Chapter 39: Chapter 40

Chapter 40 “I only agreed to let Momo stay. I didn’t say you can,”

Charmine reminded Anthony.

With a dignified look on his face, Anthony walked toward her. “Apologies. Momo might have sudden convulsions anytime throughout the night, so he’ll need my help. It worries me to leave him alone here.”

“Mommy, just let Daddy stay. He can cook, do laundry, and housekeeping. He can be handy!” Chris pleaded, his voice charmingly adorable and cute.

Charmine frowned, though surprised still. “Your dad does laundry and housekeeping?”

“Yes! You can ask him if you don’t believe me.” Chris blinked at Anthony.

Anthony hesitated for a few seconds, and under Charmine’s questioning gaze, he nodded. “Yes, I do.”

“Alright then, you’ll stay over and make u s supper.

Nothing too fancy. Just three dishes and one soup should be fine, as long as it’ s healthy,” Charmine ordered. Since no one was sending her supper tonight, having someone to make her food was not a bad idea.

After all, he volunteered to stay.

Charmine’s detailed order stunned Anthony for a good few seconds. Nonetheless, he took off his suit and carried the bags of fresh vegetables to the kitchen. He had a rather attractive body with his biceps bulging under his white shirt—utterly muscular and attractive. Charmine could not help herself as she stole glances of him from time to time, her heart beating faster than usual.

How strange. She had seen all kinds of handsome men, but why would her heart beat so fast when Anthony was around?

“Mommy, I’m sleepy. Can you read me a bedtime story?” Chris asked softly.

Charmine quickly snapped out of it and composed herself. “Of course. Close your eyes and I’ll read you one.” With that said, she carried Chris in her arms, walked him to the bedroom, and laid in bed with him.

Chris closed his eyes as told, his tiny body curled in her arms as his head rested on her wrist. Gently as she could, Charmine then began, “Once upon a time, there was a big grey wolf...” 1 She was unaware of how her usual bold and unruly voice became so gentle. Her face was filled with warmth and love, nothing like herself. She assumed that this storytelling session would take a while, but she was surprised that Chris fell asleep after two to three sentences. His breathing calmed and his hands stopped fidgeting.

He fell asleep already?

She gently caressed Chris’ pouty face. Seeing as he did not respond to her touch, she slowly maneuvered and removed her arm from under his neck. She gently covered him with a blanket and changed the room temperature to 26 degrees Celsius before she tip-toed out of the MOM.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Anthony was frowning in front of the table filled with ingredients.

“Need help?” A teasing voice came from outside the kitchen. i Anthony looked over to see Charmine standing at the door with her hands on her hips. She leaned against the door and looked at him with a teasing grin.

Anthony did not flinch and kept his cool. ” Hmph. I’m just deciding whether to steam or fry the dish.”

Charmine laughed him off. She walked over and pulled on his wrist to move him aside.

“Fine, fine, go out and wait for me. Don’t ruin my kitchen.” Her eyes matched the goading grin on her face.

It did not shock her that he could not cook. Why would a high-ranking executive like him know how to make food?

Charmine took out the vegetables and rinsed them with water before she started chopping the spices.

A faint smile appeared on Anthony’s lips a s he watched Charmine cook with full concentration.

Preparing the ingredients, she pressed on the green chili with one hand and chopped them with the other, fluidly as she did.

She wore casual long black pants topped with a tight black top, and they flattered her alluring body. It was like a hot martial artist practicing with her sword when, in reality, she was just preparing to fry a fish.

Whatever she did, Charmine always seemed so bold and confident. Anthony stood by the side as he enjoyed the scene unfolding before him. Not long after, the prawns turned red in the wok—a whole wok filled with bright red prawns. She scooped them into a bowl and brought it out of the kitchen.

As she walked past Anthony, she stopped short. “What are you standing here for? G o grab us a fork.”

Anthony snapped out of it instantly. No one had ever spoken to him in such a tone, but since it was Charmine, he did not feel offended. He took out two pairs of cutleries from the cupboard and followed her out of the kitchen.

Charmine took a seat in front of the matte -black long rectangular dining table. She picked up one prawn and started to eat. Unlike other women who faked their elegance as they ate, the way Charmine ate was a little unruly but not rude in any sense.

Even though Anthony was not used to having supper this late, he decided to join in after watching her enjoying the food so much.

The food was good. This woman never ceased to surprise him. After a while, he paused his meal.

“About the Prince Simon thing... How are you handling it?”

“It’s just a small matter. It’ll resolve itself,” Charmine answered nonchalantly as she took out her phone and photographed her prawns. 3 Assuming she was hiding her inner turmoil, he went about the matter in another way. “I do have ways to help you out.”

“Oh? How so?”

No longer beating around the bush, he blurted, “Marry me.”

What? Marry him? 1 “I’ve given you the answer before,” Charmine refuted, unperturbed.

Anthony’s eyebrows twitched, but he pushed on, “Charmine, once the world knows you’re my wife, who’d believe that you’re ruining Simon Gray’s family?”

Although Diamond Prince’s family was super wealthy, it was still limited to the diamond industry in South Africa. Meanwhile, the Bailey family had investments in medical research and technology. The family background could completely submerge Simon Gray’s. i If Charmine married him, all rumors would be silenced.

Lips curled, she reached out her hand to touch Anthony’s chin.