CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me

Chapter 239 - 184: A Couple for a Lifetime (Part 2)

He stood there, tall and straight, with his hands tucked into the pockets of his black overcoat. In the piercing cold of the winter wind, the sight of his broad, warm figure was enough to warm her from head to toe.

She pulled over and gestured for him to get in. "What are you doing here?"

"I saw the other parents and children returning one by one. What took you so long?"

He slid into the passenger seat and frowned at her as she started the car again. While driving toward their house, she explained, "Oh, after the parent-teacher conference ended, Dylan’s teacher wanted to talk to me privately for a little while."

"A man or a woman?"

’Naomi Shaw had expected him to ask what they talked about, but his first reaction was to ask *that*.’ Before she could even answer, Dylan shouted from the back seat, "A man!"

She caught a glimpse of his displeased expression in her peripheral vision and quickly said with a laugh, "Oh, his teacher was just talking to me about whether Dylan should skip a grade!"

Dylan piped up from the back again. "Our teacher is a really cheerful and handsome young man. He just graduated from college this year. He even complimented Mom, saying she’s beautiful and gentle and doesn’t look at all like a mother of two!"

The car pulled to a stop in front of their house just then. His face fell. He immediately opened the door, got out, and strode toward the house without a word.

Naomi Shaw shot a furious glare at the little devil, who was clearly enjoying the chaos. "Dylan Donovan, you just live to stir up trouble, don’t you?"

’Doesn’t that little imp know how easily his father gets jealous? Just great. Now he’s mad.’

Dylan Donovan snickered to himself. He had said it on purpose *because* he knew how jealous his father got. ’Mom and Dad have been getting along too well lately,’ he thought. ’A peaceful life needs a little spice to keep things interesting, or it’ll get boring!’

Frustrated, Naomi Shaw followed Julian Donovan into the house. He headed straight upstairs to the bedroom, and she had no choice but to follow. Entering the bedroom, she saw he had found a cigarette from somewhere and was about to light it. She lunged forward, snatched it away, and tossed it and the lighter into the trash can. "Julian Donovan, do you have a death wish? The doctor said you’re not allowed to smoke!"

’Honestly, this man. It’s one thing to be moody, but how could he mess with his own health like this? Leah Monroe had repeatedly warned him to quit both smoking and drinking.’

He didn’t seem to mind that she had snatched the cigarette away so forcefully. He just stood there, hands at his sides, and stated, "I’ll go to Dylan’s parent-teacher conferences from now on."

She was exasperated. "Can’t you tell your son was just trying to provoke you? His teacher is young and handsome..."

Seeing his expression darken again, she quickly changed her tune. "But he really only wanted to talk about Dylan skipping a grade! He didn’t say anything else!"

"What about him complimenting you on being young and beautiful?"

He wouldn’t let it go. She sputtered, "Hey, did that injury knock your IQ down to zero? These days, doesn’t everyone start a conversation with a few pleasantries and a compliment?"

"In any case, I’m going to the parent-teacher conferences from now on!"

He insisted stubbornly. Her patient explanation had been completely useless. She threw her hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine, have it your way. If you want to go, then go! I’m going downstairs to make dinner. Dean Coleman will be bringing Joy home soon, and I need to get it ready so I can ask the dean to stay and eat with us..."

She didn’t have time to stand around indulging his jealousy. Every weekend, Jean Coleman would take the two children to her place. Since Dylan had his parent-teacher conference today, she had only picked up Joy.

She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace. His expression was completely serious as he asked, "Do I look bad right now?"

His hair had been cut very short for the surgery, like a soldier’s buzz cut. After such a major operation, his complexion naturally wasn’t as vibrant as a healthy person’s. He certainly seemed to have plenty of energy for being jealous, though.

Julian Donovan felt it himself, too. The injury seemed to have made him more vulnerable. It had certainly made him see many things clearly and appreciate the importance of his home and family. He cared so much that he was terrified of loss, which was why he felt so fragile and insecure.

She could see the insecurity in his eyes. Sighing, she raised her hand to gently caress his face. "No matter what you become, in my heart, you’ll always be the most handsome man. You’ll always be my one and only..."

Whether he was haggard or radiant, young or old.

He finally seemed reassured. He lowered his head to kiss her, then let her go. As he watched her leave, Julian Donovan made a silent decision and picked up his phone to make a call.

Naomi Shaw was busy in the kitchen, simmering a soup. Julian Donovan came in and gently wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. Together, they watched the soup bubbling in the clay pot. Lately, whenever she was in the kitchen, he had taken to coming in and holding her just like this. She was afraid he would end up smelling of cooking oil and tried to shoo him out, but he never listened, making it awkward for her to cook sometimes.

’She felt he was becoming more and more like a child. He was not only clingy but also incredibly immature. His jealous fit just now, for example, was ridiculously childish. She found it impossible to reconcile the man before her with the Julian Donovan who once struck fear into the hearts of the Thailos Mafia, or with the wise, composed dean of Mercy Hospital.’

He turned her around to face him, cradling her in his arms. His tone was solemn. "Let’s get remarried."

"Remarried?"

She was surprised. "Aren’t things great the way they are now? You know I don’t care about that stuff. It’s not like you’re going to abandon me, right?"

She teased him with a grin. She truly felt things were perfectly fine as they were. She trusted that he wouldn’t leave her, and she certainly would never leave him.

’Back when she couldn’t have him, when she felt insecure, she had desperately craved that piece of paper as proof. But now that she had him completely, none of that seemed important anymore. As long as he loved her, that was all that mattered.’

"But I care!"

He was completely serious. "Since I love you, I should make things right and official. Men always complain about being tied down by a piece of paper, but that’s only because they haven’t found their true love. Once a man finds her, he’s more than willing to be bound to her."

Seeing him speak with such conviction, she couldn’t help but laugh. "Is this your idea of a marriage proposal?"

To her surprise, he denied it without a second thought. "Of course not!"

’A proposal is a huge deal. How could he do it so casually? Since they were starting over, he was determined to make everything unforgettable for her.’

Naomi Shaw was stunned. She had been about to say yes if he’d called it a proposal. But since he’d denied it so adamantly, all she could say was, "Then what did you have in mind?"