My Second Marriage w Chapter 28: You Are A Natural

Chapter 28: You Are A Natural

Ashley rubbed her hand as Liza kept tapping it whenever she gave the wrong answer. The corners of her eyes grew redder, and she finally sensed Lucian’s presence.

When she looked up at him, she dramatically scoffed like a damsel in distress who needed saving. As for Liza, she glanced at her husband and then furrowed her brows at the other man.

But before Liza could ask anything, Tommy spoke first.

"Honey, what’s going on here?"

"Uncle, Auntie is forcing

to accept money for my gift," Ashley complained about Liza. "I already said I don’t want paynt."

Sure, she was tempted, and her eyes were twinkling.

Ashley hadn’t earned a di since this marriage. Even though Lucian had given her a limitless card to splurge with, it had been a while since she truly earned a cent from her own efforts. However, she didn’t want money from Liza.

Hence, she thought of simply giving Liza the amount of soil she needed. But the problem was that Liza refused to accept that.

"Huh?" Ashley tilted her head slightly, finally noticing sothing. "Lu, Uncle, why did you co in together?"

Liza’s curiosity also flashed in her eyes. It didn’t look like Lucian and Tommy had just t outside the hotel. Rather, it seed like they were already familiar with each other.

As for Lucian and Tommy, they looked at each other before instinctively turning their gaze toward their wives.

*

*

*

Monts later...

Ashley’s jaw dropped.

Not just hers, but the mbers of Dominion around the buffet also stared at their table, slack-jawed.

"You... you..." she pointed at Liza and then at Tommy in pure shock. "Huh?!"

anwhile...

"You’re saying... the man the boss has been trying to et... the very person why we even flew here... actually owns this hotel?" one of the mbers breathed out. Shock was an understatent to describe his emotions.

"No, actually, it’s his wife who owns this hotel," another one blurted out. "And sohow, that woman beca friends with the hotel owner."

As for Red and the others who had lunch with the couple alongside Ashley, they could only stare blankly at the table. They knew about the person nad Tomas, but only now did they discover that the profile from the background check was an entirely different person.

And they had been having lunch with such an important person without even realizing it?!

But above all, those who had been with Lucian at the restaurant were even more speechless.

Compared to the intimidating aura Tommy carried when he t Lucian earlier, he was now... laughing heartily because of Liza’s dilemma with Ashley.

"Hahaha!" Tommy laughed loudly, even after learning that Ashley was Lucian’s wife.

Now he understood more about them.

Why Ashley needed her own security, and why Lucian seed more interested in delivering his wife’s gift than closing their deal. For a mont, Tommy thought he had misjudged Lucian. But now he realized it had all been a misunderstanding.

"Oh, dear." Liza pinched the bridge of her nose upon hearing that Tommy and Lucian had actually been discussing a deal that fell through. "What a complicated situation."

As for Ashley, with her jaw still slack, she slowly turned to Lucian. Her face moved so close to his side, her eyes wide, that Lucian gulped and pretended not to notice the way she was staring at him like she wanted to interrogate him.

She didn’t say anything, but he could practically hear her asking:

What’s the aning of this?

"Ashley, don’t bla your husband," Tommy laughed warmly at the young couple. "The business between your husband and

is different. I hope this doesn’t affect my wife’s offer to you."

Hearing this, the mbers of Dominion perked up slightly.

Tommy might have said that, but that was impossible.

This could be an opportunity. All they needed was for Ashley to realize that.

Much to their dismay, her face imdiately soured.

"No way!" Ashley harrumphed, enough to make several people want to wring her neck out of sheer frustration. "Uncle, I want to give Auntie as much soil as she wants for free! Actually, how about we exchange it for the tea she gave

yesterday?"

Her eyes lit up. "My husband liked it when I made him try it yesterday! Let’s trade!"

But her enthusiasm only made Tommy and Liza exchange helpless looks and sigh.

As for Lucian, he remained silent, though his eyes never left her side.

A valuable trade... for so re tea.

Yet the corners of his mouth slowly lifted, and his gaze softened as he watched her.

anwhile, those around them could only bite their tongues to stop themselves from shouting.

How could she trade sothing like this for tea?!

First the soil, and now tea!

"Dear." Since her firm lectures weren’t working, Liza moved closer and gently held Ashley’s hand. "I’m being serious. I know your gift is one thing, but this soil is very valuable and rare. Do you know the plants that grow in it are worth far more than what I’m paying you?"

From a businesswoman’s standpoint, Liza would never normally say sothing like this. But Ashley was stubbornly giving away sothing so valuable for free, so Liza couldn’t help it. Besides, she was certain this wouldn’t backfire. Ashley would simply ask for more later.

"That’s why I’m asking you — not as your auntie, but as soone who runs a business and also has an interest in this soil," Liza added, giving her husband a look.

Tommy nodded. "Your auntie is right, Ashley. Compared to the tea, this soil is a hundred — no, a thousand tis more valuable."

"But the tea Auntie gave

last night helped my husband sleep," Ashley muttered. She glanced at Lucian and noticed how much clearer his face looked.

Having been married to him for an entire lifeti, she could easily tell when he hadn’t slept well... and when he finally had.

She huffed and looked back at them.

"I think I understand that this soil is valuable, and I know it is. Just not the extent of it. However, my husband’s well-being matters just as much."

"For others, this might just be soil and tea," she added quietly. "But the soil is sothing Auntie values, and the tea helped Lu relax a little. So I think this trade is very fair."

She lifted her head. "Isn’t it?"

The entire buffet area fell silent.

For a mont, everyone seed frozen by her words.

Even Lucian couldn’t hide the brief flash of surprise in his eyes.

Especially the n of Dominion, who knew about Lucian’s severe sleeping problems. They had long grown worried about their leader because nothing seed to work anymore except hypnosis.

"Am I being shallow?" Ashley asked, turning to Lucian. "Lu, what do you think?"

Lucian didn’t hesitate. "You are a natural."

Ashley bead.

She turned back to Tommy and Liza proudly, her eyes twinkling as she grinned so widely that all her teeth showed. She didn’t even doubt his complint and approval, and one could see that very clearly.