Breaking Free, Loving Again -The Flash Marriage with Mr. CEO

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Ryan woke up to the clanking voice. His brows jutted, and he stepped out with a frown between his brows.

Walking out of his bedroom, he stepped into the living room, looking around for the intruder. But nothing around came into his vision.

However, soon he heard an apologetic tone from behind.

"I am sorry, sir. Did I disturb your sleep?"

He turned to look around, finding Zenith —neat and ready, standing behind the kitchen counter. Only after seeing her there did he remember that last night he had brought her to stay overnight.

Leaving her alone didn't feel right, so he offered. She had tried to refuse, but after knowing that her friend wasn't in the town, she had no good reason to refuse.

"What are you doing this early in the morning in the kitchen?" he asked, blinking away the sleep. His hands were tucked inside his pockets, and even without a formal suit, he was looking charming.

Zenith, for a moment, was in a daze. But she didn't stay in it forever. Quickly recovering, she said, "I woke up early and since I had nothing to do, I thought to prepare breakfast. We would be leaving for the office soon."

Although she put it like that, she actually did it to pay back. She could refuse his help, so it was only better if she did something that could be seen as a help. A simple breakfast was sufficient, she knew, but she didn't know what else she could do.

Ryan's eyes shifted to look at the table to see the dishes that were served ready. He frowned. "You didn't have to do it. Someone has been arranged to do this. They would have arrived in a while."

"Sorry, sir," she apologized. "I didn't know. I thought to — If you don't like it, I will put them away." Being a trouble was the last thing she wanted. She turned to already walk toward the dining table to put away the food when Ryan halted her.

"Leave it, Zenith," he said, his voice laced with quiet displeasure. "I didn't say I didn't like it. I said you didn't have to do it. It would have been a trouble to wake up early and do this when you later have the whole day to work at the office."

"It's fine, sir,' she quickly said, "I don't mind, and it wasn't a trouble. I just wanted to help."

Ryan could tell. "Fine, thank you for doing this, then. I will go freshen up. We can have it together later." She nodded, and he turned to walk back.

However, taking a few steps, he paused and turned back to look at her. "Zenith," he called his name with little hesitation, continuing, "Last night when I offered you the help, I didn't want you make you feel awkward or uncomfortable. You are my employee, my secretary. And as your boss, I had a few obligations for you. You don't have to repay it or feel burdened under it."

Saying that, he walked away.

Zenith watched him and had mixed feelings. The feelings that she wanted to ignore and had always ignored threatened to resurface. But she shook the thoughts off and patted her cheeks, deflecting herself.

She picked the set of spoons that she had mistakenly dropped earlier before leaving the kitchen.

After a while, Ryan stepped out of his room again. This time ready for the work. Glancing at Zenith, he said, "Let's have breakfast." He, then, motioned her towards the table.

Once they said, he eyed the dishes again and smiled, "You know quite many dishes to cook."

Zenith blushed. "My brother can't eat outside. I have to cook for him." She waited for him to scoop the dishes and taste, rubbing her fingers out in nervousness.

"It's good," he complimented, and she smiled before picking up her spoon.

As they had breakfast, they talked about the work with Zenith, briefing him on a few things.

Once they were done, Ryan rose to take the dishes to the kitchen. Zenith wanted to, but he refrained her saying that she wasn't there for this.

"We will leave for the company together," he said when he came out of the kitchen. "You get your bag while I have a file to take from the study. I will be back soon."

She nodded and moved to the guest room to grab her bag, while Ryan went to his study. He walked to his desk to pull out the drawer to take out the file he needed. Since he had always been an organized person, finding the file he had kept just a few days back wasn't difficult.

He pulled it out to check and closed the drawer again. But just when he was about to leave, he stopped.

Turning to the desk, he pulled the next drawer only to find it empty. He frowned, checking the next one, but except for the files, there was nothing in it.

His expression changed, and panic flashed in his gaze. Keeping the file, he was holding in his hand aside, he checked the next one, but it was also full of random stationery.

"I had kept it here. Where did it go?" he muttered to himself before going to check on the desk and then moving to the shelves.

————

On the other hand, after removing Aiden's shirt, Arwen was giving him a sponge bath. Her movements were gentle, and she was being very careful. She had checked the water —it was perfect lukewarm —neither too cold nor too hot.

She was almost done when her thoughts wandered back to the last night —back to the question she asked him before he fainted.

Should she ask him again?

Will he answer?

She wasn't sure. But she wanted to give it a try, so deciding on it, she looked up at him and asked, "You hadn't answered my question last night. You fainted right after I asked. Will you answer it now?"

Aiden stared at him, looking like he couldn't remember. Hence, she repeated it for him.

"I have asked you if you have had any nicknames before?"