Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 224

Chapter 224: One Inch Apart
“May I, Lettie?” asked Ruediger once he and Lariette reached the dance floor. He hovered one palm, asking to hold her waist.

Smiling, Lariette nodded, “You may, Eddy.”

Ruediger placed his palm on Lariette’s waist, his touch was firm with a hint of gentleness. He held her hand as she rested her other one on his broad shoulder.

As they faced each other, ready to dance, his mirthful emerald eyes met her bashful sapphire ones.

“Now that I think about it,” Ruediger mused, a grin tugging on his lips as his eyes remained on Lariette’s face, “Maybe tonight’s dance can compensate us missing the bonfire one before.”

Lariette laughed softly in response, understanding what Ruediger meant. He was referring to the time they visited the summer festival back in Moonville[01].

“Hehe, you’re so right,” Lariette tilted her head, the luscious locks in the back tousled around her waist, “I gonna apologize first before I start stepping on your feet.”

“That sounds…” Ruediger paused, squinting his eyes, “menacing.”

“Hahaha!”

In the next moment, Ruediger began leading Lariette to dance, pulling her closer to him. She started on the wrong step, almost stepping on his foot not even one minute into dancing.

“S-sorry!”

Lariette blurted out, her smile stiffened as she looked down, staring at Ruediger’s feet. The man’s chuckles, sounding deep and alluring, echoed above her head.

“Relax, Lettie. Take a deep breath. We’ll start again, okay?”

“…okay.”

Lariette did as she was told. Lifting her chin, she inhaled and exhaled. Ruediger looked at her with a smile, having the hints of teasing and reassurance.

“May we start again?”

“Yes.”

Following the music, Ruediger carefully guided Lariette. Her movements were quite stiff in the beginning, a contrast to how fluid he was.

Still, he managed to keep them in sync—also avoiding his feet from being stepped on.

Lariette’s dress fanned out with each step, the fabric rippling like midnight waves under the light. Ruediger led her with ease, the palm on her waist was warm.

Around them, the cafe had turned into a true fairytale. The couples swayed under the twinkling lights, their laughter mingled with the soft music.

Without Ruediger and Lariette realizing it, Madeline instructed the event photographer to capture more photos, also videos of the couple dancing.

“You’re not bad, Lettie.”

Ruediger whispered for a second before he guided Lariette through a graceful spin. Her locks caught the soft glow of the lights as she twirled.

With a gentle tug of his hand, he pulled her toward him. She returned to his embrace, the distance left barely an inch between them.

Lariette tilted her chin up, locking her eyes onto Ruediger’s before subtly moving to his crimson hair. The hues appeared deep beneath the shower of lights.

Curling her fingers slightly against his shoulder, she tried not to think about it too much, but being this close with him made her more conscious than usual.

“Are you having fun, Lettie?” Ruediger asked, his voice lower now, almost intimate. Once again, he spun her before they were back in the close proximity.

Lariette nodded, her voice was softer when she replied, “Yes. Well, I secured myself a good teacher, so~”

“Hehe, thank you for your compliment.”

Eventually, the final notes of the song rippled through the air. Lariette and Ruediger turned still, and so did the other guests.

Ruediger didn’t immediately let Lariette go. He brushed his thumb over the back of her hand, smiling before he finally released her.

Taking a step back, Ruediger bowed with one hand over his chest. Lariette returned the gesture by curtsying. She tried to tone down the racing of her heart.

“Thank you again, Eddy,” said Lariette once she straightened her back. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she said sheepishly, “I did almost step on your foot, tho.”

“Oh, that’s nothing to be worried about,” Ruediger raised one brow, his lips tugged into a grin, “If my foot did get injured by your stomping, I’ll just go to the ER quick.”

Lariette widened her eyes, shooting Ruediger a glare. The man laughed, amused with her reaction. They didn’t see Madeline approaching them.

“Not bad, you two! I actually hoped Lari would step on your foot, Rudy.”

Ruediger scoffed, eyeing Madeline with a mock contempt, “You’re trying to get me injured? Aren’t you sorry for me, cousin? I’ve just recovered from my back injury.”

“Oh, please,” Madeline rolled her eyes, “As if your so-called back injury was bad. You even got Lari to take care of you, you lucky bastard.”

“Hahaha! Why? Are you jealous?”

“Who says I’m jealous? I just don’t want you taking advantage of my lovely Lari.”

Lariette sighed in helplessness, amused by Ruediger and Madeline’s banter. The two cousins were so close that they openly mocked each other whenever they met.

“Anyway, you guys, don’t leave yet,” Madeline patted Ruediger and Lariette’s back at the same time, reminding them to stay longer, “We’ll have a special announcement soon.”

Without telling them what she meant, Madeline sashayed to another area in the cafe. Two butlers followed her with a flick of her finger.

Ruediger put his hands in the pockets, wondering out loud, “What do you think it’s about?”

“Maybe… the Best Dress winners?” Lariette said, recalling the past events she had attended at this cafe, “Maddie always did that. I think even the regular customers are already aware of this even though the cafe never announced it directly.”

Ruediger hummed. Sweeping his gaze across the cafe, he saw only a few had left.

The guests still mingled with each other, with most of them flocking to the activity booths, also sitting at the tables.

Turning to Lariette, Ruediger said while pointing in a direction, “How about we wait there? Let me go and get us some drinks.”

“Ah, okay,” Lariette agreed. Following where Ruediger gestured at, she saw several vacant chairs on one corner of the cafe, “I’ll grab us two seats. See you there, Eddy.”

Parting ways, Lariette quickly claimed two seats for her and Ruediger while he strode to the drink table.

As she sat quietly, her eyes trailed after the man. He was easily recognizable even among the crowds.

Her quickened heartbeat hadn’t settled down.

———-

Reference:

1 – Chapter 181