Chapter 2

By the time I was done with my business, it was already ten at night.

When I reached the parking lot, Andrew was still waiting for me. As usual, he stepped forward and opened the car door for me.

We chatted casually on the drive home. The mood between us was warm and easy.

After we got home, Andrew went upstairs to take a shower.

When he came back down, I had Mary bring out the ten pounds of steak I had prepared.

The cooked steaks had been neatly arranged on several large serving platters, filling the long dining table.

Under Andrew's puzzled gaze, I gave him a sweet smile. "Honey, cut it up for me."

Andrew looked at me, surprised. "Didn't you eat enough at dinner? You really didn't have to buy this much. There's no way you can finish all of it."

He was about to call Mary to come clean everything up, but I stopped him. "I want you to cut it up for me."

Andrew paused, then frowned a little. "Charlotte, what is this for?"

I smiled pleasantly. "What? You seemed pretty comfortable cutting steak for your new assistant at dinner tonight."

Andrew froze for a second before breaking into an amused laugh. "So that's what this is about. You're jealous?"

He sat down beside me and slipped an arm around my shoulders. "I never thought I'd see you get jealous. I always thought you were too composed to care about things like this."

He leaned over and kissed my forehead. "She's only a new intern, so she doesn't always know what's appropriate to say or do.

"I only looked after her because she's young and new to the workplace. If it bothered you, I promise I won't do it again."

I looked up at his handsome face that was so close to mine.

We had been married for three years, and he was already 30. Yet time had barely left a mark on him. If anything, the years had only given him a more mature, refined charm.

I reached up and gently touched his cheek. "Andrew, do you know why I picked you the moment I saw you out of all the men our families had considered for me?"

Andrew tilted his head slightly.

I smiled softly. "Because you kept your boundaries.

"Your parents told me you were a clean freak. You didn't like unnecessary physical contact with people you weren't close to, and you didn't like anyone crossing your boundaries.

"Funny enough, I'm exactly the same."

I held his gaze. "Our marriage was built on the interests of the Newman and the Lane families. We've gotten along well over the past three years, and I want to keep our marriage clean and uncomplicated.

"Whether it's you and me or our two families, I want everything to go smoothly. Don't disappoint me."

I got to my feet, leaned down, and kissed him on the lips. Then I raised an eyebrow. "Remember to cut up all that steak for me.

"This is your punishment for slipping up with your boundaries for the first time. Be a good boy."

I had no idea what time Andrew went to bed. I put on a face mask and turned in early.

When I woke up the next morning, several large serving bowls were filled with neatly cut pieces of steak.

Andrew had already left for work because of an emergency meeting at the office.

Mary stood quietly to one side.

I smiled at her. "Mary, you've got quite a few people at home, don't you? Take these home with you. Mr. Lane cut them up himself. Don't be shy."

After that, life between Andrew and me went on as usual.

It was as if that unpleasant little incident had been nothing more than a harmless bit of seasoning in our marriage.

In fact, Andrew treated me even better than before.

I had no interest in keeping tabs on every woman he spoke to. As the heir to Newman Group, I had plenty on my plate.

But a month later, on the way to pick me up for a family dinner, Emily's face appeared in the passenger seat, and she wore a faintly smug smile as Andrew lowered the car window. I frowned.