?<strong>Chapter 985:</strong>


    Jennie always took Daxton’s lead but made sure to direct herpliments toward Carrie. This sharp awareness was one of the qualities Daxton appreciated deeply in her.


    As Carrie walked toward the dining table, the rich aroma of the pork filled the room. Jennie hadn’t exaggerated; it truly was irresistible.


    Reaching for her fork, Carrie’s hand paused mid-air.


    The memory of nausea from her previous pregnancy lingered, prompting her preference for milder vors despite her asional cravings for something savory. Now, confronted with the tempting dish, her resolve wavered.


    Noticing her hesitation, Daxton quickly added, “It’s quite lean. I made sure to remove any excess fat. What’s left is thoroughly stewed and not at all oily.”


    He ced the te before her. Taking a small piece, she tried it. The taste dissolved effortlessly in her mouth, leaving behind no oily residue. She paused for a moment, and her expression shifted into a confused frown. “It has a rather distinct vor.”


    With a grin, Daxton said, “I added some plums to cut through the richness and enhance the vor.”


    A spark of delight appeared in Carrie’s eyes. The savory vor was perfectly bnced with a hint of sweetness and tartness. She eagerly took another bite of the pork, her hunger for more evident.


    Lately, her meals had been rather nd,cking in any real vor. The thought of enduring this for months seemed like pure torture.


    Noticing her eyeing the pork again, Daxton offered a smile. “Don’t overdo it. Try some of the other dishes too. It’s important to keep your meals bnced. I’ll make sure they’re tasty, yet light and easy to digest.”


    Carrie’s gaze softened. “Daxton, you already have so much on your te with work. You shouldn’t worry about these little things. Jennie’s cooking is fine for me. You really don’t need to put in so much effort.”


    Daxton’s tone became more firm. “Little things? I’m working on improving our future. If it were just me, I could survive on takeout and a rental. But I want more for us.”


    Carrie opened her mouth to respond, but he continued, “Can you just see me as your boyfriend? Let’s drop the formalities, the politeness, and the unnecessary guilt or embarrassment. There’s no need to hold back around me.”


    “That’s not what I meant…” Carrie began, her voice uncertain. She wanted to exin herself, but the right words seemed just out of reach. Daxton sighed, his expression strained. After a moment of silence, he took a deep breath, collected himself, and ced a piece of beef on Carrie’s te.


    “Forget it,” he murmured. “It’s okay. There’s still plenty of time. I believe persistence pays off.”


    “Okay,” Carrie murmured softly, picking up the beef Daxton had ced on her te and eating it quietly.


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