Chapter 132

Rita stood there for a moment, puzzled. She wondered if Suzanne and Austin had a fight.

Upstairs, Suzanne stepped into the bathroom for a hot shower. When she came out, Austin was still in his study. She frowned slightly. Was he dealing with work problems? She ran a towel through her damp hair and then made her way downstairs. A few minutes later, she returned, carrying a plate of fresh fruit. Stopping in front of the study, she knocked.

Austin’s voice, low and cold, came from inside: “Come in.”

Suzanne pushed the door open and saw him seated at his desk, working intently. She walked over, set the plate in front of him, and asked softly, “Why don’t you take a break and have some fruit?” She thought about what a wife was supposed to do when her husband was stressed. Showing some care like this should be fine, right?

Austin’s pen paused for a brief second. His voice, calm but distant, hummed. Seeing that he was still immersed in his work, Suzanne smiled lightly. “Alright, I won’t disturb you. Keep working.”

Without saying anything more, she turned and left, gently closing the door behind her. Austin stared at the closed door for a long moment before his gaze shifted to the plate of fruit. A few seconds later, he stood up and walked out of the study.

In the bedroom, Suzanne had just pulled up her floral-print blanket and settled against the pillows, scrolling through her phone. Just then, the door creaked open. She glanced up instinctively and saw Austin striding toward her.

She straightened her posture and looked at him, puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

Austin stopped in front of the bed, his deep eyes locking on hers. “Go to sleep,” he said, his voice low and unreadable. Then, he turned around, inhaled deeply, and seemed to wrestle with something inside him. Without another word, he walked into the closet, grabbed his sleepwear, and disappeared into the bathroom.

Suzanne blinked at the closed door, momentarily stunned. What the hell? He was acting way too strange tonight. Clearly, something was bothering him, but instead of talking about it, he was keeping it all bottled up. She sighed and picked up her phone again, muttering, “Such a damn brick wall.”

Before long, the bathroom door opened, and Austin emerged. He headed straight for the bed. He lifted the covers and slid in beside her.

Suzanne turned her head to look at him, her curiosity growing. “Did something happen to you tonight?” She figured it was time for a conversation. They were married, after all. If something was wrong, it was better to talk about it. She expected him to brush it off or refuse to say anything. But, to her surprise, he actually answered, “Yeah.”

Now she was even more intrigued. Just as she was about to ask what it was, Austin suddenly reached over and wrapped an arm around her waist. Before she could react, he pulled her into his chest. She barely had time to steady herself before she felt the heat of his breath against her ear. Then, his lips brushed against her earlobe.

Suzanne’s entire body stiffened. Her instincts kicked in, and she tried to pull away. Pressing a hand against his chest, she stammered, “Y–You… Let go.” But as soon as she spoke, she realized her breathing was uneven. Austin’s grip only tightened around her waist, keeping her locked in place. Her heart pounded wildly. What was wrong with him tonight?

His breaths were heavier now, his voice low and husky against her ear. “You weren’t being good today.”

Suzanne froze. Wait. Was he mad at her? But they hadn’t even spoken all day, let alone argued. She frowned slightly, her voice soft in protest. “I didn’t—minph—”

Before she could finish, Austin’s lips returned to her earlobe, teasing her deliberately.