He Does Not Deserve My Devotion-Chapter 37: The Roses Did Nothing to You

"Be careful, it’s hot. Go sit down."

Nina Walsh used the soup pot to fend off Aiden Sinclair’s embrace.

Aiden Sinclair placed the roses in the glass vase on the dining table.

The table was already laden with a sumptuous feast, all his favorite dishes. In the very center was a steamed grouper; it was the only fish dish he could stomach.

"What did you do today? Are you in a good mood?" Aiden asked.

’The therapist had said that with depression, it was important to talk things through.’

Nina picked up a soup bowl and slowly ladled soup for him. "I visited a client, hoping to get some orders to help Maelie through this rough patch. I happened to run into Young Master Preston downstairs when I arrived, and he took me to meet the boss."

As the bowl filled, Aiden reached for it. "Did you close the deal?"

Nina looked at his features, so untouched by the hardships of the world, and her hand shook. "The deal fell through."

As her hand shook, hot soup splashed onto Aiden’s hand.

The searing heat made him flinch. Aiden snatched his hand back, his brow furrowed.

SPLASH—

With a flick of her wrist, Nina dumped the contents of the soup bowl into the trash can.

"Do you recognize this spread, Aiden? That night, I made this exact same meal."

Nina picked up the steamed fish from the table. "Your favorite, steamed grouper. You’re such a picky eater. No ginger, no Sichuan pepper, no garlic. And you can’t stand that fishy smell. Every time I made this, I had to kill the fish myself, scale it completely, remove the bloodline, pull its teeth, and clean out every last bit of guts and black membrane from its belly. Then I had to pat it with strong liquor for half an hour straight, just to get rid of the smell."

Tilting the plate, Nina sent the grouper sliding into the trash can.

Aiden’s brow furrowed in confusion as he watched her.

"That day, I waited for you to come home. I wanted to celebrate our second anniversary. I wanted to tell you that I was pregnant."

She spoke slowly, methodically scraping the dishes from the table into the trash can one by one.

"But you came home with another woman. You held her in your arms, calling her ’wife’ over and over again. You two were fooling around in *my* bed! And you told me our marriage was a sham!"

CRASH—

Nina snatched the vase from the table and smashed it at Aiden’s feet.

Aiden shot to his feet. Nina instinctively tried to flee, but he shot out a long arm, his expression cold as he locked her firmly in his embrace.

Nina struggled against his arm. "Let me go! Aiden, after how cruel you were to me, do you really think giving me flowers, hugging me, and kissing me will make me forgive you?"

"I don’t expect you to forgive me. I just want to make it up to you."

"Liar!" Nina was incandescent with rage. "You’re not making it up to me, you’re just trying to ease your own conscience! You killed your own child, and you can’t live with the guilt. Aiden Sinclair, you are the coldest, most selfish person on this earth!"

"Call it what you want. But you can give up any hope of leaving. We’re destined to be tangled up together for the rest of our lives."

With a show of strength, Aiden hoisted Nina onto his shoulder and tossed her onto the nearby sofa.

Nina was still struggling frantically. Aiden ripped off his tie and moved to bind her hands, but she kicked out at him.

"I have plenty of ties. I wouldn’t mind tying up your legs, too," he threatened with a smirk.

’Despicable! Scoundrel!’

Nina was forced to submit, but in her mind, she was cursing him to hell and back.

Once her hands were tied, Aiden got up, found a broom, and swept the glass shards that had nearly cut her foot into the trash.

"I’m the one who made you angry, not the roses."

Aiden found another vase, picked up the flowers, and arranged them inside, one stem at a time.

After cleaning up the glass, he cleared the half-eaten meal from the table and loaded the dishes into the dishwasher.

"I’m hungry. You’re coming with me to eat out."

Without another word, Aiden dragged her out the door. He didn’t take the car, just pulled her along on foot.

There weren’t many people on the street, but those who were there stared at them curiously.

Nina dug in her heels and held up her bound hands, demanding angrily,

"Untie them!"

Furious and humiliated, the woman didn’t dare to challenge him head-on, so she could only pout to express her displeasure.

Aiden just smiled, taking off his suit jacket and draping it over her shoulders.

A crisp, fresh scent instantly enveloped her. The jacket still held his warmth, and Nina froze on the spot.

The large jacket enveloped her entire upper body, completely hiding her bound hands from view.

Swallowed by the large jacket, the petite woman looked all the more docile.

Aiden was very pleased. He put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side.

"Let’s go!"

Perhaps the potent, masculine scent from the jacket clouded her senses, because Nina didn’t resist, obediently letting him lead her on.

From behind, their two figures looked just like an intimate couple.

They walked aimlessly for a while before coming upon a street food market.

The market was crowded, lined on both sides with all kinds of small eateries, the air thick with the sizzle of cooking and the buzz of everyday life.

Aiden started to walk on, but Nina, wanting to be difficult, stopped. "I’m tired. Let’s eat here."

"What do you want to eat?" Aiden’s brow twitched as he scanned the smoky, greasy-looking food stalls.

"That one!" Nina jutted her chin in one direction.

When he saw the sign, Aiden’s brow furrowed into a tight knot.

"You don’t want to? Fine. Untie me and I’ll go eat by myself!"

"No! Let’s go. There’s a restaurant up ahead."

Aiden refused and reached for Nina, but she dodged to the side.

"I’m eating here today. If you don’t let me, I’ll start screaming."

"Help! Kidnapper!"

Nina had barely opened her mouth before Aiden clapped a hand over it. "Alright, have it your way."

Nina grinned triumphantly and strode toward the little shop. "Boss, two bowls of luosifen!"

"Untie my hands, or I’ll start screaming," Nina threatened, raising her bound wrists.

Aiden reluctantly undid the tie. Nina rubbed her reddened wrists. "Pervert!"

There were only a few other customers, so their luosifen arrived quickly.

The owner brought their luosifen over. "Here you go, handsome fella, pretty lady."

As if his life depended on it, Aiden clamped a hand over his nose and bolted out the door.

Seeing his utterly horrified expression for the first time, Nina couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Aiden, realizing he’d overreacted, sat back down, looking sheepish.

"What is this stuff? It stinks!"

"Try it. It smells bad, but it tastes amazing."

Aiden shook his head, his lips sealed in refusal. But Nina was determined to torment him. She picked up a tangle of noodles with her chopsticks and held it to his lips.

"Try it!" she urged, her large eyes sparkling with anticipation.

A couple at the next table glanced over, whispering, "Look at them, they’re so cute and playful."

As if compelled by some unseen force, Aiden opened his mouth and, steeling himself, swallowed the stinking mouthful.

"How was it?"

It was nearly impossible to swallow, but Aiden still nodded. "Mm."

"Really? You don’t think it stinks? I think it tastes like shit. I don’t like it," Nina said, dropping her chopsticks with a grin.

Aiden’s face turned thunderous. "And how would you know what shit tastes like?"

"Heh, I don’t," she giggled. "But you certainly look like you just ate some."

Nina was laughing, completely lost in her moment of triumph, when her vision suddenly went dark. Aiden had lunged forward and kissed her.

"Now you know, don’t you?" ’He wasn’t about to let her get away with that!’