Zane took out a pack of cigarettes, pulling one out and biting it between his lips. He habitually played with the lighter in his hands before lighting it.

"Snap," it sounded, pleasant to the ear.

The man didn’t rush to smoke, just held it in his mouth, letting the smoke drift into his eyes.

Downstairs, only a single large light illuminated the workstation, while small lights marked each parked car spot.

Where Natalie stood was dim, while the light by the workstation shone on Zane, making him appear taller, like a deity.

But this supposed deity was clearly not that dignified.

He was smoking.

Experiencing all the highs and lows every ordinary person feels.

Natalie thought the red ember of the cigarette resembled a guiding star, drawing her step by step closer to Zane.

Wanting to make this already not-so-serious god even less so.

So Natalie stepped forward, snatching the cigarette from his lips, and sniffed it at her nose.

Stronger, more stimulating.

Many people relieve stress with strong drinks; smoke eases pressure.

Natalie recalled her first time going to the mountains to find Zane that night; he was in a second-floor booth smoking, and she thought those hands were explosively sexy.

Of course, she still thought so now.

But, she wanted an answer.

So despite hating the smell of smoke, she took the cigarette Zane had bitten and held it in her mouth, recalling how he smoked in the past, and imitated him, taking a deep drag.

Zane could smoke, inhaling deeply and easily exhaling after a loop through his lungs.

Yet Natalie, smoking so recklessly, was inevitably going to choke.

Coughing her heart out, the corners of her eyes turned red.

Zane frowned, taking back the cigarette, and gently patting her back.

"Why are you smoking?"

The way she just smoked, even some seasoned smokers wouldn’t dare.

Natalie didn’t expect just one drag would hit so hard.

Coughing until her chest hurt, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

Zane furrowed his brow, scolding her.

"Serves you right!"

But his hand never stopped its gentle care.

After a while, Natalie finally straightened up to catch her breath.

"What’s so good about this stuff?"

"If it’s no good, why did you snatch it?"

"I just wanted to try."

Curious about what could relieve Zane’s worries.

"Don’t touch it again."

Natalie nodded.

She really didn’t want to touch it again.

"When did you start smoking?"

Zane furrowed his brow, unable to remember; he started when he first got into cars.

"And who did you start smoking because of?"

His brow furrowed even more tightly.

"Do I need a reason to smoke?"

Natalie grasped Zane’s arm supporting her, slightly exerting force to stand fully upright from his embrace.

"Yeah, I just smoked because of you."

Zane: ...

He glanced at her.

"Feeling proud?"

Zane couldn’t understand Natalie’s satisfaction, but she wasn’t wrong; there’s nothing great about smoking, and he didn’t want her to smoke just because of him.

Young ladies smelling sweet is much better.

Natalie snorted softly.

Zane patted her head.

"Go pick a car you like."

"Customized?"

"Customized."

"You’re the best, hubby."

The man chuckled.

"If you promise never to smoke again, you can pick anything upstairs too."

Natalie: !!!!!!!!

"Wow, hubby, you’re so generous! Isn’t that too much?"

"A wedding gift."

"...then can I pick a few more cars, hubby?"

A few extra wedding gifts shouldn’t be too much, right?

Marrying her should be the epitome of happiness, right?

Zane squinted at the light shining eyes of this little girl, smiling.

"Asking for the moon?"

"I’m sure father-in-law would agree."

Father-in-law?

The man frowned.

After pondering for a moment, he realized Natalie was talking about his old man.

At Thorne Manor, Director Thorne, who had just returned home and was about to go to the gym, suddenly sneezed. Mrs. Thorne, seeing him wearing only a vest in the cold weather, walked over and pinched his arm.

"Can’t you wear more to work out?"

"You shouldn’t wear anything to work out."

Director Thorne wore a vest only because Mrs. Thorne always nagged. Even past fifty, his physique could still rival many young heartthrobs,

The contours of his muscles faintly visible under a white vest.

It could be said that Zane’s habit of working out since childhood is closely related to Director Thorne.

Zane didn’t understand what his giving Natalie a car had to do with the old man.

"What’s he agreeing to?"

Natalie began pointing at the cars on this floor.

"The cars, I can pick whatever I want."

The man snorted coldly.

"What good is his agreement? These are all mine; you should thank me."

Natalie: !!!!!!!!

"Wait, what? You’re saying these cars."

Natalie swept her finger around, then pointed upstairs.

"You bought all the cars on these two floors yourself?"

Zane didn’t quite understand Natalie’s disbelief.

"What else?"

Count on the old man to buy them?

The old man, under his mom’s whispers, wished Zane would never have anything to do with racing, so how could he buy him cars?

Natalie’s pupils dilated, humming the tune of Black Cat Detective in her head.

Eyes as wide as copper bells~

"Where did you get the money? Is racing that profitable? Can I still learn now?"

Zane: ...

For the first time, Zane looked at Natalie as if she were an idiot.

This usually clever girl suddenly seemed dim-witted.

Racing pays?

Even the highest prize money wouldn’t be enough to buy one of his cars.

"The Vaughn Family is one of Astra City’s reputable families, yet here you are, acting like you’ve never seen the world, Natalie Vaughn."

Natalie: ...

It’s not like she hadn’t seen the world, just never seen one like this.

Just the cars in Zane’s villa could fund a lifetime of lavish spending for her.

"Surely, this isn’t all your cars, right?"

The man nodded slightly.

"Seems you’re not completely clueless."

Natalie’s legs felt weak.

"Hubby~"

She purred, clinging to Zane’s arm, shaking him while whining.

"Teach me your ways of making money, will you?"

Though she didn’t lack money, she wasn’t fool enough to ignore such high earnings. Not chasing money would be disrespectful to the currency.

Zane pushed her hand away.

"You wouldn’t learn it."

"You just don’t want to teach me."

"Let me tell you a shortcut."

"What is it?"

"Focus on holding onto your husband tightly, and everything will be yours, won’t it?"

Natalie: ...

Shameless!

But...

Seems quite logical?