The door creaked softly as Willow entered, her hands carrying a tray with breakfast for Rainer. Her eyes immediately fell on the messy pile of documents on her husband's desk.
Although she was aware of his relentless hard work since the night before, the sight of the overwhelming pile of work left her speechless, her brows furrowed in concern.
"Are you really buried under all this work?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of concern and disbelief.
Rainer placed his hands on his lap casually. His eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and challenge. He was curious to see how the woman would react. "Why, Willow? What did you expected? That I'd just sit here doing nothing?" Rainer said, gazing at her, the corners of his mouth turned up in a sly, hidden grin.
"No, of course not," Willow replied quickly, a blush coloring her cheeks. She hurriedly added, "I just can't imagine how it compares. That's all."
Considering that Riley had been using a wheelchair for years, she realized that him would be offended if she probed too deeply into his abilities. After a moment's thought, he chose to avoid the topic, hoping to avoid any potential discomfort.
With a reassuring smile, she walked over to the table. She stood beside it, gently placing the tray on the empty spot. On it was a plate of freshly baked cookies and a glass of warm milk still steaming from the stove.
"I baked some cookies for you. Please, have some," she offered, her voice soft and inviting. "I didn't know what your preferences were, so I chose a mild yet delightful flavor. If it doesn't suit your taste, let me know—I'd be happy to adjust the recipe."
Rainer looked up, his eyebrows slightly raised as he realized the effort she had put into making these cookies from scratch.
He reached for the top cookie and bit into it carefully.
Instantly, the rich aroma and creamy milk flavor enveloped his palate, the cake's texture striking with a perfect balance between crispness and melt-in-your- mouth softness.
Willow watched him carefuly, her expression one of hopeful, leaning in slightly, her voice full of enthusiasm as she asked. "What do you think? How does it taste?"
Rainer's eyes flickered with a trace of surprise so subtle it was almost imperceptible.
As she mentioned, Willow had added a touch of sweetness that happened to match her taste perfectly.
With a calm expression, he took a bite of the cake and commented sharply, "I don't like food that's too sweet."
Willow didn't argue, but instead quietly noted this preference in her memory.
It was clear that Rainer preferred milder flavors. "In that case, I'll make you a new one," she said, reaching out to take the plate with the cake on it.
"That's not necessary," he said, stopping Willow's hand with his own, then reached for the warm milk afterward, "This is enough for breakfast."
His voice remained flat as he continued, "You can go now. I have work to finish."
There was a moment of silence before she responded calmly, "Rain, I want to apologize for last night. I'm not angry about what you did to me. I realize we've only just met, and I'm still finding my footing. My actions last night meant nothing at all. And I certainly don't want you to misunderstood anything because of last night."
With every word she spoke carefully, grounded in her understanding, she locked her gaze on him .
"Since I've married you, I'm ready to accepted every part of you, both your strengths and your weaknesses. It's only natural that I support you in any way you need. I assure you, what happened last night won't happen again. Trust me." She assured him, her voice filled with sincerity.
Rainer absorbed her words in silence. His face showed no emotion.
After a moment, he asked, his voice tinged with doubt, "Are you serious?"
Willow nodded firmly, "Of course, I have committed to marrying you and I intend to fulfill all your needs as best as I can."
A smirked smile played on Nathan's lips. Did she know what she had done?
Was she offering to fulfill his needs?
Suppressing a small laugh, he took a deep breath, momentarily setting aside the implied meaning in every word— driven by curiosity and hope, he dared to take a step further. "There's a part of my past I haven't told you about. I was involved in a car accident when I was young, leaving me with a permanent disability. This scar made my family always ignore me. I've spent the past few years launching a business far from their shadow, striving for their recognition. Unfortunately, luck hasn't been on my side. My business ventures have mostly failed, leaving a pile of debt in their wake. If you feel the need to back out, I won't stop you."
Willow paused for a moment, taken aback. Then, after regained her composure, she asked, "How much debt are we talking about?"
Rainer, without hesitation and with a hint of mischievous in his tone, blurted out an astronomical figure. "What if I told you I'm buried under a mountain of debt totaling hundreds of millions of dollars?"
As he had anticipated, Willow's previously unshakable composure began to waver, little by little.
He steeled himself, certain that she would reject the harsh reality of such a massive burden. However, once again, Willow defied his expectations.
Her voice was firm and determined as she replied. "It's okay, we'll get through this together. I don't know how, but I'm sure we will."
Rainer felt a surged of emotion inside him, but he managed to keep a straight face. He let out a small laugh, showing his disbelief, and looked at her with a skeptical gaze. "And how exactly? How are we going to manage our finances, Willow? We're not just talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars here, but hundreds of millions of dollars."
Willow's eyes welled up as her mind raced through her financial history. She had spent most of her income on Felix, leaving her with little to show for it now.
However, she confidence returned as she considered her skills in design.
"Don't worry, I'm currently looking for a job," she said, her voice tinged with the optimism she had just found. "I've been sending out resumes over the past few days. I'm sure I'll hear good news soon."
She paused for a moment. Her expression was sincere. "No matter what happens, I won't let you face this alone."
Willow reached out her hand, instinctively touching Rainer's hand lying on the table, holding it to silently pledge their solidarity.