Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire - Chapter 231

Chapter 231: Want To Use My Shoulder as a Pillow?
‘I can’t sleep.’

Lying in bed, Lariette stared at the ceiling. The clock continued ticking, shifting the hour to the eleventh. Despite trying to sleep for over one hour, the heavy thoughts that clung to her mind kept her wide awake.

The night outside was quiet, save for the distant hum of cars passing down the roads. The city was still alive even at this hour, but not as much as during daytime.

Blinking, Lariette shifted from lying on her back to her side. Her eyes drifted to the curtains, seeing the streak of light through the tiny gaps.

‘Has he slept? He… he was quiet. I’ve never seen him like that.’

Lariette tried to push aside the weight in her chest and her mind, but every time she closed her eyes, she remembered the defeated look on Ruediger’s face. She also recalled the way she felt when she hugged him earlier.

Initially, he had stiffened, seemingly hesitant before he returned her embrace, then almost desperate. He never cried despite his eyes glazed with tears, and that alone pricked her heart.

As they hugged on the couch, Ruediger didn’t say anything, nor did Lariette ask him about Chairman Alvord’s accusation. Then, they parted ways to their respective bedrooms.

He assured her that he was fine, but the forced smile couldn’t deceive her.

During dinner, Ruediger was mostly quiet as they ate the takeout. Lariette, refusing to bring up what happened in the afternoon, talked about her meeting with Nora, Howard and Mr. Eastwood.

“Did your colleague Nora really say that? I don’t mind lending my hand if you need me.”

Ruediger volunteered himself after Lariette shared how Nora said they could benefit from extra help. Of course, she didn’t mention what kind of reward Nora told her to give him.

“We’ll meet the club reps this Friday. I think I’ll start dragging you to school near the Sports Day. Be prepared, okay?”

Once again, Ruediger smiled as he listened to Lariette’s response. He didn’t joke around like usual, something that usually brightened the ambiance during their mealtimes.

After dinner, Ruediger told Lariette that he would call it the night. She couldn’t help but worry about him, but she didn’t ask or say anything aside from wishing him to sleep well.

‘Should I tell Maddie? But… what if Eddy didn’t want anyone else to know?’

Curling beneath the blanket, Lariette’s mind wandered to Madeline. She believed her friend only had curses to spout once the latter heard what happened to Ruediger this afternoon.

Chairman Alvord…

Indeed. He was one of the disgusting so-called fathers, like his younger brother Martin and his nemesis, Jonathan.

Lariette exhaled a sigh. She grabbed her phone that was lying on the bed before opening her private chat with Ruediger.

Pursing her lips, Lariette hesitated before sending Ruediger a message.

[Lariette: No need to make breakfast tomorrow. Wanna go to that cafe with me?]

Lariette was unsure how she should act. She suddenly remembered one of the cafes she and Ruediger walked past along the way to school.

Once, he said they should have breakfast there. She quickly agreed, saying they needed to head out extra early to avoid her arriving late at school.

As expected, there was no immediate reply from Ruediger. Lariette could only hope it was because he had been sleeping.

Shutting her eyes, Lariette forced herself to sleep. She eventually drifted to slumber as the minutes ticked to midnight. Yet, the creases on her forehead indicated her rest wouldn’t be a good one.

Until…

Lariette stirred awake a few hours later, when it was not even dawn yet. The restless ache still sat heavy in her heart.

‘It’s not even four yet? Still so early.’

Lariette exhaled a quiet sigh once she looked at the clock on the bedside table. Pinching the space between her brows, she pushed the blanket aside and got up.

Despite still being drowsy, Lariette knew she couldn’t get back to sleep. She went to wash her face before stepping out of the bedroom.

Dragging herself down the hallway, Lariette quietly walked toward the living room. Only the corridor had its lights on, bathing her figure under its warm glow.

“…Eddy?”

Halting in her tracks, Lariette’s eyes widened once she saw Ruediger in the living room, sitting on the couch. He was barely visible in the dim light, the glow outside outlining his form in muted silver.

Her whisper seemed to pull him out of his trance, as he slowly turned in her direction. The dim light illuminated his face, which she could tell he hadn’t slept.

“Lettie… you’re awake already?”

Ruediger’s voice, huskier than usual, filled the quiet air as his gaze remained on Lariette. She hesitated for a moment, before she approached him on the couch.

“I woke up before my alarm did,” Lariette replied. She tucked her hair behind her ear before sitting right beside Ruediger.

He stared at her, his gaze a little distant amid the dulled lighting. Something in his voice, and the way he looked made her heart tighten.

“Can I stay here, Eddy?” Lariette asked cautiously but her tone carried her hope.

Ruediger didn’t answer Lariette immediately. He lowered his gaze, looking at her hands that fidgeted with her nightgown—the same ones that held his hands tenderly before.

In the momentary silence, only the ticking of the clock and their soft breathing echoed faintly in the living room. Their eyes remained on each other.

“You can,” Ruediger replied after a long pause, he forced himself to smile, “But aren’t you still sleepy? We gonna have breakfast at the cafe, right?”

Blinking, Lariette took a moment to remember the message she sent Ruediger before going to bed. She forgot to check her phone earlier, to see if he had replied to her or not.

“Yeah, let’s have breakfast there,” said Lariette. Pulling her legs up, she wrapped her arms around herself, “Should we go out at six-thirty? So we won’t be in a rush?”

“That sounds good. I’m in.”

No one spoke for a moment. Ruediger leaned against the couch, silently staring at Lariette who was also looking at him.

The balcony lights slipped through the tiny gaps of the curtains, dimly illuminating the living room. They barely caught the distant sound of engines speeding down the roads in the early hours before dawn broke.

“You… Do you…” Ruediger paused, hesitating before he forced himself to resume, “…want to use my shoulder… as the pillow?”

Lariette’s eyes enlarged slightly, never expecting Ruediger to ask something like that. It was kinda of different compared to him asking for a hug earlier.

But…

“If you’re okay with that.”

“I’m… I’m okay with it.”

Lariette smiled seeing the flushed look on Ruediger’s face once she answered him as if he wasn’t the one suggesting that. He shifted on the couch, leaning his back properly on the cushion.

Under Ruediger’s silent gaze, Lariette scooted closer to him. She kept her legs on the couch while leaning her head on his shoulder. He seemed stiff for a while before gradually relaxed.

“Ah… aren’t you cold? Here, use this.”

Lariette chuckled softly when Ruediger awkwardly covered her legs with a throw blanket, also putting a small pillow behind her back. Tilting her chin up, she quietly thought how she could smell his familiar minty scent better than usual.

“Try to sleep too, Eddy,” Lariette smiled before adding, “Hehe, set the alarm at five-forty, won’t you?”

“…yes. Sleep well, Lettie.”

“You too.”

A stillness enveloped the apartment again, only this time, it was tranquil.