?Chapter 162:


    She retorted, “I was totally focused! It’s your presence that throws me off…”


    She stumbled over her words, and her calm broke down.


    “What is it about my presence?” he asked further.


    “I was so concerned that you might not like it, I ended up getting too nervous and forgot.”


    “So, you’re saying my being here made you forget to add the salt?”


    “Yes, it’s entirely your fault.”


    Yvonne added the salt and then brought the soup to the table.


    The atmosphere at the dinner table was pleasantly calm.


    As Norton sampled the soup, Yvonne quickly inquired, “How is it? What do you think?”


    “It’s decent, though it could be better.”


    Despite his critique, he was quite hungry and ate a lot.


    With his mood appearing upbeat, Yvonne seized the moment to mention her desire to return to work. But at her words, his expression darkened suddenly.


    “We’ll discuss thister!”


    He set his fork down abruptly and headed upstairs.


    Feeling a surge of anxiety, Yvonne followed him. “Norton, I understand you can take care of me financially, but as a woman, I also need my own career. I can’t depend solely on you for financial security. Moreover, if there everes a time when we…”


    She paused, steering clear of the word “divorce,” and continued, “If we ever go our separate ways, I need to be self-sufficient. I aspire to lead a meaningful life and be needed.”


    On this asion, Norton didn’t instantly dismiss the idea.


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    “Is working again really that important to you?” he inquired, his back turned to her as he changed his clothes.


    “Yes, it really is.”


    “Even considering you’ll have to navigate office politics,working, and possible unfair treatment?”


    With a resolute nod, Yvonne answered, “Definitely!”


    “Okay,” he responded.


    Just as Yvonne was about to express her gratitude, Norton suggested, “How about you cook for me for a month first, then we’ll discuss it further?”


    “Really?” Yvonne took this as a hopeful sign. “Why would I need to lie about this?” His logic appeared solid.


    Quickly, another concern crossed her mind. “You’re frequently away on business trips. If I make dinner, you’re often not here to enjoy it!”


    As he straightened his clothing, he responded with a rxed tone, “I’m not nning any trips for a while. I’ll be here at home.”


    “Agreed,” Yvonne responded.


    Back at the office, Rachel was swamped with assignments.


    Conversely, Brian found himself with an abundance of free time.


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