Scott seemed a bit startled, then he wrapped his arms around her gently. Brianna relaxed in his embrace. She felt safe, with her head resting on his chest, and she loved the pleasant scent he had.
To her own surprise, she asked, "Scott, do you think you will ever fall in love with me?"
Scott lifted Brianna's chin up with his long slim fingers, looked at her into her eyes, and chuckled. "You wish. Ha-ha."
Brianna felt a sharp and sudden pain in her heart, but she recomposed herself quickly and chuckled with him. "I was just joking."
"Don't forget that I purchased you. You are just a replacement. Don't start any ridiculous fantasy."
Brianna nodded. She bit her lips slightly and said, "I won't forget. Don't worry. I won't fall in love with you, nor would I have any unrealistic thoughts about us."
"Right." Scott released her, turned around, and left.
Brianna sat back in the bath, closed her eyes, and tears ran down her cheeks. Just then, Scott suddenly turned around as he closed the door behind and caught sight of her tearful face.
"Don't give me that." He said plainly.
Startled, Brianna wiped the tears off her cheeks and tried to explain, but Scott walked off without listening to her.
***
In the following days, Brianna was allowed to stay home and not go to work. She had a lie in in the morning, and when she got up to get breakfast, she noticed that Alex, the house steward, had been watching her quietly, and he seemed to want to speak to her.
Brianna said with a smile, "Alex, what is it?"
Alex hesitated for a bit, then he said, "Mrs. Brianna Anderson, you know people might say that Mr. Scott Anderson is cold and distant, even merciless, but it's not true. You can see how he cares for Mr. Jacob Morgan, Miss Lucia Hayes, and Miss Sol Keaton."
Brianna knitted her brows. "Can you be a bit more direct, please, Alex? I'm not sure what you are trying to tell me."
"I will explain. Mr. Scott Anderson has been through a lot growing up. He had been attacked and injured many times, even kidnapped since he was little. People even tried to assassinate him. That's why he is very cautious and distant. To gain his trust isn't easy at all." Alex went on.
Brianna listened patiently, still wondering what message was Alex trying to convey.
"Knowing that you want to come home and Miss Lucia Hayes is not happy with you being with Mr. Scott Anderson, despite how persistent Miss Lucia Hayes was, Mr. Scott Anderson insisted on taking her back to campus. You should know how much she means to Mr. Scott Anderson."
Brianna did understand that Scott had shown her respect as his wife. She nodded with a grateful smile. "Thanks for letting me know, Alex. I want to make Scott happy, and your suggestions are always welcome."
"You don't need my suggestions, Mrs. Brianna Anderson. As long as you care and love with your heart, he will feel it."
Brianna nodded. "True."
After breakfast, Brianna went to the garden and read the books from Chris till about ten o'clock, then she started preparing lunch for Scott. It was Thai Green curry with shrimps and rice. Gently she put it in a lunch box, and before she handed it to the driver to deliver to Scott, she took a selfie with the food and sent it to Scott.
"Honey, here's your yummy lunch, including me." She added a cheeky wink.
At twelve o'clock, Brianna received a reply. "Get well soon, and I will eat you up."
Brianna blushed at the message.
When Brianna was fully recovered, she went back to work and to their old routine. Every morning, she would have breakfast with Scott, then they went to the company together. She would make him lunch and give him a massage in the afternoon when requested. When they finished work, they would go home together, and Brianna would cook dinner for him.
Brianna quite enjoyed the mundaneness and peace of their life together. She thought about how her parents used to spend time together and wondered if she herself could be happy just like her parents once were.
Just as she was having these beautiful thoughts, Scott had a phone call from Lucia. It was Lucia's birthday the coming Wednesday, and her classmates were throwing a party for her. She invited Scott. She pleaded a few times, and eventually, Scott agreed.
Brianna pouted her lips and looked at him in silence.
Scott put his phone away, pinched Brianna's cheeks gently, and said, "Look how jealous you are! You are her sister-in-law, after all. Can't you be a bit more mature?"
Sister-in-law? Huh. I like that. Brianna thought and felt better.
"Do you think she just wants to be your little sister, though?" Brianna asked.
"Didn't you hear what I said just then?"
"Yes," Brianna muttered. "But I just don't feel good about it, thinking you two are together."
"Shall I take you with me to the party then?"
Brianna's face lit up, and she hugged him with excitement. "Yes, please!"
Scott tapped a finger on his lips, and Brianna gave him a brief kiss. Scott frowned. So she kissed him again and this time with much passion and desire.
Scott was pleased.
"Scott, shall we have something spicy for dinner tonight?" Brianna asked, missing spicy food.
"Huh? No." Scott said sternly.
"Or I will make something not spicy for you and something spicy for myself?" Brianna pleaded.
Scott put one hand around the back of Brianna's neck and pulled her right up to him, "No. You cook what I like, and you eat what I like."
Brianna pouted her lips and nodded. "Yes, sir." She gave him a salute cheekily. Bossy! Brianna thought.
"Good." Scott released her and went upstairs to his room.
In the past three months living with Scott, Brianna had to change her diet to synchronize with Scott, which didn't bother her much, but now and then, she misses the spicy flavor.
She heaved a sigh and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.