After Hayden paid, he took the water from her. "When you take a shower tonight, make sure your finger doesn't touch water," Shelly said as she looked at his injured finger. "The wound is quite deep. Even when I peel shrimp and get pricked, I have never bled like you did. You scared your subordinates." "It doesn't actually hurt," Hayden said. "Although it's a small wound, it's still better to take care of it. After all, we're in unfamiliar territory. If your mom finds out, she'll definitely be worried." Shelly continued walking with him. "Your mom said you've never been in a relationship before. Have you never encountered a girl who made your heart flutter?" "I never thought about it before. Every day when I wake up, I'm faced with numerous challenges at work," Hayden revealed. "When I was very young, I set a goal for myself: to surpass my father's career." Shelly looked at his face, shocked. "When I was a child, I had a bad relationship with my father, so I was eager to sur

After touching the fabric, Hayden picked out a rainbow-colored shawl and placed it on Shelly's shoulder. Shelly was instantly stunned. "It looks great on you," he said. "Look in the mirror. Let's buy it if you like it." "This may look nice, but I don't think it suits Aunty Avery..." Shelly liked the shawl but felt that the one with the deeper color would suit Avery better. "You can keep this one, and we can get the one you first saw for my mom," he said before ordering the owner to bring over the other shawl. Both shawls were made from the same fabric. The only variance was the slight shift in colors and patterns. They were priced the same. Hayden went to pay and the staff member wrapped the shawls before handing them to Shelly respectfully. Shelly felt too guilty to keep shopping if Hayden was going to pay for everything, so she said, "Why don't we head back to the hotel?" "Let's go have something to drink!" Hayden did not feel like going back to the hotel. Although he

Shelly showered swiftly and got changed, before hurrying outside to find Hayden waiting in the hall. Spotting her, Hayden pushed the fruit platter toward her. "They serve us fruits here, too?" Shelly asked. Her cheeks were flushed from her hot shower. "There are snacks, too." "Fruits will be fine." Shelly took a bite of a piece of apple and glanced at Hayden's hand. She then set her fork down and grabbed his hand. "Your plaster is wet. Let me change it for you." She left the fruit platter behind and proceeded to drag Hayden out of the hammam. After Shelly and Hayden left, the women's area became lively with chatter. "Did you notice? Ms. Taylor had a scar on her abdomen." One female employee initiated the conversation. "What scar? I didn't see it. I only noticed her great figure." "I didn't see it either... Wasn't she covering herself with a towel? Her figure is indeed good, though. Her waist is so slim! I envy her!" "You guys aren't married and don't have children,

"What is a domineering CEO novel?" Hayden asked curiously. Seeing his genuine interest, Shelly explained to him, "It's a type of romance novel. In this genre, the male lead is usually a CEO, while the female lead is an average person. It's so that the average woman can identify with the female lead. Who wouldn't want a handsome and wealthy man to dote on them? When I was in middle school, many girls in my class read these novels, and I started reading them too. I mainly borrowed these books from my classmates." "Instead of waiting for someone else to dote on you, it's better to improve yourself and take control of the situation," Hayden said. Amused by his serious take on the matter, Shelly could not help but chuckle. "Actually, girls read these types of novels mainly to fulfill fantasies and pass the time. Once we graduate from university and start working, we rarely have time to read them anymore." About half an hour later, it got colder, and Shelly was worried that Hayden mi

Hayden mentioned building a family together in a really subtle way, but she liked that about him. "I think you're right," she agreed. If Hayden was confident of their compatibility, she would certainly place her confidence in it as well. Since he needed a wife and a mother for his children, she would be a good wife and a good mother. Even if it was not for Hayden's sake, Shelly would strive for a better life, work hard to find her own happiness, and be a good wife and mother to her children. However, by choosing to be with Hayden, she had even more reason to live a fulfilling life. Soon, Hayden's breathing became rhythmic and Shelly carefully climbed off him, feeling hesitant as to whether she should stay or go. She knew that Hayden would not be against her leaving, but it would be embarrassing if someone saw them. However, she quickly realized that the focus should not be on how others saw or thought of them, but on her own feelings; her feelings were simple and straightfor