Chapter 1353
Chapter 1352:
Manley couldn’t help but laugh, trying to stir up more trouble. He grabbed Cole’s sleeve and sniffed it theatrically. “You smell like baby formula! Are you on bottle duty day and night? I bet you’re rubbing your wife’s feet once the kids are asleep, too p>
Cole slapped Manley’s hand away, not the least bit embarrassed. In fact, he looked rather pleased. “What if I do feed my kids? What if I do give my wife foot massages? You’re just jealous because you wish you had what I have, but you don’t p>
Manley fell silent, at a loss for words. Truthfully, he did envy Cole for having such an amazing wife and those sweet kids. He often dreamed of having that same happiness.
Cole caught the look of longing in Manley’s eyes and couldn’t resist twisting the knife. “Honestly, there’s no point arguing with lonely bachelors like you p>
Lonely bachelor! Manley slapped a hand dramatically to his forehead, pretending he’d been mortally wounded. He used to be the heartthrob everyone talked about, surrounded by admirers. Now, being single was something to joke about. That hurt more than he wanted to admit.
Having won that round, Cole’s gaze shifted to Hailee, who sat beside Merlin. He turned to Merlin and said, “Would you mind asking your secretary to step out? We have things to discuss that aren’t meant for her p>
These days, Merlin brought Hailee everywhere, even though nothing romantic had developed between them. Still, they were hardly ever apart.
At Cole’s request, Merlin pulled out his credit card and handed it to Hailee. “Go shopping. Get whatever catches your eye p>
Without a single word, Hailee took the card and quietly left the private room.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Manley’s curiosity went into overdrive. “Merlin, when are you finally going to make your move? You bring Hailee everywhere you go, but you never take it any further. If it were me, I would have swept her off her feet by now p>
“You really think Hailee is just another one of your flings?” Merlin shot back. He let out a sigh, his voice gentler. “She still hasn’t healed from what Boris put her through. Her heart is guarded, and she’s skittish. I’m terrified that if I confess how I feel, I’ll just drive her away p>
𝖁𝗶𝖊𝖜 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍 𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖋𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖓𝖈𝖊 ⸮
“Hailee? Skittish?” Manley raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. He could understand her hesitance after what happened with Boris; she nearly gave up a kidney for Boris, after all. Wariness made sense, but fearfulness didn’t quite add up.
Manley remarked, “Back at the Craig family banquet, she faced off with Boris like a flame ready to burn, bold and fierce. So where was that shy side hiding then p>
“She was bold only because Elliana encouraged her,” Merlin explained, shaking his head. “Without Elliana pushing her, she wouldn’t have spoken up. Spending every day with me has only made her more cautious. She’s constantly on edge.” He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. “I try to be gentle and keep things light, but it doesn’t seem to help. She still keeps her distance from me p>
Turning to Cole, Merlin said, “I’m thinking of giving Hailee a break so she can help Elliana with the kids. Do you think you could ask Elliana to keep Hailee’s spirits up for me? I’d owe you p>
Cole’s mouth curled into a half-smirk. “Didn’t you once tell me to keep Elliana away from Hailee? Now, you’re basically begging for Hailee to spend time with my wife. Isn’t that a bit hypocritical p>