“The pasta is over there. I’ll go buy some chicken and duck for you to nourish your body,” Julian said, fully embracing his role as a stay-at-home husband. He pushed the cart towards the fresh food section.
“Little Bunny, the raw poultry smells over there are too much for you. Just wait here, okay?”
“Okay,” Aurora replied, already feeling a little nauseous.
When Julian returned, their cart was already overflowing, yet he seemed completely oblivious. “The carts at this supermarket are way too small. I’ve barely bought anything, and it’s already full!”
Aurora glanced at the cart, which was packed to the brim with various types of meat. She thought of the ginger tea he’d made for her before and hesitated. “Um… Julian, do you even know how to cook all of this?”
“Not at all,” Julian replied confidently, without missing a beat. Aurora raised an eyebrow.
“If you don’t know how to cook, why are you buying so much?”
“I can learn. It’s so easy nowadays-I’ll just look up recipes when we get home. I promise it won’t be as bad as before.”
Aurora shuddered at the memory of the ginger tea he’d made for her. After drinking that concoction, she couldn’t stomach anything with brown sugar for a long time. Sometimes just hearing the words “brown sugar” or “ginger” made her feel sick. Truly, Julian had potential in the realm of “dark cuisine.”
“Now that we’ve got all the ingredients, is there anything else we need?” Julian asked, deep in thought.
Aurora looked at the overloaded cart and felt that if she didn’t stop him soon, he might end up buying baby clothes. “This is more than enough. Let’s head home.”
“You’re right. You’ve had a long day, and you haven’t even eaten yet. Let’s get back quickly,” Julian said as he swiftly checked out.
On the drive home, Aurora was so exhausted that she fell asleep in the car. Julian glanced at her peaceful expression as she slept, surrounded by a car full of groceries. He thought about the little baby they would soon welcome into their family-perhaps a sweet little princess. Just the thought made his heart swell with happiness.
She’ll probably look just like Aurora, he mused. Their family genes were strong, and it would be wonderful if the baby inherited Aurora’s looks. Then he’d have another precious little one to take care of.
With soft music playing in the background, Julian drove the car into the garage. He didn’t want to wake Aurora, so he gently carried her up to their apartment first before coming back down to unload the groceries.
Aurora slept soundly. Even when he placed her on the bed, she didn’t stir. She simply turned over and continued sleeping. Julian turned off the lights, letting her rest peacefully, while he clumsily busied himself in the kitchen.
Following an online recipe, he barely managed to prepare a few dishes. Now that Aurora was eating for two, pasta alone wouldn’t provide enough nutrition. He went the extra mile, making a soup, sauteed vegetables, and shredded meat. By the time he was finished, it was already 8:30 PM.
Julian gently woke her. “Little Bunny, wake up. Dinner’s ready.”
Aurora opened her eyes with difficulty. “Julian, I just want to sleep. I don’t want to get up.”
“Just for a moment. Eat something, and then you can go back to sleep, okay?” he coaxed softly.
“I’m so tired…” Aurora yawned, her eyes barely staying open before closing again.
“I know, but your stomach needs food on time. Be good,” Julian murmured, planting a kiss on her lips. The tenderness of the kiss startled her awake.
Aurora looked at him helplessly. “Julian, you’re so bad.”
“I’m doing this for your own good. Come on, try the food I made,” he said with a grin.
“Alright, alright. Let me wash my face first,” she said, dragging herself out of bed. She splashed cold water on her face to wake up.
The dining table was already set, with no candles or rose petals-just a few simple dishes and a bowl of soup. Yet, her heart felt warm.
Julian pulled out her chair and served her a bowl of soup. “The pasta is ready. Please enjoy,” he said, almost like a royal chef presenting his creations to the emperor.
Aurora took a bite. The taste of the pasta didn’t matter-it was the love Julian poured into it that she cared about.
“How is it? Is it too salty?” Julian asked earnestly.
“No, it’s perfect. Delicious,” she replied.
“This is my first time making soup. I followed an online tutorial. Try it-it should be just right for you now,” Julian said, watching her expectantly.
Aurora took a sip, and tears rolled down her cheeks. How could she ever bear to hurt someone like Julian?
The tears fell into the soup, creating ripples. Julian’s expression shifted in alarm. “Why are you crying? I tasted it earlier-it wasn’t that bad, was it? If it’s awful, we don’t have to eat it. I’ll order takeout right away!”
Aurora quickly wiped her tears, flustered. She didn’t want to leave any trace of her emotions, but every time Julian treated her with such kindness, she couldn’t help herself.
“No, no, Julian. I’m just so happy. I can’t believe you made all of this for me.”
“You scared me-I thought my soup was poisonous! If you like it, I’ll make it for you every day,” Julian said, finally relaxing when he saw her smile.
“Julian, you’re the president of a multinational company, yet you’re willing to stay in the kitchen. Don’t you feel it’s beneath you?”
“Why would I? Taking care of my wife and child makes me happier than anything. Don’t overthink it. It’s only natural for me to treat you well,” Julian said, ruffling her hair.
“Now eat up. If it gets cold, I’ll have to reheat it.”
“Okay.”
Aurora finished the meal with mixed emotions. Julian prepared her bath and went back downstairs to wash the dishes. Just as he said, taking care of her was second nature to him, and even his silhouette radiated joy.
For someone once so proud, he was now content living a simple life. Yet Aurora couldn’t even give him that simplicity.
As she lay in the bathtub, tears streamed down her face. It was only when she was alone that she allowed herself to break down. She bit her lip hard, her nails digging into her palms as she cried uncontrollably.
She wished this were all a dream-that she wasn’t Aurora, that she didn’t have a family legacy to carry. She wished she were just an ordinary, simple person.
But the pain in her palms reminded her that this wasn’t a dream. It was reality, and her time with Julian was running out.
“Little Bunny, are you done?” Julian called from outside the bathroom.
“Y-yes, I’m done,” Aurora replied, quickly rinsing off the suds. Tears mingled with the water as they slid down her face.
She changed into the clean pajamas Julian had prepared and looked in the mirror. Her eyes were red and swollen. Even she felt sorry for herself, let alone Julian.
The bedroom was dimly lit by a bedside lamp. Aurora slowly walked out, got into bed, and closed her eyes.
“You must be tired today. Tomorrow, we’ll go to the amusement park after you’re fully rested. No need to wake up early,” Julian said gently, his caring voice lingering in her ears.