Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 154

Chapter 154: Do You Want to Try It?

Once Lariette was done with her online meeting, she quickly shut down her monitor. She didn’t notice how much time had passed.

“What’s Eddy doing?” muttered Lariette to herself as she did a few stretches. Her body was quite stiff from sitting on the chair.

Lariette heard movements coming from the outside when she had just joined the meeting, the familiar sound when Ruediger began cleaning. She didn’t notice when did it stop.

‘He surely isn’t too busy with his work, huh?’

Lariette smiled to herself, thinking how flexible Ruediger’s work was.

At times, he would lock himself up in his home office for hours with the sound of his keyboard and mouse clicking faintly echoed. In others, he would either relax in the living room or be busy with chores.

Lariette checked her phone, seeing no messages from Declan. She wondered how this morning went on his side.

Narrowing her eyes, Lariette’s mind wandered to what should happen today.

Surely Leon’s attempt to coerce Stephanie into marrying him today would be thwarted by Declan, right?

“I’ll update you once everything’s settled a bit.”

That was what Declan told Lariette during their brief phone call last night.

Lawyers from the Elsher Group and Delaney Industries would file reports against Leon this morning. Perhaps, they had already done so.

‘The Holts will have it messy. Not my problem, tho.’

Reluctant to bother herself with the trouble caused by Leon more than necessary, Lariette decided to look for Ruediger. The sweet floral fragrance from the mopped floor greeted her once she opened the door.

‘Oh, he’s in the kitchen again?’

Lariette’s ears caught the sounds coming from the kitchen. Wondering what kind of food Ruediger planned to make, she hurriedly went in the direction.

“Eddy! What are you doing?”

Ruediger turned from the fridge to her once Lariette exclaimed. She quickly covered her mouth, sheepishly thinking how excited she sounded.

“Wanna see me bake it?” Ruediger kindly asked, his brows arching, “I’m making a blueberry walnut pie.”

“Sure!”

Ruediger’s laughter filled the kitchen as Lariette climbed on the bar stool. She saw used mixing bowls, a wooden rolling pin and others on the kitchen island.

“Blueberry walnut pie, en? That sounds so good,” Lariette commented, unable to stop herself.

Smiling at Lariette, Ruediger chuckled softly. He placed a glass of plain water before her, “Have some drink. I’ll make the filling now. The doughs need at least one hour in the fridge.”

“Thank you.”

While drinking, Lariette watched Ruediger toast the walnuts. Heating them in a dry pan over low heat, he stirred the walnuts frequently for a few minutes. Their aromatic fragrance wafted in the air.

“Can I have one?” Lariette eyed the bowl of freshly toasted walnuts, almost salivating from the aroma.

“I’ve thought you’d ask that,” Ruediger joked, his countenance easing. He scooped some and put them into a small bowl, “Be careful. They’re still hot.”

“Yay!”

While Lariette slowly bit the crunchier walnuts, Ruediger poured the fresh, washed blueberries into a bowl. They rolled and tumbled, deep blue color against the white porcelain.

Ruediger tossed in brown sugar, a pinch of salt and some cinnamon, all sprinkling over the blueberries. He reached for the lemon next.

The citrusy fragrance filled the air as he grated the zest before squeezing it out for its juice. The scent blended with the aromatic walnuts and the spice coming from the cinnamon.

“I’ve watched you baking many times,” Lariette spoke, her sapphire eyes shifting from the bowl to Ruediger, “But, it’s still impressive.”

“I don’t want to brag, but,” Ruediger paused, a smirk forming on his lips, “Your househusband is good in the kitchen.”

Bursting into laughter, Lariette shook her head in helplessness. She really couldn’t deny that. Picking him as her contracted husband was indeed the best choice she made.

After mixing some cornstarch into the bowl, Ruediger began chopping the walnuts. Wanting a bit of crunch in every bite, he didn’t chop them too finely.

“Let me mix it,” Lariette raised one hand, “You’ve just made the dough, right? How much longer will it take?”

While passing the bowl and the spatula to Lariette, Ruediger glanced at the clock, “In half an hour.”

Lariette nodded once. She stirred inside the bowl, watching the blueberries mixing with the sugar, salt, cinnamon, cornstarch and chopped walnuts. The tangy lemon scent lingered on the tip of her nose.

Once Lariette was done, she set the bowl aside. She jumped down the bar stool, rushing to the sink where Ruediger had just put the used bowls, rolling pin and other items there.

“Let me clean them,” Lariette nudged Ruediger by the elbow, “I won’t take no, okay?”

Ruediger chuckled. He knew he couldn’t win over this, “Thank you, Lettie.”

The kitchen smelled of fruit and spice, raising Lariette’s anticipation toward the pie. She grabbed her pink frilly apron, wearing it over her clothes.

As Lariette began washing the dishes, Ruediger cleaned his work surface for the next step. They worked in a comforting silence.

“Thirsty, Lettie?”

“Just plain water for me, thanks.”

After Lariette and Ruediger completed their respective tasks, they still had some time left. They sat on the bar stools, sitting side by side with one glass of water each.

“You remember what might happen today, en?” Lariette glanced at Ruediger. She held the empty glass with both of her hands.

“About the brat of the Holt family?” Ruediger arched his brows. Lowering his gaze, he stared at Lariette, “No report from your brother yet?”

Ruediger still remembered what Declan informed them last Saturday. Today was the day the latter would launch his attack. Chairman Delaney’s men joined hands as well.

Shaking her head, Lariette replied, her voice subdued, “Nothing yet. Well… I don’t wanna think of them but, I’m curious.”

Ruediger hummed softly, understanding that Lariette tried to hide her conflicted feelings. Glancing at the clock, he whistled before saying, “Let’s get your mind off it. Time to take out the doughs.”

“Oh!”

Ruediger headed to the oven first, intending to preheat it. Then, he carried out the two bowls before placing them on the kitchen island. He dusted his work surface lightly with flour.

“Eddy! You made a colored dough too?”

Lariette stood not far from Ruediger, craning her neck to look into the bowls. She saw one of them in a lovely pinkish-purple shade.

“Hehe, just watch me.”

Ruediger unwrapped the naturally colored golden dough, rolling it out smoothly. Then, he fit the majority of it into a pie dish, his movements skillful and precise. A small bowl of egg wash waited to be used later.

Grabbing the bowl of the filling, Ruediger stirred the mixture again. The glossy blueberry walnut filling caught the light, casting a sheen on its surface.

“Wanna try it?”

“…en?”

Before Lariette could say anything, Ruediger had already scooped some of the filling, using a clean teaspoon. He brought it near her mouth, his brows arching as he silently nudged her to taste it.

“Okay…”

Lariette unconsciously pressed her lips for a moment before opening her mouth. She didn’t realize her cheeks had a faint hint of red.

‘Damn it.’

Ruediger inwardly cursed himself. He shifted his eyes from Lariette once she tasted the filling, the tip of her tongue touching the spoon.

‘Don’t kiss her now, Ruediger.’

Those words blared in his mind, something he was already familiar with before.