Chapter 561

The sky was already dark when Lily arrived home, but the lights were on, reminding her that someone was waiting. It made her feel serene and safe.

She entered the house and felt the warmth inside. Alexander was sitting on the living room couch, watching television. Seeing her, he grabbed the remote and switched off the TV. Then he went to the kitchen and returned with a bowl of hot soup for her, after she put on her slippers.

"Are you cold?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Lily replied. Eloise had dropped her off not far from the city, and she'd easily hailed a cab. The distance to their house was considerable, however, which is why it took a little longer to get home.

She sipped the soup; it was fresh and delicious. She felt grateful and happy.

Alexander said nothing, only resting his chin on his hand and watching her. Her long lashes fanned her cheeks as she slowly sipped the soup, her mouth pouting slightly. Her slender neck and fair skin made him want to hold her.

Her thin, black hair was in a loose ponytail, with strands framing her face, adding to her allure. She was undeniably beautiful, though oblivious to it.

"What are you looking at?" Lily asked, turning to him after finishing half her soup.

"You look good," he said.

Lily's eyes crinkled into crescents. She set down her bowl, then cupped his face in her hands, saying thoughtfully, "You do too!"

The warmth from the soup lingered on her fingertips, warming his face. He held her hands, correcting her gently. "I'm a man. You can't say I 'look good.' That's not how you describe a man."

"Says who?! You look good! You look the best!" Lily chuckled, playfully pinching his cheeks.

Alexander firmly grasped her wrists, stopping her. With a swift move, he pulled her onto the sofa. She looked up at him innocently. After a moment, he leaned down and kissed her.

His kiss was gentle; his hands, which had held her wrists, now cupped her palms, their fingers soon intertwining. The passionate kiss lasted a long time, leaving them breathless.

"Did she make things difficult for you?" Alexander asked, finally breaking the silence.

Lily knew he meant Eloise. She shook her head. "No. Look, I came back in one piece, didn't I?"

"Did you accept her request?" he asked.

Again, she shook her head. "No, I rejected her."

"Oh." It was brief, but Lily sensed his relief. "You don't want me to accept her request?" She wondered if he knew about Nathaniel and Eloise's relationship; given his resources, it wasn't unlikely.

"I won't make decisions for you, but if you need my opinion, I'll give it. Ultimately, I'll respect your decision."

Lily put her arms around his neck, leaning into his embrace. "I didn't accept her request because I don't think I could create a perfume that suits her based on my limited understanding and interactions. And I didn't want to interact with her further."

"Yeah," Alexander replied, his arm around her waist.

Thinking about Eloise's words, something struck Lily. She looked up at Alexander. "Oh, right. Nate went missing. Do you know about that?"