Natalie went to the hospital, filled out the registration form, and went straight to get a physical examination. She planned to try the medicines the next week.
Delicious smell of food wafted in the air as soon as Sebastian entered the house.
“Why did you come back early today?”
Natalie cast a sidelong glance at him and continued to toss the spaghetti in the pan.
The apron accentuated her alluring figure.
One could grasp her slender waist with one hand.
Her curvy bum bobbed as she moved around.
The bowtie on her back seemed to tease Sebastian — as if hinting at him to open it and peek at the tempting gift inside.
Sebastian’s eyes darkened as he felt hot in his throat.
He unbuttoned his collar and went to the fridge to get a bottle of water.
“I was off duty earlier today,” he said after gulping down the water He looked at her floral apron and tugged at the hem.
“Is this an apron? It’s pink.It can’t even cover your thighs.”
It was more like a sexy lingerie.
“Stop pulling my apron.I got it at a discount.Pink is a beautiful color, is it not? Take the spaghetti to the table.I’ll make some salad.”
Natalie glared at him and continued to cut the vegetables without uttering a word Sebastian grinned and put the spaghetti bowl on the dining table.
Several design sketches were scattered on the table.
Just as Sebastian sorted the papers and was about to keep them aside, a piece of paper fell from his hands.
I was the physical examination report Sebastian looked at it and felt something was wrong. He couldn’t understand why there was a nicotine test.
Natalie put the salad on the table and realized that Sebastian didn’t seem to be interested in the food tonight “You don’t like the food?”
“No, I was thinking about something.”
The fork in Sebastian’s hand sulled, he turned lo look at her met his piercing gaze.
“What’s it?’ she asked.
“Have you volunteer to do drug trials?” he asked coldly.
Natalie’s hand trembled, and her fork fell.She didn’t know why she was flustered, but she tried to remain calm.
“Yes.The hospital conducts regular trials like these.Moreover, the trial is legal.Don’t look at me as if I have done something horrific.”
Sebastian put down his fork, pursed his lips, and looked at her.
“Don’t go.Don’t you know that the drug trial could cause serious side effects?”
The expression on Sebastian’s face frightened Natalie.Her heart leaped to her throat.
She took a piece of tissue and wiped her lips, pretending to be calm.
“Why are you stopping me?”
“I’m in urgent need of money now, I have no other choice.”
Sebastian’s eyes smoldered with anger.
“How much money do you want? I’m your husband.If you’re going through any problems, why can’t you tell me? Why would you do something like that?”
Natalie had been short of money ever since she was a child.
Tears welled up in her eyes.She took a deep breath and looked at him.
“We are husband and wife only to the outside world.You have already said that we shouldn’t interfere in each other’s business.What makes you think I’d share my problems with you and even ask for money?”
Her words silenced Sebastian.
He rubbed his brows, and his chest tightened with unease.He stood up and looked at her.
“Let’s calm down first and then solve this problem.”
Sebastian closed the door and went out.
The cold summer breeze and the chirping of cicadas filled the air.
Sebastian took a deep breath, and the sweet scent of roses filled his nostrils.
Natalie had planted them on the balcony.
Sebastian leaned against the door as the moonlight kissed his soft features.
Sebastian realized that he had crossed the line tonight.
Before they got married, he never liked Natalie and didn’t intend to be her husband.
However, his impression of her changed.He seemed to like her more with every passing day.
Sebastian ran a hand through his hair and let out a weary sigh.He couldn’t understand when he had started caring about her so much.He rubbed his temples and closed his eyes, trying to suppress his incomprehensible emotions.
Natalie stood at the table and picked up the tableware.
Just then, the door flew open, and Sebastian walked toward her and took the tableware from her hand.
“I’m going to wash them.”
“Why did you come back?” Natalie thought he wouldn’t come back, so she grabbed the plates and held them tightly in her arms in a fit of pique.
The oil from the vessels had stained her clothes.
“You don’t need to wash them.I’m afraid you will only break them,” she said.
“Why did I come back? You want me to let you cry here alone?”
Seeing her bloodshot eyes, Sebastian’s eyes darkened.He raised his hand to touch her cheek.
“Don’t touch me! I’m not crying!”
Shocked, Natalie stepped back.Her eyes were red and puffy.She stared at Sebastian fearlessly.
Sebastian felt dejected.
Natalie was like a delicate flower that would wither if he forced her.
Sebastian put his arms on the table, trapping her in place.He leaned closer and stared into her eyes.
“Don’t do the drug trial.Maybe you will get other income soon.Please listen to me,” he said softly, “What will you do if I don’t listen to you?”
Natalie sneered at him.
Sebastian’s brows furrowed, and his eyes looked frightening.
“There are several ways to deal with women,” he hissed through his teeth.
“Anyway, I’m a gangster.I’m not afraid of anything.”
He inched toward her and reached out his hand to unzip her dress.
“I know.I won’t do the trial.”
Natalie hugged herself as her voice trembled, Sebastian let go of her and stood aside.
Biting her lower lip.
Natalie ignored him and walked to the sink with the plates.She turned on the lap and began to wash the dishes.
She didn’t want to disagree with him.
Anyway, Sebastian was busy with his business every day and didn’t have time to care about her.
She could still do the trial next week without letting him know.
The next day, as soon as Natalie went to the company, several messages popped up on her computer.
She opened the e-mail and found that a client had contacted her about a design gig for a high payment.
“Twenty thousand dollars?”
Natalie stared at her laptop screen, her mouth wide open.She quickly typed a message to the client, her fingers flying over the keyboard.
This was going to be her first big client ever since her graduation.
Given the amount of the offer they had made, she was expecting a heap of strict instructions she would have to abide by.
“Excuse me.May I know whether you are a gentleman or a lady?”
This website played as a bridge between clients and freelance designers.
The clients had the option to use their real names or remain anonymous, but most of them didn’t really bother setting up a profile.
Most of the profiles in the listings were nothing more than the default gray icon, with no way to tell the client’s gender.
“Male,” came the client’s reply.
“I see.Do you have specific requirements regarding the design, sir?”
