15
A low murmur escaped him as his lashes fluttered slightly, as if he was stirring
I rolled away–twice–putting as much distance as possible between us. The last thing I wanted was for him to
wake up and realize I’d practically draped myself all over him in my sleep.
I hadn’t expected Zane to sleep in so late. And worse, I hated myself for lacking any self–control.
Moving as quietly as possible, I got up and slipped into the bathroom to wash up. By the time I came out, Zane was already awake, standing by the window with a somewhat brooding look on his face.
“Good morning, Mr. Kensington,” I greeted.
The moment he heard my voice, he turned and whatever frustration had been on his face vanished, replaced by
his usual warm, easygoing smile.
“Morning, Livia.”
Hearing his voice first thing in the morning sent an odd warmth through me. The sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow around him. His sculpted features stood in stark contrast against the soft light, like a masterpiece chiseled from marble. I forced myself to push aside whatever ridiculous thoughts I was having
cleared my throat.
“Do you have any preference for what you’d like to wear today?”
“Anything casual and comfortable”
Without waiting for my help, he moved toward the bathroom, navigating the space with practiced ease.
“I don’t do much these days,” he remarked, almost offhandedly. “Just help my brother manage the company from home and advising on the big decisions.”
He let out a small chuckle. “I used to be the one pulling all the weight, but now it’s his turn to be the workhorse.” His tone was so casual, so normal–like we were an old married couple making small talk over breakfast. It made
BASAM c c
“I don’t do much these days,” he remarked, almost offhandedly. “Just help my brother manage the company from home and advising on the big decisions.”
He let out a small chuckle. “I used to be the one pulling all the weight, but now it’s his turn to be the workhorse. His tone was so casual, so normal–like we were an old married couple making small talk over breakfast. It made something deep in my heart stir. If I could spend the rest of my life like this, in quiet companionship, would that really
be so bad?
When he finally emerged from the bathroom, freshly dressed, my breath caught. His fitted athletic wear hugged his lean frame perfectly, accentuating the defined lines of his body. Before I could stop myself, my gaze flickered downward–just for a second–before I quickly looked away, as if burned.
For the love of God, Livia, get a grip.
I shook my head, trying to clear it of completely inappropriate thoughts. I was here to build a stable life, not to ogle my incredibly attractive husband. I had thought waking up at nine was already late, but when we went downstairs, it turned out we were still some of the earliest risers. Aside from Edward, who had gone fishing at a
nearby lake with the groundskeeper, the house was eerily quiet
As I stepped into the dining room, Edward suddenly returned, grumbling under his breath about needing more
bait. The moment he spotted me, his face broke into a wide grin.
“Well, now! Up early, I see
“Morning, Grandpa,” I said, offering him a small smile.
He nodded approvingly before reaching into his coat pocket and pressing something into my hand–a crisp, thick envelope
I blinked in surprise. “What’s this?”
“Just a little something for the new bride,” he said with a wink. “Consider it a welcome gift”
I stared down at it, completely caught off guard.
It felt surreal–being here, being treated with such warmth, such ease. Back at the Montclair estate, I had spent years walking on eggshells, careful never to overstep, never to ask for too much. Yet here I was, only a few days into my marriage and I was already being handed gifts just for waking up at a reasonable hour.
And this was just the beginning
In the Kensington household, women were not just respected–they were cherished.
Every morning, I spent time with Kya and her mother, Vivian, basking in the kind of casual luxury I had never known. The best meals, the best clothes, the best experiences–whatever we wanted, we got.
At first, I was hesitant. It felt unnatural, like I was taking something I hadn’t earned. But as time passed and with Vivian’s encouragement, I slowly started to accept it.
“In this family, men make money so women can enjoy it,” Vivian had told me, linking her arm with mine as we walked through the gardens. “We give them children. We keep their homes warm. That’s our part of the deal.”
She shrugged playfully. “If anything, they get upset when we refuse to take what they give.”
I had learned that Vivian was only a few years older than me. She and Zane’s younger brother had been hi school sweethearts who made it work.
They had Kya when they were only twenty, went through their fair share of ups and downs, but in the end, they stayed together.
“Kensington men might have their flaws,” Vivian mused, “but one thing they don’t lack is a sense of responsibility. Trust me, no matter what happens, Zane would never let you down.”
“And once you marry into the Kensington Family, you get two percent of the company shares. Automatically. No terms and condition.”
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She shot me a knowing look.
