CHAPTER 68: CHAPTER 68: WANT SOME? WHAT FLAVOR? HOW MANY BOXES?

Blake Sinclair: "Guess what?"

Holly Crowe’s voice was dull: "I can’t guess."

He glanced at her low spirits and said slowly, "Dad said he practiced martial arts for three years before studying music."

"Huh?"

Holly was stunned for a few seconds before she reacted and couldn’t help but laugh, "Teacher Crowe’s warning is quite subtle."

Blake laughed along, and the tension in the car eased a lot.

Holly stopped smiling and looked up at him, "Aren’t you curious about what my mom said to me?"

"Do you want to tell me?"

The green light turned red.

Blake gently pressed the brake and turned to her, "If you want to say, I’ll listen. If you don’t want to say, I’ll wait for the day you do."

"What if I never say?"

Blake pretended to be deep in thought, then said, "I think someone won’t be able to hold it in that long."

Holly squinted her eyes and waved her fist playfully, "Be careful, or I’ll learn martial arts too."

Blake chuckled softly, indulgence written all over his face.

The light changed, and the car started again.

Holly relaxed and leaned back against the seat, facing the window, her hand quietly reaching into her bag.

Inside the bag was the bank card Josephine Lennon had just given her. She played with it repeatedly, recalling the words Josephine had emphasized over and over.

Beside her, Blake watched her profile silently and discreetly turned up the car’s temperature.

When Holly woke up, she found herself covered with Blake’s suit jacket.

She didn’t even know when she fell asleep. Her body had been off these past couple of days, plus the earlier emotional swing, so she drifted off.

Holly stared vacantly out the window for a bit before realizing they were already in the city, close to Glynmere.

"Awake?"

"Mm."

Holly looked at the man in the driver’s seat, feeling a bit embarrassed.

She had a peaceful sleep on the way, but he had to keep his eyes open for a three-hour drive.

"Want something to eat? Or drink? If you’re tired, I can drive."

Blake smiled, "I can handle it."

It was a perfectly normal sentence, yet Holly caught a different implication, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Up to you."

She lowered her head, pretending to check her phone.

The car soon stopped, but it wasn’t at the entrance to Glynmere.

Holly looked up, puzzled, "Why did we come to the supermarket?"

"To buy some things," Blake replied, unbuckling his seatbelt.

Holly grew more curious.

He leaned closer, "To get some ingredients to fulfill my wife’s craving for sweet and sour ribs."

Holly was taken aback.

How did he still remember that? Not getting over it?

"I never said that."

"Your neighbor brother said you love their family’s ribs the most."

Holly stubbornly replied, "That was when I was a kid; I’ve long forgotten..."

"But I should learn, just in case you want it one day. Can’t let anyone else beat me to it, right?"

He smiled indulgently, reaching out to unbuckle her seatbelt, holding out his hand, "Let’s go, sweetheart."

Holly feigned indifference for a few seconds before placing her hand in his palm.

Upon entering the supermarket, Holly finally believed he really came to shop.

With one hand pushing the cart and the other firmly holding hers, he was adept at choosing ribs and selecting seasonings.

Following behind him, watching his focused demeanor, Holly suddenly felt a sense of security, mundane yet fulfilling.

As they passed the snack aisle, he grabbed a few boxes of her favorite yogurt and chips.

He was quite considerate.

The checkout line wasn’t long, and the two stood side by side, slowly moving forward with the queue.

With only one person ahead, Holly’s gaze wandered aimlessly, suddenly stopping at the shelves in front of the register.

Rows of colorful small boxes were particularly eye-catching.

Looking at those small packs for kids, her mind flashed back to the night they got their marriage certificate.

They almost...had an intimate moment that night.

Holly’s ears and neck burned, instinctively looking away, only to find Blake’s gaze on the shelf.

The scene from last night at the old house resurfaced—his restrained breathing and control... Holly’s face flushed.

"Want some?"

Blake suddenly asked.

"Huh?"

Holly’s eyes widened.

So direct? Asking so calmly?

For the first time, she realized her face was so thin-skinned.

"If you want, go ahead and get some." Her response was stuttered, her voice soft.

"What flavor?"

Blake’s eyes stayed on the shelf, speaking naturally.

Holly: "!!!"

Don’t ask, dude! Is this really something you pick flavors for?

How did she not know Blake had such preferences privately?

Holly lowered her eyes, "I’m...fine with anything."

"Then strawberry?"

Holly nodded.

"One box enough?"

Can she even decide this?

She answered vaguely, "Whatever’s fine."

Blake raised his hand.

Holly’s gaze followed his motion, but the next second, his hand reached past the tempting small boxes and picked up strawberry-flavored gummies nearby.

Holly: "...???"

Blake brought the gummies to her face, "Any other flavors?"

Holly stared at the gummies, confused.

Weren’t we all adults? Given the mood earlier, shouldn’t we be talking about more "adult" things?

Or was she overthinking?

"Huh?"

She opened her mouth slightly.

Seeing her flushed face, Blake glanced again at the small boxes on the shelf, a hint of understanding in his eyes, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

Hearing his teasing laugh, Holly realized he saw right through her thoughts.

She tossed the gummies into the cart, almost fleeing, "I’ll wait for you outside."

It was like her feet were on fire as she dashed out without looking back.

Outside the checkout area, Holly pressed the back of her hand to her flushed face.

By then, it was Blake’s turn, and he casually picked two small boxes from the shelf, handing them with the gummies to the cashier.

Holly couldn’t help but open her eyes wide, realizing he had already.....!!!

Payment done, Blake came out with two shopping bags.

He opened the car door, placing items in the backseat, while Holly sat in the front.

Just after buckling her seatbelt, she heard him say, "Want some?"

Without turning back, she squinted.

Here we go again; this time, she won’t be fooled.

"Sure, give it to me."

Her voice was deliberately hard, reaching a hand back to grab a box from his hand.

But as she withdrew her hand, seeing the English letters on the blue box, her mind blanked for a few seconds.

"Why are you giving me this? Where...where’s the candy?"

She tossed the box back, pouting as she looked at him.

"Don’t blame me. You took it yourself." He spoke slowly, opening his other hand to reveal a box of pink strawberry gummies.

Holly boiled with anger on the spot, annoyed, reaching back to grab the gummies, opening the box, and throwing one into her mouth.

The sugary strawberry burst on her tongue, and she chewed, pretending not to hear his suppressed laughter from behind.

Her mind repeated, "Knowing limits leads to stability, stability brings calmness, calmness leads to peace, peace leads to..."

It’s useless...

The Maybach slowly left the supermarket, nearing Glynmere.

Holly clutched the gummy pack tighter.

Tonight, they probably...would share something significant.

Thinking of this, Holly’s face started to heat up.