Sweet Love 2x: Miss Ruthless CEO for our Superstar Uncle-Chapter 110: Between Them

Morning light filled the sitting room, catching on the glass and polished floor. The television on the far wall was on but silent. A news anchor changed expressions on the screen while a ticker moved below. Nothing surfaced. There were no speculative headlines or blurry images from a fence.

Franz sat on the sofa with a tablet in his hand. He read without urgency. His thumb moved slowly and absentmindedly, pausing at headlines that didn’t hold him. A cup of coffee rested on the low table in front of him, steam rising lightly before disappearing into the air.

Arianne sat across from him, looking at a brief from Rochefort Group. Her pen rested on the margin without writing anything. She ignored the television and didn’t check her phone.

Gio stood by the console table, reviewing the day’s schedule on his tablet. His back stayed straight as he read through the list of meetings and plans, quietly checking times to himself so only those nearby could hear.

"There’s a partner call at ten," Gio said.

Franz glanced up. "I’ll take it from the study."

"The driver’s confirmed for eleven-thirty."

"Good."

Their conversation stayed within the room. Nothing in it suggested disruption.

The twins walked in soon after, Lily entering first, Leo following while holding a tablet. They stopped just inside the doorway and looked at the adults with serious expressions.

Lily tilted her head. "You’re sitting closer today."

Franz glanced at Arianne, then replied, "Are we?"

Arianne didn’t look up from her file. "We’re just sitting."

Lily considered this. "You weren’t before."

Leo typed something on his tablet and turned the screen toward them.

BETTER.

Arianne’s pen paused. "Better than what?"

Leo looked at the tablet, erased the text, and typed again.

MORE.

Franz leaned forward slightly. "More of what?"

Leo frowned slightly at the device and handed it to Lily.

"He means you’re more together," Lily said.

No embarrassment in her voice.

Franz picked up his coffee and took a sip. "We are together."

The twins exchanged a glance that suggested they found the answer insufficient but acceptable for the moment. They moved toward the breakfast room without further comment, whispering quietly between themselves.

Gio watched them pass, then returned to his schedule.

Franz took a production call in the shared study next to the sitting room. He left the door partially open, so his voice could be heard. He spoke calmly about adjusting timing, making small changes to a scene’s blocking, confirming arrivals.

Arianne walked through the foyer twice during the call. First, she got a file from the cabinet. Later, she took a call in the small conference alcove near the back hall. Her voice stayed firm as she spoke to the overseas division.

At eleven-thirty, Franz walked out of the study while adjusting his jacket cuff. Gio approached with a thin folder.

"Here’s the revised schedule," he said, handing it over.

Franz looked at the document, folded it, and put it in his coat pocket.

Arianne came from the hallway, holding her phone.

"Are you leaving?" she asked.

"For a few hours," he said.

She stopped in front of him and reached up to fix his tie, which had shifted to one side. She touched it just long enough to make sure it was straight before pulling her hand back.

His hands stayed at his sides.

"You’ve been careless with this lately." she said softly.

He looked down at the knot. "Have I?"

"Yes."

Her voice carried a trace of dryness.

He adjusted the tie again for her to check. "Better?"

"Acceptable."

As he moved toward the door, his hand briefly rested on her waist. He did not pull or guide her, just made contact for a moment before letting go. The touch lasted a second.

Gio looked away without saying anything, already checking the next item on his tablet.

At the door, Franz paused. Looked back.

Arianne was already walking toward the study.

He watched her for a moment. Then stepped outside.

Outside, the car door closed quietly.

The estate returned to its rhythm.

In the early afternoon, Arianne sat in the sitting room, reviewing a vendor report. Gio stood by the window, quietly talking on his phone about shipment timelines.

When he finished the call, he stayed by the window for a moment, looking out at the courtyard.

Arianne looked up from her file. "Anything outstanding?"

Gio glanced at his tablet. "No."

She nodded once and went back to her page.

The word passed between them.

The twins returned from their lessons and immediately started watching Franz and Arianne again. They sat at the far end of the sofa, pretending to organize colored pencils while keeping an eye on the space between them as Franz came back from his meeting.

Franz entered with a light smell of fresh air on his coat. Gio followed a few steps behind, holding a tablet.

"No delays," Franz said as he took off his coat.

"Good," Arianne replied, still focused on her document.

This time, Franz sat beside her.

Lily lifted her head slightly.

Leo typed again.

GOOD

Arianne felt him settle beside her. She turned a page in her file.

Franz leaned back and let his arm rest along the back of the sofa, not touching her directly. After a moment, his fingers rested briefly against her knuckles. The contact was unannounced, brief, unforced. She did not withdraw. She continued reading, though her eyes paused for a fraction longer than necessary at the end of the line.

The twins exchanged another satisfied glance.They didn’t need to whisper. The adults were finally doing it themselves.

Leo typed one last message for Lily’s eyes only: DONE. She nodded once.

In the evening, dinner unfolded without interruption. The conversation centered on ordinary matters—school progress, an upcoming site visit, a scheduling conflict that required minor adjustment. No one referenced anything beyond the house’s walls.

After the twins were guided upstairs, Arianne returned to the sitting room where Franz and Gio stood near the console table reviewing a draft email. The lamplight cast a steady glow across the wood, illuminating the edge of Gio’s tablet and the line of Franz’s shoulder.

"It’s quiet," Gio said.

Franz glanced at his phone. "It’ll stay that way."

Arianne approached. Looked at the screen. Didn’t ask.

Gio glanced between them. "I should—" He gestured vaguely toward the hallway.

Franz nodded. "Goodnight."

Gio hesitated just a moment. Then left.

Franz moved to the sofa and sat down again. This time, he reached for Arianne’s hand and held it gently between them.She didn’t look at him. Didn’t squeeze.

But she didn’t pull away.

After a long moment, she spoke quietly. "The twins notice everything."

"I know."

"They’ll ask eventually."

He turned her hand slightly in his. "What will you tell them?"

She was quiet. "The truth. Whatever that is."

He looked at her profile. "You don’t know yet?"

She met his eyes. "Do you?"

He didn’t answer right away. "I know I don’t want to sit on the other end of the sofa anymore."

Her mouth curved. Barely.

"That’s not nothing."

The lamplight reflected faintly in the window behind them. Outside, the courtyard lights came on in their usual pattern.

Upstairs, a door opened slightly and then stopped. A thin line of light from the hallway stretched across the landing before disappearing again. A whisper followed, too quiet to hear, and then the soft sound of a tablet being set down.

Downstairs, Franz held Arianne’s hand loosely. He did not look at her, and she did not look at him. They stayed like that without speaking.

After a moment, he let her go and stood up. He walked to the kitchen to get the glass of water he had left there earlier. He picked it up, paused as if unsure whether he’d already taken a sip, and then drank.

When he came back, he sat in a different spot. The cushion next to her still had the shape of where he had been sitting.

No phones buzzed.

No one talked.

Upstairs, the twins’ door finally settled into place.