Chapter 39: Chapter 39

"TAKE care, Bianca," Kelly said when my shift ended that afternoon. "Tell your husband we're thankful for the food!"

I smiled at him. "Yeah. I'll tell him."

We didn't even manage to finish all the food for lunch so we even had it for snacks.

Instead of riding a taxi, I decided to just walk on my way home. The store was just five blocks away from Gideon's house.

The house was alone when I got home. Hanna only visits the house now during weekends.

"I just wanted to check on you," Helen said on the other line. I had just finished changing when she called.

"I just got off from work," I said as I settled myself on the couch.

Helen said that she was alone in her shop. She recently opened a bakeshop in Houston.

"And Gideon?"

"He's still at work. His condition has been improving day by day. He only goes to therapy now during weekends."

"How about his memory?"

I sighed. "Still nothing. Aside from random headaches, there was nothing."

"What about your relationship? Was he still pursuing you?"

I bit my lower lip. "Yeah." I decided not to tell Helen the deal that I made with Gideon.

"Well, any update? Are you already falling in love with your husband?"

I scoffed and shook my head. "I told you it would never happen. I can't believe you just called me for that."

I heard her chuckle on the other line. "Well, my life here is boring. Andrea's always with her father on the ranch."

"I still need to prepare our dinner," I said to Helen after another five more minutes of talking to her.

"Oh, still playing like a devoted wife, huh?" Helen teased me.

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up. I'm just doing my responsibility as his wife."

"What are you cooking, anyway?" she asked.

I pursed my lips as I checked on the fridge.

"Steak, I guess."

"Oh. I thought you're only cooking because of responsibility but now you're planning on cooking Gideon's favorite food?"

"Well, it was the only one available here in the fridge," I defended myself. "Anyway, I really have to go now," I said before I finally hung up on her.

I glanced at the digital clock in the kitchen as I waited for the meat on the pan to be cooked.

It was already six. Gideon said he would be home by eight. I was guessing that he would have dinner at home, right? He didn't mention anything about dining outside.

I picked up the meat thermometer and checked the meat on the pan. I wanted it in a perfect medium rare.

I remembered how Helen teased me earlier.

"Well, she didn't know I was only doing this because Gideon sent me lunch at work earlier," I said to myself.

Yeah. This was only my way of thanking him. Of course, given my responsibility to him as his wife.

It was seven when I finished preparing dinner. Aside from steak, I also cooked mashed potatoes and grilled corn and asparagus.

I decided to read a book while waiting for Gideon on the couch.

"I thought he's going home by eight?" I said an hour and thirty minutes later, and Gideon still hadn't arrived.

I looked at my phone on the coffee table. I sighed and decided to call Gideon.

The furrow on my forehead deepened when I found out his phone was unattended.

I bit my lower lip. Why was his phone unattended? Did… something happen?

"No." I shook my head. "Don't think that way, Bianca."

Gideon said earlier he would be with Darwin. I didn't have Darwin's number so I decided to call Amelia instead.

Amelia's phone was ringing but she wasn't answering.

"Come on, Amelia. Pick up." I said, chewing on my lower lip.

I could already feel my heartbeat getting faster.

What if Amelia wasn't picking up because something had already happened to Gideon and Darwin?

I was already pacing back and forth in the living room while waiting for Amelia to pick up the phone.

"Calm down, Bianca," I whispered to myself. "Nothing happened to them. Denver was a careful driver."

"Bianca?" Amelia said on the other line.

I let out a breath. "Thank God you answered, Amelia."

"Hey, what's wrong, Bianca?" she asked when she noticed the distress in my tone. "Are you okay?"

I bit my lower lip. "Gideon said he'll be home by eight, but it's almost nine and he hasn't arrived yet."

"Oh," Amelia said. "Darwin called me earlier. He said that Mr. Smith invited them for dinner."

My lips parted. I immediately let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, thanks, Amelia."

"Were you worried, Bianca?"

I cleared my throat. "W-well, I was trying to call Gideon but he wasn't answering. I thought…" I trailed off when I realized how stupid my thoughts were.

Of course, nothing had happened to Gideon. Why was I too worried in the first place?

I shook my head and headed to the kitchen after putting down my phone.

I rolled my eyes as I looked at the food that I'd cooked earlier.

I shouldn't have waited for Gideon. Why did I expect him to eat dinner at home when he was already outside? I felt stupid.

I stopped from getting myself a plate when I heard a car honk outside. I sighed as I left the kitchen to open the door for Gideon.

"Hi," he greeted me with a smile. His white dress shirt was already folded up to his elbows.

I just raised my brow at him.

"I'll go now, Bianca, Gideon."

I tried to mask my annoyance when Darwin waved at me. I gave Gideon's father a small smile.

"Have you eaten? I brought you dinner," he said as he handed me the take-out bag in his hand.

I took the bag from him before raising my brow. "Thanks, Gideon. But I cooked myself some dinner."

Without saying another word, I turned my back to him and walked back to the kitchen. But I could feel Gideon's presence behind me.

"Oh. You cooked steak," he said, noticing the food on the dining table. "Did you prepare this for us?"

I scoffed at him. "No. I cooked this only for myself." I cleared my throat. "I was craving steak."

Of course, I won't admit to his face that I cooked this because I thought we were having dinner together.

I pulled up a chair for myself. Gideon remained standing in front of me.

"You haven't had dinner yet?"

I looked at him and raised my brow. "Well, isn't it obvious?"

His lips parted a little. "Did you… wait for me, Bianca?"

This time, I could no longer hide my annoyance. "Well, yes. Gideon. I waited for you because you said you'd be home by eight," I said sarcastically. "Now, will you please leave? I want to eat my dinner alone."

Damn. I couldn't even understand why I was this annoyed. Or was I upset? Why? Because he made me worried?

But instead of getting out of my sight, Gideon pulled out the chair next to me and settled himself in.

"I'm sorry I came home late," he said in a gentle voice.

I was about to answer back when I felt his hand on my wrist. His thumb caressed my wrist while looking straight at my face.

"One of the managers of the Nevada office invited us for dinner. Dad and I couldn't say no."

I frowned at him. I wanted to avert my gaze from him but his eyes were like a magnet. I couldn't look away even if his stares were starting to make me uncomfortable.

"I don't care if you dine outside. Just inform me beforehand that you're going to be late. I tried calling you earlier but I couldn't reach you." I shot him a glare. "Next time, don't forget that you aren't alone in this house."

I saw how Gideon's lips parted. As if he wasn't expecting my sudden outburst. "I… I'm sorry, Bianca. I didn't realize that my phone's battery died."

"Yeah. Whatever."

"I hadn't expected that you'd be this worried."

"I wasn't worried," I snapped at him. "Fine. I got worried a bit. Just only because you're still my husband. And you're my responsibility."

He sighed. "I'm sorry for making you worry." His eyes zeroed in on the steak on the table. "I'm sorry you'd waited for me."

Gideon's voice was so gentle that I started to feel something on my chest. "Y-yeah. Stop apologizing. Just leave me alone and let me have my dinner."

When his eyes found mine again, there was already a small smile on his face.

"Let me join you for dinner."

"Shut up, you already had dinner."

He pursed his lips. "But I still want to eat with you." His eyes went to the plate of steak in front of us. "Besides, this is my favorite. I knew you cooked this for me." He turned to me with a satisfied smirk. "Right?"

"Excuse me? I cooked this for myself. Stop assuming things."

He just smiled at me. "You can't stop me from assuming things when it comes to you."

"Whatever, Gideon."

In the end, I let him eat with me. While we were eating, I noticed he was looking at me as if there was something wrong with my face.

"What, Gideon?"

"Nothing," he said, shaking his head with an obviously amused smile plastered on his face.

"I just couldn't believe that you got worried about me."

"Of course, you're still my husband. I hate you, yes, but that doesn't mean I want something bad to happen to you. I'm not a bad person."

Gideon pursed his lips as he reached for his glass of wine. "You're being defensive, Bianca."

"Defensive?" I scoffed. "I'm not defensive, Gideon. I was just making things clear. I don't want you to assume that…"

"You're already falling for me?" he supplied.

"Yes!"

"Are you really not, Bianca?"

"O-of course, I'm not!"

He slightly raised his brow. His amused smile still hadn't erased his face. "You look flushed."

My eyes widened a bit. "It's your fault. Stop interrupting my dinner."

He just smiled and sipped his wine. I reached for my glass of water. Damn. I couldn't believe I was this affected.