Chapter 221: Cultivating Feelings
Adrian Lancaster’s arm wrapped around Wren Sutton’s shoulders, pulling her into his embrace.
The gesture was so sudden, so intimate, that it made Wren Sutton freeze in her seat, her expression a little unnatural.
’The whole family is watching!’
Pressed so close, Wren Sutton could smell the faint scent of mint on Adrian Lancaster, mixed with a trace of hospital antiseptic.
In front of so many people, she felt a pang of embarrassment and tried to push him away, but his arm immediately tightened.
He whispered in Wren Sutton’s ear, his voice gentle and full of affection.
"This past year, I haven’t stopped thinking about you for a single moment."
"Now, I’m finally back by your side. I’ll never leave you and the children again. Our family will be together forever."
The dining room fell silent for a moment, then applause broke out, each clap striking Wren Sutton’s heart.
Lucia Lancaster said playfully, "Brother, you’ve finally figured it out."
Wren Sutton was already embarrassed, and hearing the family’s applause made her even more self-conscious. Her cheeks burned hot, and the tips of her ears turned bright red.
Adrian Lancaster’s embrace was warm and solid, with a gentleness that was impossible to refuse. This only made her more flustered and fidgety.
"We’ve been so focused on our meal, the two children haven’t eaten yet."
Wren Sutton had finally found an excuse. She struggled free from the man’s arms with a sudden burst of strength, practically springing up from her chair.
The sound of chopsticks accidentally falling to the floor was exceptionally clear in the quiet dining room.
She didn’t even have time to pick them up, hurriedly saying, "I’m going to feed the babies their formula."
Adrian Lancaster watched Wren Sutton’s retreating back, which looked for all the world like she was fleeing. A flicker of pain, almost imperceptible, crossed his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.
He bent down, picked up the chopsticks that had fallen on the floor, and gently placed them on the table.
"Grandma, Dad, Mom," Adrian Lancaster said, his tone calm and firm. "I plan to take Wren and the children back to our villa tomorrow. We won’t be staying at the old family house anymore."
Claire Sterling was taken aback for a moment. "Why so suddenly? If you live here, Mom can help you take care of the children. Besides, your body has just recovered, you need someone to look after you too."
"We’ll take two maids with us. That will solve all the problems."
"That may be true, but..." Claire Sterling was still worried.
Adrian Lancaster had made up his mind; no one could persuade him otherwise. "I want to properly rebuild my relationship with Wren. I owe her too much, and I don’t want to wait any longer."
Lucia Lancaster caught the deeper meaning in his words. She blinked and teased mischievously, "Brother, you’re still in your recovery period. You should exercise some restraint."
Elara Sterling shot her a stern look. "Lucia, what nonsense are you spouting? Eat your dinner."
Lucia Lancaster put down her chopsticks with a serious expression. "Mom, I’m not spouting nonsense. I’m just concerned about my brother’s health."
She paused, then chuckled. "Of course, I also support my brother’s idea of rebuilding their relationship. A husband and wife who have been separated for over a year... how could they not miss each other? Living in the old family house is bound to be a bit inconvenient."
Claire Sterling got a headache, pressing her forehead, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Alright, alright, that’s enough. We’re not discussing this topic anymore."
She had been young once, too. When it came to matters between a husband and wife, she understood them as clear as day.
...
In the bedroom, Wren Sutton leaned against the back of the door, her hand pressed to her chest, feeling her own rapid heartbeat.
After calming down for a moment, she walked over to the stroller. The two babies were lying there quietly. Her daughter was sucking on a pacifier, while her son stared at her with wide, round eyes.
The nanny always fed the children their formula on schedule. Wren Sutton had used the clumsiest excuse to leave the dining room.
She gave a bitter smile and muttered to herself, "Babies, what should Mommy do?"
After a moment of silence, the bedroom door was gently pushed open.
Adrian Lancaster walked in, closing the door behind him.
He had already taken off his jacket. The sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up to his elbows, revealing a pair of strong forearms.
"The babies aren’t crying, are they?" Adrian Lancaster asked as he approached, his voice even lower and gentler than it had been in the dining room.
"I’ll soothe them. You go rest on the bed."
Wren Sutton shook her head. "They’re not fussy. And they’re not hungry."
Adrian Lancaster sat down naturally beside her. "The little ones are so well-behaved. They know how to dote on their mommy."
With that said, he took the initiative to take Wren Sutton’s hand.
His palm was warm and strong, with thick calluses.
Feeling the warmth of the man’s palm, Wren Sutton’s eyelashes fluttered. She sat there quietly, forgetting to pull her hand away.
After more than a year of separation, so many things had changed. Her feelings were too complicated to put into words.
"Wren," Adrian Lancaster called her name softly. He raised his other hand and gently caressed her cheek. "Look at me."
Wren Sutton slowly raised her head to meet Adrian Lancaster’s eyes.
His gaze was exceptionally deep, swirling with a torrent of emotions: deep affection, apology, guilt, and a kind of fiery intensity that made her heart race.
"I owe you so much," Adrian Lancaster said in a low voice, his thumb gently stroking Wren Sutton’s cheek with the utmost patience and tenderness.
"I will do everything in my power to make it up to you with the greatest sincerity. When I say those three words, ’I love you,’ I mean it."
There was a suppressed emotion in his voice that made Wren Sutton’s heart clench slightly. She wanted to say something, but no sound would come out.
Adrian Lancaster held her and lowered his head, the distance between them shrinking.
Wren Sutton felt his warm breath brush against her skin. Her heart began to pound wildly as countless images flashed through her mind.
Just as Adrian Lancaster’s lips were about to touch hers, she suddenly turned her head to the side.
The kiss landed on her cheek, warm and soft.
Time seemed to stand still.
Adrian Lancaster froze, his breath catching for a moment.
Wren Sutton could feel his body tense up and see the flash of pain in his eyes.
"Adrian Lancaster, I..." Her voice was hoarse, and her fingers unconsciously tightened on the hem of her clothes.
Adrian Lancaster’s hands were still gently cupping her face. His expression was complex and hard to read, a mixture of disappointment, understanding, and a deep, profound pain.
"I scared you. I’m sorry. It’s my fault for not being able to control myself, my feelings and actions. I can wait. I’ll wait until you’re ready to accept me."
Wren Sutton was speechless.
She didn’t know why she had dodged, only that when Adrian Lancaster’s lips were about to descend, a nameless fear had seized her.
She feared this tenderness was just a fleeting illusion. She feared that if she let herself fall for him again, she would only have to face another emotional betrayal. She feared that the heart that had learned to protect itself would only get hurt again.
Once bitten, twice shy.
"I actually have a lot I want to say to you, but I don’t know how to start."
Adrian Lancaster gazed at Wren Sutton’s trembling eyelashes and the slight redness rimming her eyes, a sharp, stinging pain rising in his heart.
He pulled her into his embrace. This hug was different from the one in the dining room; this time, he was much more careful, full of tender affection.
"It’s okay. I can wait. Wait until you’re ready to talk."
He whispered in her ear, his voice so gentle it was heartbreaking.
"We have a lifetime. There’s no rush."
Wren Sutton leaned on Adrian Lancaster’s shoulder, closed her eyes, and tears streamed silently down her face.
She could feel the strength in his arms, hear his steady heartbeat, and smell the reassuring scent that clung to him.
But the crack in the bottom of her heart still ached faintly, impossible to ignore.
After a moment of silence, Adrian Lancaster spoke, breaking the delicate atmosphere in the bedroom.
"I told Mom and Dad that tomorrow, we’re taking the children home—back to our own little home."
"We’ll bring two maids over. The maids will be in charge of cleaning and cooking, and I’ll be in charge of the children and taking care of you."
Wren Sutton had no objections; she hadn’t planned on living in the old family house forever anyway.
"Taking care of children is no easy task."
Adrian Lancaster was confident, already eager to start his new job.
"I’ll definitely do my best to be a full-time dad and a full-time husband. I’ll take good care of the kids and wait on my wife hand and foot. No matter how hard or tiring it is, I’m willing."
Wren Sutton didn’t want to dampen his enthusiasm. It was only natural for a father to take care of his children.
"Then you can give it a try."
Hearing this, Adrian Lancaster pulled Wren Sutton onto his lap and held her tight.
"Honey, thank you for giving me a chance."
A determined gentleness, full of the power of love, surged in his heart.
"I promise, you won’t be disappointed."