Sweet to the heart

Chapter 6

Here he comes, here he comes, this old-soul Frank is here to wake me up again, she thought mischievously.

Peeking through the bathroom door, she watched as Frank approached her side of the bed, eyes lowered, lost in thought. After a moment, he carefully lifted a corner of the blanket, revealing the pillow hidden underneath. He paused, then tossed the covers aside.

“Were you looking for me?” Emily asked, leaning casually against the bathroom door frame, a smug smile on her face. “I’ve been up for a while.”

Frank turned to face her, completely unruffled, his deep eyes locking onto hers. “Wash up and come to breakfast,” he said, his tone as calm as ever before turning to leave.

“...” Emily fumed silently, feeling like she had punched a cloud. Such a boring man, she thought, grinding her teeth in frustration.

She tied up her hair and went to wash.

When she went downstairs, Frank was sitting on the couch, reading a financial magazine. Normally, Aunt Louis would prepare breakfast, but Emily couldn’t see her anywhere. There was no one in the kitchen or dining room either.

Frank emerged from the kitchen, holding two plates of food.

“Where’s Aunt Louis?” Emily asked.

“She’s on leave.”

Emily eyed the sandwich on the white ceramic plate. It didn’t look like takeout. “Did you make breakfast?”

Frank nodded, placing the plates on the table before going back to the kitchen. Emily quickly followed, watching as he ladled out porridge. His long, slender fingers, with their defined knuckles, made him look even taller and more handsome as the steam from the pot rose around him.

A good-looking man who could cook was a rare gem.

As he finished serving the porridge, Emily eagerly took one of the bowls, and they both headed to the dining table.

The large, empty house echoed with only their footsteps as they walked. Emily took a bite of the sandwich, surprised by how delicious it was, crispy on the outside, with a rich, buttery flavor. She didn’t know if it was because she hadn’t eaten enough the night before or because she had low expectations, but it tasted far better than she’d imagined, even better than what she had at bakeries.

They had only been married for three months, and with their infrequent time together, Emily had never realized Frank could cook.

As she finished her sandwich, she glanced at Frank’s untouched plate, but her pride wouldn’t allow her to take his food. Instead, she sipped her porridge daintily, “How long is Aunt Louis on leave?”

“One day.”

Emily nodded and asked, “Do you have any work today?” If he didn’t, maybe he could cook more meals at home, given how delicious the sandwich was.

Frank set down his spoon, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and said, “Grandpa called last night. He wants us to spend the day with him.”

Emily remained silent for a moment, contemplating the complex dynamics of the Frank family. Compared to her own, Frank’s family situation was far more intricate. Mr. Frank, the former head of SY, was a decisive and formidable figure in the business world. He founded the SY Group and built it into the powerhouse it was today. Mr. Frank had three sons, and Frank was the eldest grandson. The reason the term "eldest grandson" was still used in this day and age was that Frank's father had fathered two illegitimate children outside the family.

It was said that Mr. Frank was not particularly satisfied with any of his three sons. Frank had been raised under his grandfather's wing and groomed as the successor from a young age. Half a year ago, Mr. Frank suffered a sudden stroke, and Frank took over SY directly, bypassing his father and two uncles. His uncles were furious, and it was in the midst of this family turmoil that Frank, under his grandfather’s arrangement, married Emily.

Mr. Frank had always treated Emily kindly, and if possible, she would be more than willing to spend time with him. However, other members of the Frank family often spoke to her with thinly veiled sarcasm.

Sensing her hesitation, Frank reassured her, “The others won’t be there. It’ll just be Grandpa.”

He then pushed the untouched sandwich toward Emily. Feigning concern, she asked, “Aren’t you going to eat?”

But her chopsticks were already poised over the sandwich, clearly not intending to give it back.

Frank noticed the sheen of oil on her lips and a flicker of amusement crossed his eyes. His voice softened, “You eat.”

He didn’t say he wasn’t hungry; he said," You eat.

It gave Emily the illusion that he would rather go hungry than let her go without her. She stared at his handsome face, thinking it was only fair to return the favor. After all, she was obligated to accompany him home and play the role of a loving wife, as per their agreement.

However, Frank, always acting like he was a few years older than her, insisted on managing everything, wearing that Stoic expression, and bossing her around at home. He wouldn’t even let her sleep in, messing up her sleep schedule to the point where she was now waking up at seven fifty every morning, a far cry from her usual late mornings.

Clearing her throat, Emily said, “Since Grandpa called, I, as a junior, can’t refuse. But in his eyes, we’re supposed to be a loving couple. In reality, we have no feelings for each other, and during the last two visits, I was the only one putting on a show. I couldn’t feel any affection from you, let alone fool Grandpa.”

Seeing the mischievous glint in her eyes, Frank knew she was up to something.

“What do you want to do?” he asked.

Emily corrected him, “It’s not what I want to do. It’s for the sake of a better performance. You need to cooperate with me and do as I say.”

Frank raised an eyebrow, “Oh? How do you want to act it out?”

Propping her chin with her hand, Emily said, “For instance, when I make this gesture, it means you should compliment my beauty. Let’s rehearse now. You can start complimenting me.”

“...”

Frank furrowed his brows, looking at her with an expression that was hard to describe.

Seeing his disdainful look, Emily felt a surge of anger in her chest, glaring at him indignantly.

“What’s with that look? I’m doing this to help you, and your expressions are really hurting my confidence. Luckily, I—”

She was about to say that she knew she was as beautiful as a flower and wouldn’t let his reaction shake her self-esteem, but before she could finish, Frank suddenly leaned in, his long fingers gently grasping her chin. He moved closer, their noses almost touching, and she found herself staring straight into his deep, dark eyes.

His warm breath brushed against her nose, and Emily could faintly hear the sound of her own heartbeat.

She had never been this close to a man before, and at that instant, she panicked. Her hands pressed against his shoulders, trying to push him away as she turned her head to avoid his gaze.

Frank chuckled softly, his eyes following her every move. His voice was low and magnetic, “Do you feel my affection now?”