Chapter 239 - Change My Mind
Some were the protagonists of their stories, others were the villains. In the end, they all lived happily never after.
Kaden knew this the moment the sun rose. She behaved like nothing was out of the ordinary. Lina was her usual self. He had never breathed such a large sigh of relief. He was glad he had taken the memories of last night. Just, last night. Nothing more. He had to. There was no other way her sanity could be preserved.
"Oh my goodness, this tastes divine!" Lina gasped, picking up the fork with wide eyes. She turned to her husband with joy on her face.
"Try some, Kaden!" Lina dipped the fork into the sliced cake again and placed it towards his mouth.
The wedding planner was shocked. The planner knew exactly who this man was. Sitting across the table was the most terrifying man in all of Ritan. The owner of the multibillion DeHaven Conglomerate. They were quickly dominating the market and were practically a legalized monopoly.
Everyone spoke of his frightening aura. His face was always nonchalant, but his eyes knew no bounds. The planner and her assistants feared for his wife. Offering food with a used fork was quite offensive in Ritan, especially to a heir like him—
Kaden ate the cake.
They blinked. What?
"Too sweet," Kaden murmured with displeasure.
Too sweet? Was that code word for killing them?
"W-we have many sugar-free options, Mr. DeHaven. I-I'll have the patisserie prepare some—"
"But it's the least sweet one," Lina explained with a slight frown. She glanced down at the coffee cake with espresso whipped cream topped with crushed pistachios.
"Which is your favorite?" Kaden calmly asked, resting a hand behind her chair. He scooted her closer, so she didn't have to stretch her arm to feed him. Instead of responding, she picked up a few plates, glanced at them, and frowned.
"I don't know," Lina decided. "After a while, all the cakes tasted the same, even after drinking the iced water."
"Pick your favorite fifteen, we're doing a tier for every flavor," Kaden deadpanned.
Kaden was well aware of her indecisiveness. He was also certain she'd grow bored of a single flavor in more than one-tier. The news would've made any other woman happy. Fifteen layers could cost well into the tens of thousands, especially with the luxurious ingredients used. The decoration on the cake alone could top the hundreds of thousands. It was every woman's dream.
"Maybe we'll decide the cake flavor next time," Lina said with a slight sigh.
Kaden immediately frowned. "Why?"
"My head hurts," Lina told him, rubbing her forehead.
Kaden froze as she touched the exact spot he had kissed last night. Her eyelids twitched, warning of the immense pressure. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her close.
"What are you thinking about?" Kaden asked.
"It's so strange… I don't remember what happened last night," Lina said to him. "I feel like I'm forgetting something important."
Kaden's brows shot up. "You pulled a mischievous prank on me, did you forget?" he said in a hoarse voice.
Lina naively blinked. "Prank?"
"Yes, like locking all the doors of the guest rooms," Kaden mused.
"Oh, I guess that must've tired me out, enough to sleep for so long and forget it," Lina lightly laughed under her breath. Without another glance in his direction, she turned to the wedding planner. In all honesty, they tried fifty flavors of cake today. She didn't think it was possible to have that many flavors.
"Since we've narrowed it down to the 25 we like, from this flavor onwards, please make a fifteen-layer cake," Lina decided, placing her hand from one end to the next. "And ensure the patisseries order sustainable packaging so that each untouched tier of cake can be donated afterward."
The wedding planner's eyes grew wide with the realization that they truly were planning on going all out for just cake! She was certain the patisserie was going to die happy. Or, they'd even be laughing in their sleep! The cake alone could've been an entire month's worth of salary.
Unable to contain her happiness, she let out a shaky breath and rapidly nodded her head.
"We shall have it done, Mr. and Mrs. DeHaven!"
Mrs. DeHaven.
Lina's smile slowly fell. She glanced at the ring on her finger and realized indeed, she was becoming Mrs. DeHaven. Not Lina Yang. But Lina DeHaven. All of a sudden, the ruby felt heavy in her hand. She twisted the ring, wondering what it'd be like to take it off. Well, she supposed she never could now. Considering Kaden's heavy gaze upon her face.
Lina could never take off this ring.
- - - - -
When Lina walked out of the cake sampling, she was exhausted. Her mouth was parched and she was certain she had absorbed enough sugar into her system to last her an entire month. Some cakes took two or three bites to finally understand or enjoy the flavor.
Lina felt strange during the entire tasting. Everything went by in the blink of an eye. Her head felt hazy and sometimes she? spaced out. Her eyes would randomly become unfocused as well. She did not know why.
Suddenly, Lina stumbled over her heels. Strong arms grabbed her with ease. She let out a small breath, holding onto his grip. She raised her head to meet his fierce stare.
"Are you alright, dove?" Kaden asked, drawing her close to him.
Lina always liked this part about him. Instead of scolding her to be careful, he cared more about her wellbeing. Would he be that kind of father as well? Would he lift their fallen child into his arms and ease their pain away? Would he never scold, but always soothe?
"I should be happy," Lina told him. "I'm finally getting married and we're going to be touring wedding venues tomorrow. But I don't know, I don't feel happy."
"Is something on your mind?" Kaden questioned.
Kaden was certain that he did it properly. He seldom utilized his abilities as a Pure-Blood. Immortals' only power was living forever. But like most Pure-Bloods, he was given an ability. He heard the King of Wraith shared a similar one, but Kaden never researched the topic any further.
"If I am to become Mrs. DeHaven, what shall become of my Chairwoman title?" Lina mumbled. "Will I be Chairwoman DeHaven despite sitting in Yang Enterprise?"
"Dove—"
"Maybe that is why sons always inherit the seat. They pass on the family name and daughters are wed off into a different family," Lina admitted. "Do I have to take your surname?"
"You—"
"It would be a lot of work to change surnames after getting married. First, we need the marriage certificate to legally alter my name. And then, I'll have to update every single detail. For example, the credit cards, the names on mailing addresses, on my subscriptions, my legal identifications, the names on properties, anything that has to do with a membership, and—"
"You sure love to work your mouth, dove," Kaden dryly said with a glint in his eyes. He slid his arm around her, his fingers curling under her chin. He raised her head and saw the uncertainty in her eyes.
"I would prefer my wife to take my name," Kaden responded. "But you're not just my wife, you're the future Chairwoman to Yang Enterprise. It has been at least a century since Ritan adapted the practice of the west and forced wives to alter their surname to match their husbands."
Lina frowned. "And if I don't want to be Chairwoman? If I suddenly change my mind?"
Kaden stroked her back, up and down, to soothe her worries. "Then we shall do whatever makes you happy."
Whatever makes her happy.
Sometimes, Lina wondered what the cost of Kaden's kindness was. He gave her almost everything she wanted in life, whilst asking nothing in return.. What a strange man.
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