Chapter 368

Exiting the elevator, Layla held her phone in one hand and pushed the door open with the other.

At that moment of opening the door, instead of the usual darkness that Layla expected, the room was filled with warm light, and the air was filled with the aroma of food.

Feeling delighted, Layla saw Samuel in the kitchen, wearing a fancy shirt with rolled-up sleeves and an apron, cooking soup.

A beam of light fell perfectly on Samuel's head, illuminating his warm smile. "You're back."

Samuel was like a husband waiting for his wife to come home, so ordinary yet so extraordinary and dazzling.

A warm feeling swept through Layla's heart, quickly spreading throughout her body.

Giving Samuel the key was the best decision Layla had ever made in her life.

The key of Samuel hung at the entrance, and Layla smiled as she hung her keys with his, making a crisp sound.

"Yes, I'm back." Layla changed her shoes, tossed her bag on the sofa, and naturally embraced Samuel's waist, eagerly asking, "What delicious food did you make?"

"We have a variety of dishes, all very delicious."

"Doesn't that mean I'm lucky tonight?"

"Try the soup." Samuel spooned a small amount, carefully blowing on it until warm, then brought it to Layla's lips.

Layla took a sip, her smile as bright as a flower. "Delicious."

The soup was sweet to the core.

"Alright." Samuel turned off the stove.

"What kind of soup is this? What other dishes did you make?"

Samuel covered Layla's eyes with his hand. "It's a secret, no peeking. Hurry, go wash your hands."

"We can eat soon, and why being so mysterious?" Layla chuckled. "Okay, I'm going."

Layla changed into pajamas, washed her hands, and came out to find four dishes and a soup already on the table.

Steak, salmon, chicken soup, spaghetti, and pan-fried cod, all exuded delightful aromas.

Layla closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "It smells so good."

The aroma enhanced the taste, which surpassed that of any chef.

Layla ate eagerly, trying to swallow quickly. "If you were a chef, even Michelin-starred chefs would be out of a job."

Samuel handed Layla a piece of salmon. "I'm your private chef, so they have no fear of unemployment."

Layla felt ecstatic.

"Talented people succeed in every field. You're both good at business and cooking."

"I'm best at being your boyfriend, the number one in the world," Samuel said confidently.

Layla thought about it and realized it was true.

Successful in his career, he was wealthy, attentive, caring, and good at cooking. All the exaggerated words could be applied to Samuel.

Layla never aimed to find a wealthy partner. She just wanted someone she loved and who loved her back. It just so happened that this person was a super-rich tycoon. She felt incredibly fortunate.

"Yes, then I give the best boyfriend in the world a steak." Layla picked out the biggest piece for Samuel.

"The girlfriend of the best boyfriend in the world is also excellent and deserves a reward." Samuel handed Layla a piece of steak.

They praised each other while enjoying the food, reveling in the delicious meal.

They looked at each other and smiled, feeling happy.

"So happy." Layla couldn't help but exclaim.

Samuel held Layla's hand, his fingers interlacing with hers, and said affectionately, "I'm happy too."

Before meeting Layla, Samuel's heart was solely focused on his career, with no room for emotions. He never thought he would personally cook for a woman. Samuel was like an emotionless machine before.

However, after meeting Layla, Samuel became gentle. Even simple tasks like cooking became incredibly sweet. Thinking of Layla softened Samuel's heart, which was filled with sweetness.

Because of Layla, Samuel became gentler toward the world.

A man's change is often brought about by the woman he loves.

"I want to be happy for a lifetime. Isn't it wonderful?" Samuel asked affectionately.

"Yes."

"How about we get married?" Samuel's voice was slightly hoarse, the words slipping out unintentionally.

If it hadn't been for that incident, Layla would have been Samuel's wife by now.

Layla's smile froze instantly, her heart skipping a beat.

The word 'marriage' felt so close yet so far away from her.

She was caught off guard by this question.

The image of Owen lying in a pool of blood flashed through Layla's mind, causing her hand to tremble and her face to pale.

Her heart raced, but Layla forced a dry smile. "The chicken soup today is especially delicious."

Samuel felt a pang of disappointment. He knew Layla was avoiding the topic. She hadn't crossed that emotional barrier yet. He constantly reminded himself not to pressure her, but moments of happiness often overwhelmed reason, and emotions poured out uncontrollably.

Samuel concealed his emotions perfectly, showing no hint of disappointment, still indulgent. "If it's good, have more. I simmered it for two hours."

"Two hours? When did you come?" Layla continued the conversation, but her mind was in turmoil.

Layla felt anxious, with a slight throbbing in her heart.

Samuel had touched upon a forbidden area in her heart, and it felt tumultuous inside.

Layla hadn't fully come to terms with everything yet. She had been deceiving herself until now.

"Around four."

"So early. Isn't work busy?"

"I can manage my time well," Samuel chuckled. "But my heart leans toward you. I always want to spend more time with you."

"I don't want to delay your work."

"You're not. In fact, because of you, work has become more meaningful to me."

Samuel was no longer numbly striving for career success but working hard for their shared future. This kind of effort constantly filled Samuel's chest with warmth and strength.

"Things are good as they are now. There's no need to pressure yourself."

"Okay." Layla knew what Samuel meant, but her heart remained unsettled.

The night soon fell.

Layla, lying in Samuel's arms, couldn't fall asleep

.

During these days, Layla had been sleeping well in Samuel's comforting embrace, but tonight, her mind was restless, her emotions unsettled.

Every time she closed her eyes, the faces of Owen and Samuel kept intertwining in her mind, causing her heart to race.

Layla knew she hadn't completely let go yet, but things were gradually improving. However, Samuel had suddenly touched that wound, catching her off guard and leaving her feeling anxious and disoriented.

Layla was terrified by the word 'marriage'.

Her mind was in chaos, and her body felt slightly cold with sweat.

Layla tossed and turned in bed, feeling uncomfortable.

Staring out the window, she furrowed her eyebrows.

In the darkness, Samuel turned toward her, his back against Layla, pulling her closer into his embrace, their bodies intertwined. Samuel's nose lightly brushed against Layla's ear, she could hear each of his breaths.

Layla knew that although Samuel didn't say anything, he understood all of her emotions, which soothed her restlessness to some extent.

'It will be okay. Just need a little more time,' Layla whispered in her heart and closed her eyes.

A gentle kiss landed on Layla's earlobe.

At noon, Layla left the office and went to the bar to finalize some details.

The design sketches Layla had painstakingly drawn were most likely going to end up in Ava's trash can. But until Ava made a decision, Layla would still try her best.

The bar was empty, and a worker was smoking at the entrance. As Layla entered, she suddenly heard the voices of a man and a woman coming from the inner room.