Free Web NovelChapter 209: Chapter 212: Pursuing a Wish
The word "hubby" was far too intimate. Just hearing it spoken so casually from Felix Preston’s lips made Charlotte Shaw’s face flush and her heart pound with bashfulness.
"Hey..." She raised her hands and pressed them against Felix Preston’s chest, trying to squirm out of his embrace.
Felix Preston gazed at her, silently tightening his arms and pulling her in closer.
"What are you dodging, Charlotte? Aren’t you going to answer my question directly?"
"I... How am I supposed to answer that?" Charlotte Shaw mumbled, burying her face. Her cheeks felt as hot as a furnace.
Felix Preston raised an eyebrow, his scorching gaze stubbornly fixed on Charlotte Shaw’s face. "Just say what’s on your mind. No avoiding it, and no lying."
"I..." Charlotte Shaw tapped her forehead. As she glanced up, she accidentally met Felix Preston’s gaze, and the profound emotion swirling in their dark depths immediately sent her heart into a frantic rhythm.
"Ah!" She buried her head in Felix Preston’s chest, shutting her eyes tightly. "I... I’m too embarrassed."
"Embarrassed about what?" Felix Preston lowered his head, gently nuzzling the top of Charlotte Shaw’s head with his chin.
Charlotte Shaw’s voice was muffled as she said, "I’m too embarrassed to call you that... I’m shy!"
Felix Preston said, "I was shy the first time I called you ’wifey,’ too. But the urge was just too strong to resist, so I gathered my courage and took that step."
"Charlotte, there’s a first time for everything. Once you get over this hurdle, it won’t be so embarrassing to say it again."
"Come on." He raised a hand, gently tilting Charlotte Shaw’s chin up to make her look at him. "Let me hear you say ’hubby.’ Once you’ve said it the first time, the second will be much easier."
"Hmph..." Charlotte Shaw pouted bashfully. Her lips felt as if they were glued shut; she couldn’t open them no matter how hard she tried.
Felix Preston flicked his wrist, tilting her chin up a little more before lowering his head to capture her lips.
He had just brushed his teeth, so when he suddenly kissed her, all Charlotte Shaw could smell was the crisp fragrance of white peach.
The light, sweet scent seeped in between their lips, tempting Charlotte Shaw so much that she couldn’t help but swallow.
’He tastes so sweet...’ she thought. And as the thought lingered, she subconsciously parted her lips and greedily darted her tongue out to lick Felix Preston’s soft, tender lips.
Felix Preston froze abruptly, the tips of his ears flushing red.
"You taste so sweet," Charlotte Shaw said shamelessly, gazing at him with wide, dazed eyes.
Felix Preston had originally held the upper hand, but after being teased like this by Charlotte Shaw, his composure instantly wavered.
"You..." He licked his moist lips, his voice turning hoarse.
Seeing him look so adorably wronged and shy, Charlotte Shaw’s mood instantly lifted. She even felt that the word "hubby" wasn’t so impossible to say after all.
She stood on her tiptoes, tilted her head up to get close to Felix Preston’s ear, and intimately whispered the word she’d been holding back:
"Hubby..."
The moment she said it, however, she couldn’t handle it. Covering her face, she turned and bolted.
"..."
His arms were suddenly empty. Felix Preston stood stunned for several seconds before he slowly processed what Charlotte Shaw had just said.
"Charlotte..." he called out in a daze, the corners of his mouth curling up uncontrollably.
"What!" Charlotte Shaw answered with a huff from under the covers.
He came out of the bathroom, lifted the covers to slip into bed, and pulled the curled-up Charlotte Shaw into his arms.
"Say it again," he said, pushing his luck. He coaxed her, "Say ’hubby’ one more time, and hubby will dance with you."
"...Really?" Charlotte Shaw parted her fingers, peeking out at him with just one eye.
He blinked and said earnestly, "Really. You say it one more time, and I’ll dance with you."
"..." Charlotte Shaw’s bright, dark eyes darted about slyly. After a moment of hesitation, she mumbled it again.
"...Hubby!"
"Here." Felix Preston replied cheerfully, completely satisfied.
"Agh, I’m dying of embarrassment!" Charlotte Shaw covered her face and playfully bumped her head against Felix Preston’s chest.
Felix Preston pulled her up, cupping her face as if she were a precious treasure and peppering her cheeks with one kiss after another.
"My Charlotte is so good..."
"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—"
The sudden knock on the door caught them completely off guard. The two, who had been lost in their playful frolicking, froze simultaneously. Then, as quickly as possible, they straightened themselves out and lay down perfectly still.
"KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK—"
"Charlotte?"
Mrs. Preston’s voice sounded from outside the door.
"..." Charlotte Shaw lay perfectly still with her eyes squeezed shut, pretending to be asleep.
Felix Preston stifled a laugh, then called out softly, "Mom, come in."
Mrs. Preston turned the doorknob and walked in.
"Oh, is Charlotte asleep?" Seeing Charlotte Shaw lying ramrod straight with her eyes closed, she immediately lowered her voice, afraid of waking her.
"...Mmm." Felix Preston nodded emphatically. "She didn’t get enough sleep. She was just lying here for a bit and dozed off again."
"Oh." Mrs. Preston didn’t suspect a thing.
"Come on." She waved Felix Preston over. "Today’s the grand opening for your new studio. You need to head over early, you can’t be late."
"I know." Felix Preston lifted the covers and sat on the edge of the bed. "Go wait for me downstairs, Mom. I’ll be down as soon as I change."
"Alright." Mrs. Preston tiptoed out, closing the door behind her.
"CLICK."
The soft click of the lock was clearly audible to Charlotte Shaw. Her eyes snapped open, and she let out a long sigh of relief.
"That was close..."
Felix Preston smiled at her. He raised his right hand and pushed up the sweater sleeve on his left arm, revealing a watch on his lean wrist.
"Charlotte, look." He held his wrist out for Charlotte Shaw to see, shaking it smugly.
Charlotte Shaw took his hand, gently stroking the watch on his wrist. "You finally decided to wear it?"
"Mhm!" he said with a hint of pride. "The watch you gave me is too precious. I’ve always wanted to wear it, but I could never find the perfect occasion. Now that the new studio is officially opening, I can finally wear it out with confidence."
"You can... Wait. You still haven’t told me the name of your new studio," Charlotte Shaw suddenly realized.
Felix Preston pinched her cheek. "I was just about to tell you."
She hurriedly scrambled up and sat cross-legged next to Felix Preston. "Well, tell me!"
Felix Preston said, "Volition Tech."
"Volition..." Charlotte Shaw mulled over the name. "To pursue one’s will, to start anew... I like it!"
Felix Preston said, "It has another meaning, too."
"...What?" Charlotte Shaw hadn’t caught on yet.
Felix Preston booped her nose. "Volition... as in, pursuing Charlotte."
"So you can forge ahead without a single worry, Charlotte. Felix Preston will always be right behind you, cheering you on and sheltering you from the storm."
