Chapter 79 What Do You Like to Eat?

Sofia gazed at Charlotte's thoughtful demeanor with a tinge of regret, pondering her decision to so readily marry her off to Luke. "If you had stayed to live with me, I would have enjoyed such treatment. Now, if I fancy anything to eat, I must fend for myself." "But I can't always be by your side, can I? You could ask Caelan to do these things." Caelan said in his muddled speech, "If you ask, I'll certainly do it." Sofia rolled her eyes. "I'd be grateful if you just didn't turn the house into a mess." Although a novice in domestic matters, Caelan had been earnestly learning. He hoped that after their marriage, they would share some of these responsibilities. Tilting her head, Charlotte asked Luke, "What do you like to eat?" Taken aback, Luke noted that only his parents had shown concern for his culinary preferences before. Since moving out, it had been a long time since he had heard such a question. "Why do you ask?" Charlotte pursed her lips. "I'm still very grateful for what you did for me today, so I thought I'd ask about your tastes, maybe cook a meal for you next time." Luke disliked her overly formal tone, finding it unsuitable for family. "Why thank me? Looking out for each other is what family does." "Even so, you've done so much for me; I should do something in return. After all, we are going to live together in the future. Knowing your preferences will make cooking much easier." "It's not necessary to trouble yourself; Denise handles things at home." Feigning anger, Charlotte said, "It seems you don't love me enough, and that's why you're unwilling to tell me. Perhaps I should step aside for my sister. She would probably be more attentive to you than I am." Visibly shocked, Luke didn't expect Charlotte's words. "That's not what I meant. I'm just worried about you overworking yourself. You're so busy every day, and to have you worry about what I eat too -- I don't want you to stress over it." Charlotte moved closer, squinted, and asked, "Really?" "Of course, it's true. Why would I lie to you? I'm just concerned that you're overburdened. And honestly, I'm not picky about food; there's nothing I particularly crave." Hearing his words, Charlotte decided not to press further. It seemed to her that Luke was easy to please; any simple meal would suffice for him. Still joking, Charlotte said, "I thought maybe you didn't love me anymore. I figured if you really preferred my sister, I'd gladly let her take my place. She's so smitten with you, she can't even sleep. Then I could go find another man." Luke, a man deeply committed to relationships, reacted with some agitation. "I'm your husband now, and here you are, thinking about such things every day. Isn't that a bit disrespectful to me?" Charlotte, realizing her joke had stirred his emotions, saw that Luke had taken her words to heart. "I was just joking; don't get so worked up," she said. Luke, feigning anger, sulkily took a sip of his drink. "Hmm, even if it was a joke, you shouldn't say things like that. You know how worried I am about you. Don't make such jokes again." Sofia watched the couple's overt affection and felt an urge to leave. She started regretting her decision to visit them. If she had anticipated this, she would have opted for a relaxing night at home, perhaps with a glass of wine and her favorite TV show, instead of feeling like a third wheel here. Sofia shook her head, overwhelmed. "You two really have a great relationship." "It's okay," Luke replied, still upset with the words Charlotte had spoken earlier. "Are you in a hurry to find another man?" "Are you really angry?" Charlotte, seeing Luke so unexpectedly upset, instantly became flustered. "I'm sorry, I spoke without thinking. Please don't take it seriously, I really am sorry." "It's good that you realize your mistake. Remember, in our marriage, we both have responsibilities toward each other." Utterly astonished, Caelan observed Luke, once a reserved man, now seemingly transformed by marriage. In that moment, he felt as if this person wasn't Luke at all, as if he had been possessed by someone else. Caelan, impressed by the profound change in Luke, admired Charlotte. "Luke has really changed a lot since being with you." Charlotte didn't see much change in him; since their first encounter, Luke had always been kind to her, though she wasn't very familiar with his past. "Where does that come from?" Caelan drifted into his memories. "Even if Luke bumped into someone he knew on the street, a mere nod was his way of greeting. Everyone around us thought he was unapproachable. If it weren't for our families living close when we were kids, I doubt our relationship would be as close as it is now." Charlotte, finding the story amusing, couldn't help but laugh. "You really do keep strangers at bay, don't you?" Luke shook his head. "It depends on the person. With acquaintances, a nod is sufficient. Look at how well I chat with Daniel, right?" Caelan, pulling no punches, said, "Of course, but that's because Daniel's personality is similar to mine. He probably wouldn't be as close to us if it weren't for that similarity. I wish you could recognize how you usually treat others; that's why I think the change in you is so significant." Luke, holding his drink, pondered for a moment; he hadn't thought much about his behavior, but hearing it from someone close started to make him doubt himself and wonder if he had indeed been too aloof. But that was just his nature; he didn't have much to talk about with unfamiliar people and saw no point in wasting time on unnecessary interactions. Caelan continued, "But after being with Charlotte, you've really changed a lot. You used to barely greet anyone, just nodding your head. Now, you take the initiative to talk to people, to engage in different conversations. This wasn't like you before." Charlotte found Luke's character endearing and wished for an earlier meeting. She was curious to see how this reserved man usually interacted with others.