Husband With Benefits

Did you receive my gift?" Dora’s voice chirped through the phone, pulling Cai’s attention from his ’gift’—who had darted inside as if she still thought he was a bear ready to pounce.

He stifled a laugh, glancing at Lily’s retreating form. "Oh, it’s... interesting. Is this why you had me shipped out here?"

"Uh huh! You’ve been sulking for weeks now. I thought you’d snap out of it, but after you tried to name the baby ’Lily’, I knew it was serious. So, I figured you’d need something bigger—like this gift. You’re welcome!"

"I don’t think she is quite happy with the stunt you’ve pulled."

He snorted. "I don’t think she’s too thrilled with your little stunt, by the way."

Dora laughed, the kind of laugh that said she wasn’t remotely sorry. "Of course she isn’t. I’ll have a word with her in a minute. But let me make one thing crystal clear—if you mess this up and hurt her, I swear, you’ll be stuck in the wilderness with no Wi-Fi forever. And you know what that means."

"Okay, okay, no need to threaten my very soul! And, uh... thanks, I guess."

Lily didn’t have to strain her ears to catch every word. Cai wasn’t exactly being subtle as he chatted away, his eyes locked on her like a cat watching a mouse. The second he mentioned her not being happy about "the stunt," her suspicions were confirmed. She had been tricked into coming here! She glared at him, then at her poor, abandoned suitcase still outside the door.

There was no way she was staying. Not after this. Not under any circumstances. She was about to make a break for it when he casually passed her the phone, a teasing grin tugging at his lips.