Chapter 33 My Wife
He thought to himself, “So she’s trying to grab my attention with this little stunt? Hoping I’ll be curious enough to call her back? Not a bad plan, huh?”
Meanwhile, Meryl was blissfully unaware that her phone had auto-dialed Dalton while she was busy shopping.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that her new husband, Chandler, had an almost ethereal quality about him, as if he belonged to another world entirely. To bring him down to earth a bit, she handed him the responsibility of pushing the shopping cart.
With deft hands, Meryl navigated the aisles of household goods while Chandler quietly followed her lead. To any casual observer, they looked like a perfectly harmonious couple.
Suddenly, Chandler’s phone buzzed, breaking the moment. He paused, glancing in the direction Meryl had gone, and answered the call.
On the other end, the noise was overwhelming. Dante’s booming voice cut through the chatter. “Chandler! Didn’t you say you were getting hitched today? The party’s all set up, where’s your bride?”
Chandler frowned, his gaze drifting back to Meryl, who was stretching on her tiptoes to reach a large bottle of laundry detergent from the top shelf. The shelf was too high, and she struggled a bit, her long hair sweeping gracefully through the air.
Holding the phone, Chandler replied quietly, “It’s too crowded. I don’t want to scare her off. We’re not coming.”
Dante chuckled. “Come on, we’re not monsters! You’re acting like you’re guarding a treasure. It’s a celebration, and the main event is missing!”
Chandler stayed silent, pushing the cart toward Meryl. With a swift motion, he reached up and easily grabbed the laundry detergent, placing it gently into the cart. Meryl turned around, her face lighting up with gratitude as she smiled at him.
Chandler just smirked, not saying a word, and continued on to the meat section. He picked out two steaks and tossed them into the cart.
Meanwhile, Dante’s voice blared through the phone again. “Chandler, are you even listening? Where are you? It sounds wild over there!”
Chandler shrugged, his tone casual. “Just out shopping with my wife. You guys have fun; put the bill on my tab.”
There was a long pause on the other end, followed by Dante’s incredulous laughter. “No way! You’re actually grocery shopping?”
Chandler, perhaps annoyed by Dante’s incessant chatter, simply hung up.
Meryl’s cheeks flushed when she heard him say “with my wife.” She thought, “Who was he talking to? A friend, maybe?”
“Want some soup?” Chandler asked, breaking her train of thought.
“Huh?” Meryl replied, momentarily confused.
“I heard it’s really good for women,” Chandler said, leaning casually against the cart as a store clerk placed a package of chicken inside.
Meryl frowned slightly. “But isn’t cooking chicken a bit of a hassle?”
Chandler’s gaze fell on her. His eyes lingered a moment too long on her delicate waist. His voice softened. “If it helps you gain a few pounds, it’s worth the trouble.”
Meryl felt her heart flutter at his words, but when she glanced down at her slim figure, her face turned crimson.
Chandler chuckled. “Let’s wrap this up and head home.”
His deep voice sent shivers down her spine. She thought, “But we’re married now… We’ll be sharing a bed eventually, right?”
After dinner, Chandler mysteriously led Meryl to the balcony. Their apartment was on the top floor, with a breathtaking view and a garden-like atmosphere filled with vibrant flowers.
As soon as Meryl stepped outside, fireworks erupted overhead, lighting up the night sky. She instinctively looked up, her eyes wide with wonder as the brilliant colors exploded above her, casting a magical glow all around.
She thought, “What a coincidence… did he plan this?”
At that moment, Chandler wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, pulling her close.