Rainer's lips curved into a smirk, almost resembling a sneer. He wanted to laugh at himself.
He was really deluding himself.
He didn't need her attention at all. It's was completely unnecessary.
If she wanted to leave, the sooner the better, he thought.
His expression grew cold and unreadable as he asked, his voice flat. "What's important?"
Willow rose from her seat, but she didn't immediately answer Rainer's question. Instead, she looked at her husband's face and said softly, with a gentle smile. "It's late, let's eat first. You've been working nonstop; you must be starving."
Rainer opened his mouth to refuse the offer, but when his gaze met Willow's bright, hopeful eyes, he swallowed his words back down his throat.
He exhaled sharply, steeling himself by telling himself that this might be the last time he indulged her. "Alright."
He washed his hands quickly , and followed Willow to the dining table, his eyes widening in suprise as he took in the sight before him — an elegant spread dishes, Flickering candlelight casting soft shadows, wind glasses glimmering, and roses scattered artfully across the table.
Willow flashed him a bright smile, took out a lighter, and lit the candle enthusiastically. "So?" she asked, her voice cheerful. "How my candlelight dinner? Does it meet your standards?"
Rainer sat frozen for a moment, surprised by all the effort she had put in.
His lips formed a thin line, and in a stiff tone, he asked, "Why prepared a candlelit dinner?"
"It's romantic," She answered honestly, her eyes gleaming with sincerity. "We're married. Isn't it normal to add a little romance every now and then? Think of it as a spice in our relationship."
The soft glow of the candles danced across her face, making her look even more captivating, her smile radiating with the light of life and charm.
In the silence of the moment, he felt his heart racing, his pulse pounding wildly.
He clenched his fist, his emotions battling within him, then suddenly reached for the wine in front of him and downed it in one swift motion.
Willow blinked, momentarily stunned by his sudden action. "You haven't eaten yet; eat first," she said.
With a soft laugh, she carefully placed the food on his plate.
"I know you prefer lighter flavors, so I made a few dishes I think you'll enjoy. Let me know if they suit your taste." Her joy was evident as she watched him take his first bite with enthusiasm. "How does it taste?" she asked, her voice tinged with hope and excitement. Rainer glanced at her and muttered, "Not bad."
Willow's heart was filled with joy and happiness. For someone like Rainer, she felt that receiving such praise was already a blessing.
She watched him take a few more bites before finally speaking, her voice soft yet cautious. "Oh, by the way, I got some good news."
Rainer's fork froze in midair, then he slowly put it down, his chewing slowing as his attention shifted toward her.
Willow took a deep breath and continued, "I got a job. I passed the interview today, and I'll start working tomorrow. The salary is pretty high. I'm happy because finally I can help lighten some of your burden. So you won't have to carry everything on your shoulders alone."
For a moment, Rainer 's eyes fluttered; he couldn't believe it and was filled with surprise.
He couldn't fathom her innocence.
It never crossed Rainer's mind that the immense debt he had casually fabricated would weight so heavily in Willow.
What surprised him even more was how determined Willow seemed to face all of this with him. Was she really serious about it?
He fixed his gaze on her, who was sitting across from him, trying to see beyond her cheerful smile, searching for signs of doubt beneath her beautiful face.
Perhaps it was all just a facade.
How could there be a woman in this world who was so selfless, genuinely willing to help him without expecting anything in return?
In the soft glow of the dim candle light, Willow's face remained happy, unaware of the change in her expression.
She seemed thrilled to have secured a new job at Stars Vision company and was too excited to notice the inner conflict brewing within Rainer.
She reached for the red wine on the table, mimicking Rainer's earlier gesture, and downed it in on swift motion.
However, unlike Rainer who remained calm, she immediately started coughing, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment. Her face also turned a pale pink.
"Why is this wine so strong?" She stuck out her tongue, making a funny expression.
"You can't control your drink?" Rainer asked with a cold gaze, observing her discomfort.
Willow shrugged lightly, her laughter escaping. She took a deep breath and smiled shyly. "I'm not used to drinking alcohol, but tonight is different—we're celebrating, right?" she said.
With a mischievous smile on her face, she tried to pour herself another glass.
After a moment of silence, Rainer gently took the bottle from her slightly trembling hand, his voice calm and controlled. "Enough. If you can't handle it, you don't have to force yourself."
Willow blinked, surprised by Rainer's treatment of her. Usually, the man rarely showed concern, then quickly shook her head. "I'm not forcing myself. I'm just happy today, and for that, I just wanted to celebrate by drink."
Rainer glanced at her briefly, his gaze softening. For a moment, he was captivated.
Willow's face glowed, flushed from the warmth of the wine coursing through her body. Her eyes sparkled in the intoxicating haze of the wine.
Her lips looked full and tempting, reminding him of ripe strawberries. His imagination teased him, envisioning those soft lips promising the sweetness of a thousand unspoken desires.
He couldn't shake the thought that those lips would burst with juicy sweetness at the slightest touch.
His throat tightened, and he unconsciously licked his suddenly dry lips, his voice dropping to a low, almost hoarse tone. "There are many ways to celebrate. You don't have to drink."
His words weren't born of concern, but something more. An instinctive urge told him that if he drank again, tonight might take a turn he wasn't sure he was ready to face.
Willow shook her head firmly. Her laughter sounded soft but firm. "No way ! This wine is too expensive; we can't just waste it like that."
She pouted her lips slightly and formed a cute frown, ready to continue her words. Her eyes narrowed into half-circles like a crescent moon. She was already half-drunk.
Then she raised her slender fingertips and pointed at Rainer, wiggling her fingers slightly with a worried expression. "Hey, Rain, why are there two of you now..?"
Rainer didn't respond to Willow's words, but simply grabbed the glass in her hand and took it.
"My glass! Please, give it back!" Willow protested loudly, standing up and trying to snatch it back from his hand.
But as she tried to stand, her legs betrayed her, and she stumbled. Her body fell into Rainer's arms, who was completely taken aback by the sudden turn of events.
Instinctively, he tightened his hold on her body to keep her steady and firmly held her wrist.
Before he could say anything, he felt the soft pressure of Willow's hand on his thigh.
"Rainer, what's under your pants?" Her voice whispered in confusion, her eyes shifting downward as she tried to look at him.
Rainer's heart raced. A sense of unease spread through his body, his face hardening instantly.
What was happening?