Third Person's POV
At the mention of "child," Cedrick's eyes deepened.
Unaware of her own slip, Jessica continued, "If we have a son, he'll definitely fear you; if it's a daughter, she might be fearless like me!"
Cedrick suddenly grasped her hand and said softly, "It's too early to think about children. For now, I just want to pamper you like a princess."
Jessica froze momentarily. The warmth of his palm enveloping hers provided a sense of security.
"Are you doting me like a child?" she laughed, recalling their early days when he had sternly declared he wanted a woman, not a daughter—a comment that had initially startled her.
Ironically, he had ended up spoiling her like a daughter, yielding to her every whim and tolerating her quirks.
Jessica felt incredibly fortunate to have met him in this life.
The couple strolled toward the community supermarket, the crowd gradually thickening around them.
Pushing a shopping cart, they discussed their needs as they moved forward.
To outsiders, they were a strikingly handsome and beautiful pair. Though Jessica's face was partially hidden by sunglasses, her slender figure, waist-length hair, and pure aura signaled her beauty.
Cedrick's tall and robust frame made her appear even more petite and charming, drawing envious glances from passersby.
Unbeknownst to them, someone had been following. Stealthily, the follower snapped photos of their whispered conversations, waist-holding moments, and lingering glances—all captured on camera.
However, the couple, enjoying in their own blissful world, remained oblivious. After loading up on groceries, they headed home.
Once they left the supermarket, two men lingered at the entrance, making a call.
"We got the shots. The guy's Cedrick, the Lawrence family's elder son. The woman's definitely Jessica. They might be living together in this community."
"Keep surveilling and snap more attention-grabbing photos. You'll be rewarded handsomely," came the response.
"Rest assured, we'll keep at it. There's sure to be more explosive content," they assured eagerly.
Motivated by the promise of reward, the two men doubled their efforts.
Back home, Jessica and Cedrick unpacked their groceries. They'd bought plenty of snacks, but for dinner, they settled on frozen ravioli and pasta.
Cooking a full meal was impractical given the late hour.
"I'll cook the ravioli!" Jessica said, taking on the role of a doting wife as she busied herself in the kitchen.
Once a woman of leisure, she'd learned basic cooking skills for the man she loved.
Of course, her repertoire was limited to simple dishes—homestyle cooking was still beyond her reach.
Cedrick grabbed a slice of bread to tide himself over and followed her into the kitchen.
Watching her earnestly boil water and prepare the ravioli, a faint smile curled his lips.
"Stay still. I'm making dinner for you," Jessica said, attempting to open the ravioli package. Suddenly, Cedrick wrapped his arms around her, pulling her petite frame into his sturdy embrace.
"Jess, having you is truly wonderful!" Cedrick, a man of few words, found himself articulating heartfelt sentiments inspired by the woman in his arms.
Jessica's face flushed crimson as she shyly asked, "Really? How did you manage meals when you lived alone before?"
"I lived in a villa with servants to attend to me," Cedrick replied in a low voice.
Jessica realized her question was redundant. Now, for her sake, he'd moved into this apartment, lived without servants, and even skipped meals.
She felt genuinely apologetic.
"You wait outside. It'll be ready in minutes. I'll even whip up some sauce for you!" Jessica hurried to serve the ravioli, eager for him to eat.
Cedrick stepped back and watched her bustle about. Moments later, she returned with a small dish of sauce. He observed her quietly, envisioning this as the ideal image of his dream wife.
"How's Leo faring these days?" Cedrick casually inquired.
"He must be swamped. With the company relying solely on him for decisions now," Jessica responded softly.
"Is he retiring from acting to focus on the business?" Cedrick mused whether Leo's choice to quit at the peak of his fame was wise.
"I'm not sure, but I sense he's been troubled lately. Coupled with the company's restructuring, he likely has no energy left for acting," Jessica said, recalling that the drama hadn't even started filming yet, with no telling when it would.
"The Royal Wolf Pack has indeed faced some upheaval lately. I suspect the two brothers are engaged in some internal conflict with Richard," Cedrick analyzed.