Chapter 196: Chapter 186: Didn’t You Say You Were Just Going to Sleep? 2
"Okay, what do you want to eat?"
"More than food, I’m hoping to come home to a freshly showered you!"
"..."
Georgia Thorne heard the incredibly suggestive remark and was completely at a loss for a reply.
She just sent back an "I’m going to sleep" and tossed her phone under her pillow.
Meanwhile, Elliot Sheridan read Georgia’s message, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He put down his phone just as a KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK came from the door, followed by Sharon Ennis’s voice from outside.
"Mom, what is it?" Elliot walked over and opened the door.
Sharon Ennis entered the room and closed the door behind her. "What else could it be? You two brothers are really something else. You’re going to be the death of me!"
"Your older brother secretly divorced your sister-in-law behind our backs, and now you, you little brat, tell us you’re not getting engaged to Joanne Donovan anymore. Are you two trying to give your father and me a heart attack?!" Sharon Ennis sat on the sofa, her brows furrowed in anger. "You tell me, what on earth are you thinking?!"
"By the end of this year, I guarantee I’ll bring home a daughter-in-law for you!"
"Forget it. You said the same thing last year, and I didn’t see so much as a shadow of a girlfriend. Don’t try to fool me again this year!" She got angry just thinking about it. She’d finally gotten her hopes up, only for him to suddenly announce during the New Year that they had broken up a month prior!
Frustrated, Sharon Ennis had given Elliot a cold shoulder for a whole month.
"I guarantee I’ll bring one home this year!"
’This time is different from last time. Georgia and I have a marriage certificate now. We’re tied together. There’s no way she can run away.’
"Elliot, I’m not trying to nag you, but you’re already 35. In half a year, you’ll be 36. If you don’t hurry up and get married now, how old will you be when you finally have kids!"
’If he waits a few more years, Selena might even be married by then.’
"You can’t rush having kids. It’s not like I can just have one whenever I want!" Elliot said nonchalantly.
Sharon Ennis sighed mournfully. "But be honest with your mother. Why did you call off the engagement with Joanne Donovan? Weren’t things going well before?"
"Mom, if you want to hold a grandchild, it was never going to happen with Joanne."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Joanne Donovan can’t have children."
Just like Miss Sheridan, Sharon Ennis was too shocked to speak. After a long moment, she managed to get out one word: "Really?"
"It’s true."
Sharon Ennis was completely stunned. She had never liked Joanne Donovan, but since her son didn’t have a problem with her, she hadn’t felt it was her place to say anything.
But now that this bombshell about her being unable to have children had dropped, there was no way she could let them get married.
"This won’t do. I need to go have a serious talk with your father!" Sharon Ennis muttered, standing up and rushing out.
At the doorway, she turned back. "Don’t you dare lie to your mother this time, you brat. By the end of this year, I don’t care if you bring home a man in a dress, just bring someone back!"
"I know!"
「The next day.」
Georgia Thorne got out of bed, tidied up her apartment, and cleared out a small corner.
She then changed into a fresh set of clothes and headed out to buy some fabric.
Portmire was exceptionally hot this year. The temperature outside was pushing 40 degrees Celsius, and walking under the sun felt hot enough to melt a person.
Portmire had a market street dedicated to selling all kinds of fabrics. Many designers chose to source their materials here because of the complete and varied selection.
Braving the scorching sun, she spent the entire morning browsing more than a dozen shops, leaving her exhausted and overheated.
She took a half-hour break at a bubble tea shop before continuing her search.
She had walked nearly the entire length of the market street, carefully picking and choosing, before she finally bought everything she needed.
As she was heading back, weighed down by the heavy rolls of fabric, the jarring sound of a car horn blared from behind her, mingled with someone calling her name.
Georgia Thorne turned her head and saw a familiar face through the car window. "Attorney Shaw, what are you doing here?"
"I’m here gathering evidence for a case. Where are you headed? I can give you a ride."
Byron Shaw pushed open the car door, gesturing for her to get in.
Feeling the heat, Georgia didn’t refuse and got into the car.
A wave of cool air washed over her, providing instant relief. Georgia put her things down.
"Did you come all this way just to buy these?"
"Yeah, the selection here is great." Georgia wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. Noticing Byron Shaw’s gaze fall on her purchases, she explained with a smile, "I entered a competition, and the deadline is just a few days away!"
"Work hard, then."
"I will!"
Byron Shaw had the driver take Georgia Thorne directly to her apartment building.
Georgia got out of the car, holding her things. "Thank you for the ride back!"
"You’re welcome!" Byron Shaw watched her wave and turn to leave, then called out to her. "Georgia!"
"Yes?"
"It’s nothing. Go on inside," Byron Shaw said gently.
"You be careful on the road," Georgia said with a smile, turning and entering the apartment building.
Silence filled the car. Byron Shaw gave no instructions, so the driver didn’t move.
’I planned for every possibility, but I never expected Elliot Sheridan to actually marry Georgia Thorne.’
A little after five, Georgia was taking measurements when she received a call from Elliot Sheridan.
He said he was already downstairs. Georgia looked out her window and could see Elliot’s car right below.
Georgia rushed downstairs.
She got into the car. "What are you doing here?"
"I had nothing to do this afternoon."
A mountain of work was waiting for him, but the only thing on his mind was Georgia’s face.
He couldn’t resist the urge to see her, so he pushed all his work aside to come over.
He gently kneaded Georgia’s small hand. "Were you home all day today?"
"No, I went out this morning to buy a few things, then I came back."
"What did you buy?" Elliot asked casually, his large hand slowly massaging its way up from her palm.
"Just some things I need for the competition... Hey, what are you doing!"
As Georgia spoke, she felt Elliot’s hand moving higher up her arm. She tried to pull away, but he only held on tighter.
He clasped her fingers, his head bowed as he stared at their intertwined hands. "Is there a problem with me touching my wife’s hand?"
Georgia blushed. She still wasn’t used to him calling her "wife." Her face flushed a pretty red. "Okay, just drive already!"
She waved her hand, but their clasped fingers only tightened, his fingers lacing perfectly with hers.
He tugged her hand, pulling Georgia’s body towards him.
"Wife, did you miss me?"
Georgia was practically half-cuddled in Elliot’s embrace, her face red enough to bleed. She pushed at him, but couldn’t move him. "Just drive!"
"Did you miss me or not?"
Georgia didn’t answer, and Elliot had no intention of letting her go. On the contrary, he quite enjoyed being this close to her.
"I missed you!" Georgia, feeling pressured, answered in a hurry.
"And the title?" The man’s dark eyes pierced her. Georgia froze for a moment before she understood.
’It was a little embarrassing, but they were married now.’
Georgia broke into a wide, brilliant smile, revealing her pearly white teeth. "Hubby, I missed you!"
Hearing her call him "hubby" was enough to make Elliot’s bones melt. He hugged Georgia’s soft body, leaning close to her ear. "I’m so tempted to take care of you, you little minx, right here and now!"
"Hey, don’t you dare... Mmph..."
Georgia lifted her head, about to warn Elliot, when the handsome man’s face suddenly filled her vision. A warm, masculine scent of faint cologne entered her mouth and lingered at the tip of her nose.
Georgia pushed him away and sat back in the passenger seat, covering her face with one hand as she stared out the window.
She was too embarrassed to let Elliot see her face.
The car fell silent, the only sound the ragged breathing of two people, rising and falling in the enclosed space.
Both of their hearts were still pounding.
After a long while of calming down, she heard the man beside her say, "Supermarket first?"
"Mm-hmm!" Georgia answered softly, nodding.
In the evening, as the sun was about to set, it wasn’t as hot as it had been that morning.
Back at her apartment, Georgia took a shower and dressed casually.
Most of Georgia’s clothes were from her student days, giving her a very youthful air.
Georgia thought the temperature was perfect now; the cool evening breeze felt wonderful against her skin.
Suddenly, a jacket was draped over her shoulders. She found it too warm and was about to take it off, but Elliot held it in place.
She grumbled in dissatisfaction, "This is too hot to wear."
Elliot glanced down at her, pulled Georgia into his arms, and said in a domineering tone, "From now on, you’re not allowed to wear shorts this short outside!"
"..."
’There’s nothing wrong with them. All the girls on the street dress like this now. If you have to blame something, blame the hot weather.’
Georgia turned her head away and muttered under her breath, "Talk about a generation gap!"
Elliot heard Georgia’s muttering, but he only tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her even closer into his embrace.
"A privilege reserved for my eyes only. How can I let other men see it?!"
Back home, there was Selena Sheridan, who was about the same age as Georgia. That little girl had loved dressing up since she was a child.
Elliot never cared what Selena wore; after all, she was just his niece.
Georgia was different. She was his wife, and he didn’t want other men coveting her beauty.
They both wore masks, keeping a very low profile.
Elliot pushed a shopping cart with one hand and held Georgia’s wrist with the other as they navigated the supermarket aisles.
Georgia still couldn’t figure out what Elliot liked to eat. She picked up a napa cabbage. "Do you like this?"
"Whatever."
Elliot really was easy to feed; he wasn’t picky about food at all.
After shopping, they returned to the apartment.
She had just slipped on her cotton slippers when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind, and her whole body was suddenly lifted into the air. Georgia yelped, twisting her head to look at the man behind her. "Elliot, you..."
Elliot had been holding back for a long time, ever since that kiss in the car.
"Be a good girl. Let me hear you call me hubby."
Elliot carried her to the other side of the bed, wrapped his arms around Georgia’s body, and fell asleep.
「In the middle of the night.」
Georgia woke up thirsty. As she struggled to sit up, the man holding her woke up first.
He turned on the small bedside lamp. "What’s wrong?"
Georgia rubbed her eyes. "I want some water."
"I’ll go get you some."
Georgia’s head felt fuzzy. A moment later, Elliot returned with a glass of water.
She sat up, wrapped in the blanket, so thirsty that she gulped the entire glass down in a few big swallows.
After she finished drinking, Elliot pulled Georgia’s body close and they fell back asleep.
A little after nine, Georgia was woken up by hunger.
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