Chapter 963
By the time Maeve opened her eyes, the space beside her was empty. The sound of running water echoed from the master bathroom. She knew Layne had a habit of taking a morning shower, so she smiled faintly, retrieving his freshly pressed suit and matching accessories from the walk-in closet.
For the past two years, she had acted as his full-time personal assistant, meticulously managing his daily life. Layne had grown deeply accustomed to her care. Aside from lacking a formal marriage license, they lived exactly as husband and wife.
Layne lingered in the shower for twenty minutes longer than usual. The icy water blasted from the overhead showerhead, soaking him from head to toe in a freezing deluge.
As the freezing water cascaded down his muscular frame, his mind had never felt sharper.
Maeve waited patiently in the bedroom for quite some time. When the bathroom door finally clicked open, she stood ready with a plush towel and his clothes. Layne looked at her, his eyes darkening for a fraction of a second before returning to their usual calm.
"Maeve, you're my partner, not my maid. You don't have to wait on me hand and foot every single morning."
In the past, he had found her attentiveness incredibly heartwarming. Now, an unsettling feeling gnawed at his gut. It felt less like she was caring for the man she loved, and more like she was desperately performing to appease him.
There was a detached coldness behind her affection, as if it were merely a calculated routine, whereas Layne's love for her had always been absolute. Hearing his tone, Maeve's eyes widened, a lump instantly forming in her throat as tears threatened to spill.
"Why would you say that? You never used to act like this. Didn't you always love how I took care of you? I'm just doing what I normally do. Are you getting tired of me?"
The second her tears fell, Layne's defenses crumbled. He took the clothes from her hands, refusing to
let her dress him, buy pulled her against his chest, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead.
"Don't be silly, how could I ever get tired of you? just don't want you exhausting yourself. After everything you survived with the Sterling family, it kills me to see you waiting on someone like a servant even if that someone is me. All want is for you to enjoy a life of luxury."
"You cook three meals a day and clean this massive penthouse yourself. It's too much. I think it's time we hired a housekeeper."
Before Maeve could even process the shift, Layne had already finalized the decision. Her knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists, her nails digging into her skin so hard she nearly drew blood.
He looked down at her with pure tenderness Everything has been chaotic lately, and the company is incredibly demanding. Ever since my uncle passed the entire empire rests on my shoulders im at the office for ten hours a day, sometimes pulling overtime, and I just can't be here with you like I used to."
"I worry about you being alone all day. If we have a housekeeper, someone will always be here to update me on how you're doing. Maeve, please, let me have this peace of mind."
His words were so heavily laced with genuine concern that Maeve found absolutely no angle to argue against him.
Her lips paled as she forced a stiff, strained smile. Layne silently observed every micro-expression on her face. Left with zero leverage, she finally yielded. "Whatever you think is best."
Layne reached out, caressing her flawless cheek before leaning down to press a fleeting peck to her lips, immediately pulling away.