They came back home, and Rita saw the old chef.
"How are you?" she asked with concern.
"I'm good, Madam," the chef replied.
Rita felt bad about his daughter. "How is your daughter?"
The chef was confused about why she was asking.
"She is good too, Madam."
"If you need anything, you can tell us," Rita said.
The chef was touched that both Rita and Gilbert cared so much about his family.
"Certainly, Madam, but I want to thank you for the trip—"
Before he could finish, Gilbert returned after parking the car and interrupted him.
"You're back. We all missed you."
The chef smiled. "Sir, I just wanted to thank you for the trip."
Gilbert laughed. "No need. I only did what any decent person should do."
"But, Sir—"
"I don't want to hear anything more. Go and rest."
He took Rita's hand. "Let's go to sleep. Aren't you tired?"
She looked at him in confusion. "Okay, but I was just asking about his daughter."
"You can ask him later. He's already gone."
Gilbert felt relieved once the chef had left. If Rita found out the truth about their honeymoon, all his plans would be ruined.
"You can go to your room. Good night," Gilbert said.
"Good night," Rita replied.
Gilbert went back to the chef and asked him not to mention the vacation in front of Rita. The chef agreed, though he didn't dare ask why.
When Gilbert returned to his room, he found Rita standing there.
"What happened?" he asked.
"All my things are here," Rita said.
Gilbert looked at Jenny for an explanation. Jenny put on an innocent expression.
"Sir, your mother ordered this."
"But we live here. How can she do this without our permission?"
Jenny remained silent, pretending to know nothing.
"Fine. Put all our things back where they belong."
Jenny didn't move.
"Why aren't you moving? I'm talking to you."
"Sir, Madam Rita's room is under renovation. Until it's finished, I can't move her things."
Gilbert immediately understood. His mother had clearly arranged this on purpose.
"Jenny, you're my mother's spy. Tell me—did you tell her we're sleeping in separate rooms?"
Jenny stayed quiet, looking as innocent as possible.
"It's okay," Rita said. "You don't need to get angry. For now, you can sleep in the living room. I'll sleep here, and tomorrow we'll decide what to do."
Gilbert stared at her in disbelief.
"Why should I sleep in the living room?"
"Because I'm a woman. It wouldn't look good if I slept there."
"Are you serious?" For a moment, he forgot all about his plans.
"So what do you want? Do you want me to sleep on the couch?"
Gilbert took a deep breath.
"Do you want us to sleep together?"
Rita actually had no problem sharing a room with him, but his reaction annoyed her.
Without answering, she grabbed a blanket and pillow and stormed out to the living room.
Is he only with me out of guilt? Why is he acting as if sharing a room with me for one night is such a big deal?
She lay down on the couch and closed her eyes.
Gilbert sat alone on his bed.
I know she likes me, but why did she get angry? Or does she really want to sleep with me?
A sudden wave of guilt hit him. No matter what, he couldn't let her sleep out there in the cold.
He walked over to her.
"Rita, are you awake?"
She pretended to be asleep.
"Rita, you can sleep in the room. I'll sleep here."
She didn't respond.
Thinking she had fallen asleep, he gently removed her blanket and lifted her into his arms.
Rita was startled, but she kept her eyes closed.
He carried her to the bed, covered her with a blanket, and carefully lifted her head to place a pillow underneath.
At that moment, Rita opened her eyes.
His face was only inches away from hers.
They stared at each other.
"You're awake?"
Startled, Gilbert dropped the pillow on the floor.
"I was just putting the pillow under your head."
"Why did you bring me here?" Rita asked, sitting up.
He picked up the pillow and placed it properly behind her.
"I'm sorry for earlier. I was rude."
Rita wanted to ask him so many things—like why sharing a room with her seemed so difficult—but she stayed silent.
"I should have been more considerate."
He picked up his blanket, preparing to sleep outside.
"It's cold outside, and there are lots of mosquitoes. You can sleep here on the floor," Rita said.
"Okay."
He smiled, thinking, I'll make you confess your feelings for me soon.
He spread his bedding on the floor and lay down.
"Earlier, I didn't mean that I couldn't share a room with you. I just thought you might feel uncomfortable."
"Okay. You don't have to explain."
"I don't want you to misunderstand me."
Rita secretly enjoyed the conversation. She wanted them to live like a normal married couple.
"What will you do about kids?" she asked.
Gilbert looked surprised.
"Why?"
"Your parents made us sleep in the same room."
"Then we'll give them kids," Gilbert replied playfully.
"How? Are you going to adopt?"
Gilbert laughed.
"I don't have to. We can make some ourselves."
Rita paused.
"But do you want to have kids before our wedding?"
"I've never really thought about it. I don't want my children to go through what I did."
"Yes," Rita said softly.
"What about you? Do you want kids?"
"I like kids. I want to give them the life I never had."
"What kind of life?"
"A life without bullying."
Gilbert was quiet for a moment.
"If I hadn't come into your life, do you think it would have been better?"
"Yes," Rita replied with a smile.
Gilbert sighed.
"Yes, I really was a jerk."
They continued talking late into the night until they both fell asleep.
The next morning, Rita felt something licking her feet.
She woke up and saw Robin sniffing her toes.
She screamed.
Gilbert woke immediately and hurriedly took Robin outside, tying him up in the garden.
"I don't even like him. Why does he always come after me?" Rita complained.
"Maybe he likes you," Gilbert said.
"I don't want him to like me."
"Today, I'm taking him to Laura's house, so you won't have to see him this evening."
Gilbert asked the chef to prepare breakfast according to Rita's taste.
At breakfast, Rita ate happily.
"I'll talk to Mother about the kids, so you don't have to worry," Gilbert said.
"Okay."
"Finish your food. I have to go to the office. I'll ask someone to take Robin to Laura's house."
"But your breakfast?" Rita asked.
"Don't worry. I'll eat something there."
He went upstairs to get ready.
Rita packed breakfast for him and waited near his car.
When Gilbert came outside, he looked surprised.
"Why are you here?"
"Your breakfast. Eat this. Someone will deliver lunch to your office later."
"Thank you. Take care."
At the office, Gilbert was deeply involved in a meeting about his new project.
One of his team members said, "Sir, we'll need a large amount of funding."
Gilbert agreed. After thinking for a moment, he said he would speak to the finance department.
After the meeting, he checked his phone and saw a message from Rita.
What would you like for lunch?
He replied immediately.
Red meat.
Okay.
Rita helped the chef prepare lunch. It was her first time cooking a proper meal, and it took nearly two hours. She even burned and cut her hands, but she hardly noticed.
She felt strangely happy cooking for him.
After packing the lunch, she realized the driver had already left to take Robin to Laura's house.
She turned to Jenny.
"What should I do?"
"Madam, why don't you deliver it yourself?"
"How?"
"Can you drive?"
"Yes."
"Then take this car."
Rita dressed beautifully. She didn't want anyone to think she wasn't worthy of Gilbert.
She was nervous but excited.
At the office building, she didn't know where to go, so she sent him a message.
I'm waiting on the ground floor.
Gilbert was in a meeting with a client when he saw her message.
Why was she here?
He immediately sent his secretary to bring her upstairs.
Rita sat on the lobby couch, looking around. She had never been to his office before.
Despite her degrees, she had never actually worked.
Everyone here works so hard. He must get tired every day.
The assistant approached her.
"Madam, Sir is waiting for you upstairs."
She followed him to the thirty-sixth floor.
"You may go inside, Madam. Sir will be here in a few minutes."
Rita entered and looked around Gilbert's office.
A few moments later, Gilbert walked in.
"Why did you come here?"
She held up the lunchbox.
"Lunch."
"Where is the driver?"
"No one was home, so I had to come myself."
Gilbert took the lunchbox from her and placed it on the table.
"Did you eat lunch?"
"No, I'll eat at home."
"Then let's eat together."
He called his assistant and asked for rice and bread.
Rita sat beside him and helped prepare the plates.
Gilbert noticed her hands.
"What happened to your hand?"
"Nothing. Just a little burn."
"How?"
"While cooking."
Gilbert stared at her.
"You cooked this?"
She nodded.
He grinned.
"Is it edible?"
Rita glared at him.
"I spent two hours making it."
"Okay, okay. I'll eat it. No need to get angry."
After placing her plate in front of her, Gilbert suddenly paused.
"Wait," he said.
He walked to his desk, retrieved the first-aid kit, and returned to her side.
Gently, he took her hand, applied ointment to the burns, and bandaged her cuts.
Rita simply stared at him.
"Thank you."
Gilbert smiled.
"Let me help you eat."
He cut the bread into small pieces so she could easily eat with a fork.
While eating, he asked, "I'm going to a family dinner tomorrow. Do you want to come?"
Rita looked surprised.
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"Yes. I'd be happy if you came."
Rita tried to hide her excitement.
"Why suddenly? Is there some occasion?"
"Every Friday, my entire family has dinner together. All my relatives and grandparents will be there."
"Do you go every Friday?"
Gilbert laughed.
"Have you ever seen me go?"
She shook her head.
"I need funding for my new project, but the finance department rejected it. So, I'll ask my grandparents."
Gilbert wanted Rita there because he knew his parents would never oppose him in front of her.