CHAPTER 43: – A TERRIBLE HUSBAND –

Viviana glanced between the video playing on the tablet beside her and the food she was cooking.

"Did I even follow this properly...?" she murmured, eyeing the plated dish. "It looks–"

"What are you doing?"

She jolted at the sudden voice behind her and spun around. Nikolas was watching her curiously, lips curved into a smile. "Did you... try to cook?"

Her lashes flickered, hesitation in her gaze. "Well... yes."

"Why do you sound like that?" he asked, stepping closer to see what she’d done. He wasn’t exactly sure what it was supposed to be, but with a hint of amusement, he asked, "Can I have a taste?"

Viviana swallowed lightly. "Are you certain you want to?"

"What do you mean?"

"I think I may have made some sort of poison. I’m afraid to taste it myself."

Nikolas breezed a chuckle. "I’m sure it can’t be that bad." He picked up a fork and twirled the pasta before bringing it to his mouth.

He chewed attentively while Viviana, who was watching him closely, shifted on her feet and fidgeted nervously with her fingers.

"H-how is it?"

Nikolas blinked rapidly. "That’s..."

He drew in a deep breath.

"That’s really..."

His hand moved to his temple as sweat suddenly broke out across his forehead.

"Nikolas...?" Her voice wavered, eyes wide and expectant. Her expression was almost pitiful.

"It’s–" He forced down a swallow. "–It’s new. The flavor is new. It’s something new."

"What does that even mean?"

Her voice dropped, soft and almost inaudible.

"You don’t have to lie," she accused. "Just tell me it’s bad. I know it is."

"Wait, no, Viviana, it’s–"

"How is it bad?" she cut in, sounding defeated. "I followed exactly what she said."

Nikolas rubbed at his chest, swallowing again and again, which only left her looking more dejected.

"Is it really that bad?"

"Calm down, wife. We just need to figure out where it went wrong." He cleared his throat and shrugged off his suit jacket. Rolling his sleeves to his forearm, he took her hand and walked back to stand in front of the counter.

"Now, we’ll start from the beginning, step by step, and see where things went wrong. Is that alright?"

"Okay." Viviana reached over and restarted the video.

Standing behind her, her much smaller frame stuck between him and the cooking counter, he handled everything by himself while she watched.

"I forgot to ask," she suddenly began. "But where have you been all day?"

"I ran into someone and had a little talk," he answered, slicing effortlessly. "Why? Did you miss me?"

Viviana’s lashes fluttered, and she breathed out, suddenly all too aware of his presence. And being stuck between him and the counter did nothing to help.

"Stop saying nonsense. And be careful, you’ll cut yourself."

"So you did miss me. Just can’t admit it, huh?" Nikolas chuckled, his voice a bit breathy as he took her wrist and guided her hand, his fingers trailing until they rested above hers. "Nothing to be shy about."

She swallowed, watching as he made her grab the knife, demonstrating how to carefully use it without cutting herself.

"I’m always eager to come back to you," he said. "But I think you know that."

She coughed at his words, choking out. "Nikolas."

"So you do know." He lowered his jaw to rest against her shoulder, tipping his head as he hummed, "Viviana, I–"

She spun on her heels immediately, dropping the knife as her palm landed over his mouth. "Shut up."

His heart squeezed at her firm eye contact. She was nervous, and for what?

"Let’s... let’s continue, please." She sounded like her voice was almost gone.

Nikolas blew out a soft breath, trying to smother the rapid pounding of his heart. How could this woman make him feel like this? This strange rush that just–

"We have somewhere to go tonight."

Her sudden words snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts.

"Huh?" He lifted a brow.

"Family meeting," Viviana said, letting out a breath. "My father contacted me, and he never does. I don’t know why he wants me there, and I know it’s abrupt, but... I don’t want to go alone."

She bit her bottom lip.

"I want you to come with me, Nikolas. But if you do not wish to, that is perfectly fine. This marriage is just a show anyway, so it isn’t mandatory that you comply with everything. I’m also sure that you don’t like my father."

He chucked her under the chin and tilted her face till she met his eyes. "Why would you think I’d say no? Am I that terrible of a husband?"

"What?" She blinked slowly. "No! I just thought–"

"Even if you hadn’t asked, Viviana, I wouldn’t let you go alone. I’d go anywhere with you if you wanted. Besides–" A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "–I take my eyes off you for a second, and you somehow end up in trouble. Truly troublesome. I need to be there to protect you. If anyone bullies you, I’ll beat them up for you."

He flexed his biceps.

Viviana flickered her eyes at him, taken aback.

Her lips parted and twitched as if she had something to say but was tongue-tied. She watched him and eyed him from head to toe.

"You don’t believe me?" he asked. "I mean every word."

"Do you?"

"Yes. Believe me."

He worked out regularly, and it showed. A laugh burst from her, her lips cracking into a genuine smile.

Nikolas gulped. That smile lit up her whole face. It was different from the dry or polite ones she put on for people. This one was almost enough to knock him backwards.

’She is beautiful.’

Viviana abruptly stopped laughing. She tipped her head at him. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

He blinked at her.

"Is there something on my face?" she asked.

The man could only shake his head, feeling as though he was running out of breath. "No. It’s nothing."