[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322F482CA-422":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},422,74,"Chapter 74: The Strawberry on the Spoon","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The office atmosphere was harmonious, and Charlotte Marshall was doing her best to mentor her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It had to be said: a powerhouse is a powerhouse for a reason. In a single day, Arianna Stone had mastered every step of the new product process, identified all the key partners, and digested the mountain of data from the department in charge of the launch.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna had done this kind of work before, but joining Charlotte’s team was nowhere near as complicated as she had feared. It gave her a massive boost of confidence.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">***\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell King lounged against the dining table, watching the young woman on the sofa. She was propping her chin on her hand, lost in thought.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She stared at her laptop for a few beats before her fingers began to fly. Slender, porcelain-pale fingertips danced across the keys, the crisp clatter filling the room. After a few minutes, she seemed to sense his gaze.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She turned, looking blank. \"Am I typing too loud? Am I distracting you?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Not at all.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell stood up and walked toward the living room. Just as he reached her side, the doorbell rang. It was late.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna stood up, curious. \"I'll get it.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell didn't stop her. He leaned back against the sofa, looking relaxed. \"Go ahead.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As she passed the entryway, Arianna caught a glimpse of the screen. A building staff member was waiting outside. Arianna pulled the door open. \"Yes? Is there something you need?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The staffer handed her a bouquet of roses and a box of cake.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna stared at them, confused. Were these surprise gifts?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"These are for you, ma'am,\" the staffer said. \"An order from Mr. King. It arrived a few minutes ago. Have a pleasant evening.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"…Thank you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The door clicked shut. When she returned to the living room, Maxwell was standing by the foyer, his hands shoved casually into his pockets. He stood tall, his eyes crinkling with a smile as he watched her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As she walked in, Maxwell took the cake from her hands and placed it on the coffee table. Arianna hugged the roses, following him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The scent of flowers filled the space. The rose petals were adorned with crystal-clear dew, looking impossibly fresh. She watched his movements, so fluid and natural, and it finally clicked.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Is this for me?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Of course,\" Maxwell replied, grinning.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The cake was inside a transparent box, tied with a beautiful ribbon. Fresh strawberries covered the cream, with little piped-flower accents. It looked silky and decadent.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"But… it's not my birthday.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell turned and walked toward her. He stopped just inches away, looking down at her with a gentle, coaxing tone. \"Who said you need a birthday to eat cake? If you want it, you can have it whenever you like.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It doesn't need to have a deeper meaning. As long as you’re happy.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna tilted her head. \"Then why the cake today?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"To celebrate my wife getting a promotion,\" Maxwell said, reaching out to ruffle her hair. He sounded genuinely regretful. \"I only managed to order the flowers and cake this time. Next time, Mrs. King, please give me two hours' notice.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna had already guessed his next move. \"And then?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"So I can prepare a full feast for you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">For every word she spoke, Maxwell met it with action. Every single time. The last time she secured her permanent position, and this time, her unexpected promotion. He seemed even more excited and invested in her success than she was.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">With him, Arianna felt a sense of security she had never known before.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Every word had a response; every concern was heard.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">***\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The strawberries, coated in cream, were a perfect balance of tart and sweet, bursting with juice and rich, milky flavor.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna tilted her head, delighted. \"This is delicious!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell smiled, digging a spoonful of cake from his own plate, ready to eat it.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Wait,\" Arianna interrupted him urgently.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She used a small pink serving knife to lift a strawberry, draped in a dollop of sweet cream, and placed it on his tray.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"You have to try this one. It's actually amazing!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her eyes were wide with anticipation and joy, fixed on him. She was tilted slightly, a brilliant, expectant smile on her face. Being this close, Maxwell could see the perfect arc of her long, curled lashes.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He suddenly wished this moment could last forever.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell blinked, pretending to be baffled. \"What?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna pointed at the strawberry, urging him. \"Eat it.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell was struck by how cute she looked. A low chuckle escaped his throat. He nodded, slowly picking up the strawberry and popping it into his mouth.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna rested her chin in her hands, watching him intently. \"Is it good? Isn't it just the best?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell smiled and nodded. \"It's good.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"It's really, really good.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna gave him an \"I told you so\" look, wearing a smug, satisfied grin before turning back to her own cake.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The roses had been trimmed and placed in a vase. The delicate petals shivered in the slight breeze, filling the air with a rich, intoxicating fragrance.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Arianna,\" Maxwell said, \"besides roses and sunflowers, what other flowers do you like?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">People's tastes changed. Maxwell’s knowledge of her preferences was frozen in their college days. He had no other way to gauge her current life, so he had to ask directly.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"I like all of them,\" Arianna said softly.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"And cake?\" Maxwell pressed, not letting her off the hook. \"Besides strawberry and chocolate, what other flavors do you like?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">For a moment, Arianna couldn't think of anything. \"Anything is fine. Strawberry and chocolate are great.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell let out a helpless, quiet laugh.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He understood now. Getting Arianna to express a preference was harder than climbing a mountain. She was so afraid of being a burden that she constantly stifled her own desires.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was only then that Maxwell truly realized: since their reunion and marriage, Arianna had never once made a single demand of him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She was always the easy-going one, the one who said, \"Whatever is fine.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">So, Maxwell played his trump card.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He pulled out his phone, glanced at it for show, and said offhandedly, \"I'm leaving the office early tomorrow. I’ll have time to cook.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Do you want me to make dinner, or should we just order takeout?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna paused.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">In all honesty, Maxwell’s cooking was excellent. But takeout was good, too. Still, his cooking suited her palate better. He knew exactly what she loved and what she hated. If there was a seasoning she disliked, he would swap it for something else without losing the essence of the dish. He looked after her needs perfectly.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna felt a bit shy. She felt bad about openly asking him to cook for her. She rehearsed what to say in her head a dozen times before deciding to give up and be subtle. \"I'm going to be very late tomorrow…\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">*Don't trouble yourself, just order takeout.*\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Before she could finish, Maxwell cut her off, his voice smooth and certain. \"Understood. I'll have dinner ready and be waiting at home for you.\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272908596]