Chapter 4Midnight on the River Styx

The next day, when I woke up, Cole was sleeping right beside me.

He held me in his arms, sleeping soundly.

I poked his dimple and broke free from his embrace.

As soon as I got up, he grabbed my waist:

"Why are you up so early, babe?"

My face flushed, and I scolded playfully:

"Keep your hands to yourself!"

"Is my babe shy?"

Cole kissed my back through my clothes, muttering:

"Why didn't you change into pajamas?"

Then he pulled me back down and pressed himself against me.

I narrowed my eyes, catching out of the corner of my eye that the red light had gone out.

Just as I was about to push Cole away, someone knocked on the door:

"Mr. Vance, Ms. Lin, it's time for breakfast."

It was a crew member.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Opening the door, a girl with pigtails forced a smile:

"Mr. and Mrs. Vance have been waiting for you in the dining room for a long time."

I nodded:

"We'll be right there."

Then I ducked into the bathroom to wash up.

Perhaps because the door wasn't closed tight, I could hear the conversation outside while brushing my teeth.

The girl's overly sweet voice came through:

"Mr. Vance, let me help you put this on. Oh, I'm sorry, I'm so clumsy, how did I fall on you? Mr. Vance, are you alright?"

My reflection in the water smiled a half-smile:

"Someone's trying to steal your man right in front of you, and you're not angry?"

I shook my head, silently replying to her:

"I believe in Cole."

Sure enough, Cole didn't disappoint me.

He stood up and yelled:

"Get out!"

Then he squeezed in, looking aggrieved, and hugged me:

"Babe, someone's seducing your husband, aren't you going to do something about it!"

I pressed my forehead against his and rewarded him with a hug:

"Good job, my Cole is the best."

"Hmph, you're just humoring me!"

Cole was right. I was indeed humoring him.

Because I wasn't in the mood to be lovey-dovey with him right now. My head was full of what happened last night.

My anxiety lasted until we entered the dining room.

When I saw everyone was there, I was finally comforted.

So it was just a dream.

Our happy family is still all here, that's great.

"Did Mia sleep well last night?"

Cole's mom poured me a glass of cranberry juice and asked with a smile.

I looked at the bright red drink, and a blurry image flashed through my mind.

"I slept very well, even had a dream."

"Oh? What did you dream about?"

I chewed on a freshly cut sausage, narrowed my eyes, and tried hard to recall.

A few seconds later, I had a sudden realization:

"I remember now, I was slaughtering pigs."

After saying that, I put down my knife and fork and swept my gaze over the people in the dining room one by one.

Silently counting in my heart...

One, two, three... twenty-nine.

We're missing one person!

I asked calmly:

"Cole, did everyone come for breakfast?"

The man was focused on peeling an egg for me:

"They should all be here... Wait..."

He paused, as if remembering something, and continued:

"Where's that chubby guy who makes the cakes? Don't make pistachio mousse today. Mia is allergic, she can't eat nuts."

"That brat disappeared first thing this morning! Don't worry, Mr. Vance, there absolutely won't be any more mistakes with today's meals!"

The head chef standing nearby answered respectfully.

But as soon as he finished, the smile on Cole's lips froze.

Consequently, the hand peeling the egg also trembled slightly.

I leaned close, patted his back, and whispered comfortingly in his ear:

"Cole, I'm here."

He forced a smile that looked worse than crying:

"Babe, let's get married, okay?"

The friends and family around us raised their glasses and cheered again, celebrating and shouting for us.

I ruffled his hair:

"Okay, I'll always stay by Cole's side."

Cole's eyes were red. In my arms, he looked like an abandoned puppy.

Across the table, Cole's parents watched us with gratification.

After rushing the wedding, they started rushing us for a baby:

"Give us a good grandchild soon!"

I shyly lowered my head, catching out of the corner of my eye a few servers secretly rolling their eyes in the corner.

Sigh.

Too bad, my boyfriend is too popular. What should I do?