Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Chapter 185: Chapter 185: What to Do When My Husband Is Too Clingy

"If you tear that wound open again, you might be heading straight to the hospital."

Alaric Blackwood gave a very calm nod, while Sophie Shaw, on the other hand, was rather worked up.

As soon as Dr. Cole left, she put her hands on her hips, her cheeks puffed out in anger. "Did you hear that clearly? No more strenuous activity."

Looking at her pouting face, Alaric Blackwood rose from the sofa, leaned down slightly, and planted a kiss on her lips.

Sophie Shaw froze for a moment before she came to her senses and quickly took half a step back.

"The doctor just said..."

"Kissing doesn’t count as strenuous activity."

"..."

’How am I supposed to handle this disobedient man?’

During breakfast, Sophie Shaw mulled it over and finally broke the silence, saying to Quentin Blackwood and Mandy Halloway, "Mom, Dad, I’m going back to Maplewood Estate tonight."

"Then I’ll..."

Alaric Blackwood had just started to speak when she forcefully cut him off. "You’re not."

"?"

"You’re staying here until your wound is healed. You’re not allowed back otherwise."

"But..."

"That’s final."

Alaric Blackwood, "..."

After finishing her breakfast, Sophie Shaw grabbed her coat and bag and left.

Alaric Blackwood sat alone at the dining table, his breakfast mostly untouched, still sulking.

After seeing Quentin Blackwood off, Mandy Halloway came back to find her son sitting in the dining room with a frown, a bowl of nourishing porridge not even half-finished. She walked over with a wide grin. "Got abandoned by your wife, huh?"

"Mom, please don’t rub it in right now."

"Should I say you deserve it, or that you *really* deserve it?"

"I’m going back to Maplewood Estate tonight."

"Your wife said you can’t."

"Just because she said I can’t, I won’t? Am I that obedient?"

"If you get locked out, don’t say I didn’t warn you."

"Locked out?"

Alaric Blackwood scoffed. "How could my wife possibly lock me out?"

’As if she would dare!’

He refused to believe it and decided he would head back to Maplewood Estate shortly.

However, Sophie Shaw had anticipated his move.

After getting off work that evening, Sophie Shaw drove straight back to the Blackwood family’s old residence.

Mandy Halloway was surprised to see her.

"Sophie, what are you doing back here?"

"Alaric Blackwood definitely went back to Maplewood Estate, didn’t he?"

Mandy Halloway gasped in admiration. "Wow. How did you know?"

"Just a guess."

Sophie Shaw took off her coat and casually hung it on the coat rack.

Watching her perfectly composed manner, Mandy Halloway greeted Quentin Blackwood, who had just walked in, and whispered, "Finally, someone can handle our son."

"Who?"

Mandy Halloway shot him a look. "Who else? His wife!"

It finally dawned on Quentin Blackwood, and he let out a hearty laugh. "Good, good! It’s good that someone can handle him."

That night, Sophie Shaw received a WeChat message from Lawson, learning that Alaric Blackwood had finished dinner, obediently taken his medicine, and then gone back to his room to wait for her.

She gleefully took a shower and lay down on the soft, large bed.

As she drifted off to sleep, she vaguely felt someone lie down beside her. Exhausted from a long day at work, she thought she was hallucinating or perhaps dreaming.

It wasn’t until she opened her eyes the next day that she saw Alaric Blackwood sleeping next to her...

The man was lying on his side with one arm draped over her waist, sound asleep.

She clapped a hand over her mouth in astonishment. The person who was supposed to be at Maplewood Estate was here. She almost cried out.

’Did this guy really not find me last night and drive all the way back in the middle of the night?’

’He’s just too clingy!’

She lifted a corner of the blanket and crept out of bed, trying not to wake her "clingy" husband, but the slight movement still stirred Alaric Blackwood.

Seeing her get up, the man unhurriedly got up as well.

She went into the bathroom to wash up; he followed her in.

She changed her clothes; he changed his clothes beside her, then followed her downstairs.

He trailed behind her the entire time like a little shadow.

After breakfast, she grabbed her car keys to leave, and Alaric Blackwood followed her again.

She couldn’t take it anymore. "Mr. Blackwood, what exactly are you trying to do?"

"Accompanying my wife to work."

"Isn’t it better for you to rest at home?"

"Then tell me, are you staying here tonight or going back to Maplewood Estate?"

She thought for a moment, trying to fool Alaric Blackwood. "I’ll go back to Maplewood Estate."

"Trying to trick me again?"

"..."

"The same trick doesn’t work twice."

"Fine, I’ll go back to Maplewood Estate tonight. I definitely will. Now stop following me."

"You’re not lying?"

"Mhm, I’m not lying."

"Alright, I’ll trust you this once."

Alaric Blackwood took her coat from the rack, helped her put it on, straightened the collar, and placed a kiss on her forehead.

Then he walked her out and watched from the steps as she got in her car and drove away.

As the car smoothly exited the courtyard gate, Sophie Shaw silently breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn’t help but call Anne.

Anne was out shopping at that moment, having just parked her car in the underground garage of a large mall. She was surprised to get a call from Sophie Shaw so early.

"Morning."

"Anne, are you free tonight?"

"Once I’ve made dinner for my meal ticket, I should be pretty much free."

"Wanna meet up?"

Anne chuckled. "Let’s."

The two discussed where to relax that evening. Anne said, "Why don’t you just come over to Nina’s place after work? I’ll cook up a big meal tonight."

"Okay."

...

After a busy day, Sophie Shaw got off work and drove straight to The Metropolis.

She didn’t forget to send Alaric Blackwood a WeChat message: [Not coming home for dinner tonight.]

Alaric Blackwood replied instantly: [A work dinner?]

She didn’t reply.

When she arrived at Nina Halloway’s place, she took off her coat, slipped on a pair of guest slippers, and said hello to Nina Halloway, who was curled up on the sofa eating fruit. Seeing Anne busy in the kitchen, she rolled up her sleeves and went to help.

Seeing her, Anne asked with a smile, "Did you report your whereabouts to your Mr. Blackwood?"

Sophie Shaw narrowed her eyes. "Why would I have to report to him? I’m a free woman."

"So, did you?"

"...I did."

Anne burst out laughing. "Sophie Shaw, I had no idea you were so henpecked!"

"Nonsense, I am not."

’If anything, *I’m* the one managing Alaric Blackwood. There’s no way I’d let that man manage me.’

"I’m staying with you tonight."

Anne stopped laughing and raised an eyebrow. "You’re staying out. Does your Mr. Blackwood know?"

"He doesn’t."

"No need to report it?"

"Not necessary."

"Why do I get the feeling you’re hiding from him?"

Sophie Shaw murmured as she helped prep the vegetables, "Is it that obvious?"

"How long have you been married that you’re already hiding from your husband? What, did you two have a fight?"

"No."

"Then what are you hiding from?"

"He’s too..."

"Too what?"

"Too clingy."

Anne let out a long "Ooh," her voice rising. "Do tell. How clingy is he? I’d love to hear."

Sophie Shaw nudged her gently with her elbow. "Don’t be so gossipy."

"I’ve been shipping you two since the very beginning! You have to spill some sweet details for me every now and then."

Sophie Shaw bit her lip, leaned close to Anne’s ear, and recounted last night’s events in a voice only they could hear. Anne burst out with a PFFT.

"Your Mr. Blackwood is really something else! Driving halfway across the city in the middle of the night just to crawl into your bed."

"I’m just worried he won’t behave and will tear his wound open again, so I’m keeping my distance." Sophie Shaw sounded slightly distressed. "I’m starting to suspect he genuinely has skin hunger."

’His clinginess is a bit much.’

The two of them were talking in low voices, completely oblivious to Nina Halloway, who had appeared behind them at some point and was perking up her ears like antennae, eavesdropping on their gossip.