38: Chapter 38

Chapter 38

"I thought that things would get better after I married him. I planned on just being a good wife at home and supporting him in his career while taking care of our children," Kate said. "But reality is often disappointing, and now I realize that my dream of becoming a normal housewife is impossible."2

"Impossible?"

"Well, yeah. My marriage is done for. There is no way that I will ever return to Matt after what he did to me," Kate said. Henry almost said out of instinct that it wasn't entirely impossible for Kate if she still wanted to be a housewife.

Because they could be together if she wanted to.

In fact, that might be a good thing to say right now because it would definitely give him a plus point in Kate's eyes, even though he might be a bit insincere. 

But before he could say it, Kate added, "And I don't have any plan to remarry. It's too traumatizing."

"…"

Henry zipped his mouth after that. 

He thought it was foolish to almost say he wanted to marry her. Because he never promised something as serious as marriage to a woman before, what made Kate so special from any other woman to make her worthy of his commitment?

Besides, Henry remembered his family and how marriage had ruined everything in their lives. He clenched his fist under the table and lowered his head, "You're right, marriage is traumatizing."

Kate stared at the man in front of her in silence as she studied the pained expression on his face. 

Kate was a smart woman and she had honestly noticed that Henry didn't like to talk about his family.

She knew that he wasn't on good terms with them, even then he only mentioned that he had a problem with his entire family because he was being forced to marry a woman of their choice. 

But based on his reaction just now, Kate believed that his problem with his family might be even deeper than an arranged marriage. 

Kate had no intention of prying any further because Henry didn't seem to be the type to open up easily. 

So she continued to smile, "Well, at least we are on the same page in that aspect. I think after I can secure my divorce from Matt, I will keep working and raising my child all by myself. Which is not bad, I have money to support myself and my child after I retire, and I will have my own freedom while raising my child."

Kate was silent as she waited for Henry to say something, but it seemed like he was just listening to what she had to say.

"It's just… sometimes… I wish I had a complete family…." Kate murmured. She felt somber as she realized that she never had a complete family of her own since the incident with her father. 

Her perfect family became a broken one when she was only around seven years old. 

Her marriage with Matt was broken because they were childless and he cheated.

And now that she was finally pregnant, she was already on the brink of divorce with Matt. Soon her baby would be fatherless.

Well, not completely fatherless, because…

Kate stared at Henry for a moment before she looked away. 

A stupid idea popped up in her head telling her that maybe, just maybe, Henry wanted to be part of the small family she had, that he would want to give their child a complete family.

'Don't even entertain those thoughts,' Kate scolded herself. 'It's really not good for your heart.'

"It's fine though, my child will be safe with me. I'll raise him or her to be a good person," Kate said as she placed a hand on her still flat stomach. 

Henry frowned when he heard that, "Don't take me out of the picture. That's also my child, I also want to raise him or her as well."

Kate scoffed, full of ridicule when she heard that. 

Of course, it was easy for him to say it now, but she knew men like him would eventually grow tired of his little family. 

It would only be natural for a young man like him to find another woman, another adventure that he could explore because his family at home was nothing special. 

'Ah, I should drop this conversation. I don't want to be reminded of my Dad again…' Kate thought. 

"Don't scoff at me," Henry protested. "I am serious about raising our child."

"Sure thing, Big boy," Kate teased, much to Henry's annoyance. 

But he wasn't mad when Kate teased him, just because Kate was giggling after teasing him. 

It was better to see her giggling like a teenager and being happy rather than to see her looking pale and frail. She wore happiness well, it made her look more lively and lovely.

'This isn't right,' Henry thought. 'Why do I get stressed just because she looks sad? This should be the right time for me to swoop her in and make her mine. It doesn't matter whether it's sincere or not as long as I get what I want.'

Henry lowered his gaze to Kate's flat belly and made an assumption, 'Must be because of the baby. I have to keep that baby safe, after all, so it's natural for me to get pissed when someone hurts my baby's mother.'

Coming up with his own conclusion, Henry felt more relaxed after knowing he was still in control of himself. 

He wasn't mad for Kate. He was mad for the baby inside Kate.

The atmosphere between them eased after dinner. 

Kate didn't know if it was because of the food or because she already opened up a lot about herself to this man. But she could tolerate Henry around her house, at least. 

"So, what are you going to do after this? Surely you won't stay the night, right?" Kate asked.

"Oh? Is that an invitation?" Henry asked back. Kate's question roused the mischievousness inside him again. "I don't mind staying here. I'd love to in fact."

"Wha—I—I was just asking! Why are you so perverted!?"

Henry chuckled. He got up, walked around the dinner table, and stood right behind Kate's chair. He leaned forward and rested his elbow on the dinner table right next to her.

"My plan tonight is you," Henry said before he kissed her on the cheek near her lips. Kate jolted, but before she could react, Henry already took a step back and turned around. 

Kate looked over her shoulder, staring at Henry as he opened the front door, "Thanks for the food. It was great. I'll visit more often, Kitty," he said before leaving and shutting the door.

Kate sighed, "He really just comes and goes as he desires. Does he not realize that I'm also exhausted here? Why do I have to cook for two?"

Kate leaned back and took a deep breath, letting her exhaustion take over.

"But, I guess it's fun to have him around," Kate said as she glanced at the empty bowls on the dining table, making the corners of her lips rise to form a small smile.

"Well, it's nice to have someone around after work. I guess we could be friends…" She murmured. 

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