Leave the Chores to Me, Your Househusband

Lariette and Ruediger decided on the set of rings the latter suggested. The staff proposed engraving their names, to which they also agreed. The process would take one to three business days.

Ruediger drove Lariette back to Celesta Villa. None of them spoke much during the entire ride but, the ambiance between them seemed better than before.

"Have you finished packing, Eddy? You'll move your belongings the day after tomorrow, right?"

Lariette asked Ruediger about his moving into her apartment. The man told her that he would bring the necessary belongings in two days. 

"Yeah. But, I can't immediately unpack them all," Ruediger glanced at Lariette, his emerald eyes glinting softly, "I'll be busy with work until this Thursday."

Lariette simply nodded. Ruediger informed her that he took an official leave today and this Friday. He would be back to work starting tomorrow until the day before they got married.

"You work remotely, right? I've cleared one room for your office. We can set it up this weekend."

Lariette's apartment in Lumina Spring had four bedrooms and three washrooms, not including the living room, kitchen and other areas. She used two of them as her bedroom and home library. Ruediger could use the other two.

A professional cleaning service went to Lariette's apartment yesterday. The team of four deep-cleaned the place because she hadn't lived there in a long time.

Another group of handymen checked on the maintenance aspects a few days ago.

The apartment was ready to welcome its residents again.

Carving a smile on his lips, Ruediger nodded in gratitude, "I'll take up the offer. I have a few monitors and other items for my office. Maddie will overlook the movers for me."

"Hehe, I'll be there with her too. No need to worry."

Madeline was tasked to watch the movers when they came with Ruediger's items. She planned to stay the night that day instead of returning to her own apartment, something Lariette wholeheartedly welcomed.

Ruediger pulled up at the front porch of the residential complex. Emerging from the truck, he grabbed the shopping bags before Lariette could do so.

"Thank you for today, Lettie," Ruediger titled his head, the dazzling sunlight shimmering on his crimson hair, "I enjoyed our second date."

Lariette chuckled, her whole countenance beaming before a faint flush pinkening her cheeks. She reached out to take the bags from Ruediger.

"The meal was nice but, I hope to taste your homecooked dishes again soon."

"Of course! I'll be your househusband," Ruediger playfully winked, his tone brimming with confidence, "Leave the cooking and other chores for me."

Ruediger's remarks lured laughter from Lariette's mouth. Her sapphire eyes collided with his emerald ones, their lips exchanged a meaningful smile.

"See you this Friday, Eddy," uttered Lariette, she shyly tucking her hair behind her ear, "I'll chase after you if you dare be a runaway groom."

"I'll camp outside the courthouse even before the dawn breaks," Ruediger shrugged, a mischievous smile tugging on his lips, "Well, I'm committed, you know?"

Once again Lariette laughed. Shaking her head in helplessness, she playfully glared at Ruediger to which the man responded with another wink.

Their marriage day—between two strangers—was closely approaching.

*****

Far from Celesta Villa, an annoyed Stephanie finally read the messages sent by Amber in their group chat. She didn't read any until after leaving the restaurant with Matthias.

Stephanie had just arrived at her luxurious apartment. She didn't show up to work today, something she often did that would annoy Declan if he knew.

Stephanie was shocked to find tens to hundreds of notifications coming from the chatroom. This was a normal occurrence when they had a hot gossip.

Not in the mood to join, Stephanie initially ignored her friends until she saw Lariette's name being mentioned.

Amber saw Lariette with another man, really?

That man was an escort?!

Unwilling to go through the long conversation, Stephanie immediately called Amber. The call was connected within one ring.

"Phanie, what..."

"Did you really see her with another man? Where? What did they do? Is he really an escort?"

Standing in the living room, Stephanie put one hand on her hip while shooting questions to Amber. Her widened blue eyes expressed her agitation.

"Ah! You just read our chat, didn't you? I saw that bumpkin at Edenia. She's shopping with some guy I've never seen before. They looked so intimate! Holding hands and even hugging. Kissing too!"

Amber's words were mixed with lies but, Stephanie wouldn't ever know. She also didn't care about it.

"They held hands and hugged? And kissing in public?" uttered Stephanie in disbelief. Narrowing her eyes, she asked, "Did she see you?"

Stephanie believed that Lariette still had feelings for Damien. That unwanted daughter was simply mad at the man.

But...

Lariette went out with another man, really? They even acted affectionately in public!

Amber's words echoed from the end of the line, eagerly feeding Stephanie with her twisted version of the story.

"She saw me! She dared to kiss that man when I confronted her. Wow~ She's so shameless. She said she'd broken up with Damien. Is that true? No wonder she acted like a vixen!"

Amber tried getting more information from Stephanie about Lariette's claim. She attempted to contact Damien but, so far the man hadn't returned any of her calls and messages.

If that was true... she would go and console the heartbroken man!

Stephanie's mind was filled with countless questions about Lariette. The confusion and irritation in her eyes were replaced with a sinister glint.

"Amber, are you sure he's an escort?" asked Stephanie without answering Amber's inquiry.

"W-well, she won't ever admit to it even if I asked," Amber stuttered, trying to spin another thread of lies, "He looks like one tho. He's handsome, I'll be frank but, I've never seen him in high society. I think he's selling his face and body for a living."

Stephanie curled up her lips. Holding back from laughing, she said, "Seems like she's trying to rebel. Perhaps, she wanna get back at Damien. Well, let's just leave her be."

"Oh? Then, they really broke..."

Tut!

Stephanie abruptly ended the call, cutting the rest of Amber's words. 

"Hehe... hahaha! Haha!"

Stephanie's maniacal laughter echoed eerily in the apartment. Amber's story brought joy to her after being disappointed by Matthias' unfeeling gesture earlier.

"Wow! She'll surely bring that escort back home, right?"

Stephanie still remembered how coldly Lariette treated her back then[01]. The unwanted daughter's action surprised her because Lariette had never acted like that before.

"Well, this is good," Stephanie tapped her chin, "She suits a lowly escort better than a son of a rich man."

Despite everything, Damien was still the heir of the Schuman Group. Lariette's rebellion by finding another man to spite their family was a much better scenario.

Stephanie believed both of her parents and three brothers would loathe Lariette more, including Declan and Rafael who began having soft spots for the unwanted daughter.

Hah!

A neglected daughter and a lowborn escort?

They were a match made in heaven!

But...

If Lariette didn't marry Damien, wouldn't her plan fail?

What should she do? How about watching the event unfold first?

----------

Reference:

1 - Chapter 8