Chapter 2

Thorn just nodded because he didn't know what to say or do.

"How about you? What's your favorite food?" Cassia quickly changed the subject to get rid of the strange feeling around them.

"I'm not picky," Thorn replied. He appreciates his wife changing the topic, "but I'm leaning towards sweets and desserts."

"Is there anything you don't like a person doing to you? So I can avoid it and not do it," Cassia said again.

There is one. Thorn thought. "I hate it when someone wakes me up. I'll wake up on my own."

Cassia nodded. "Noted. Is that all?"

Thorn nodded, then stood up to continue carrying the boxes to the second floor of the house. Cassia also helped with the lifting, but only the small and light cartons because she couldn't handle the heavy ones. When they finally got them all in, Thorn organized the walk-in closet and freed up half of it for his wife.

"You can put your clothes here," said Thorn while gesturing to the vacated part of the walk-in closet. "If you want, I can make another closet for you if you're uncomfortable sharing a closet with me."

"No. It's okay." Cassia stopped Thorn from saying anything else. "It's okay with me." She was lucky that Thorn treated her well; she shouldn't ask for anything more. Being treated nicely was already enough for her. She shouldn't be greedy.

It was really a good decision to marry Thorn. If this is not the one she married, she will definitely end up with men who want the flesh, and maybe something will happen to her. She was really lucky to be arranged with Thorn. Because of his sexual orientation, she was relaxed around him. She liked that she wasn't always on guard. With Thorn, she could be as relaxed and casual as she could be.

"Need any help?"

Cassia shook her head at Thorn. "I can do it. I'll take care of my stuff."

"Then I'll leave you to it. You can put your stuff anywhere you want." Thorn walked out of the walk-in closet. "After you put your stuff away, come down to the kitchen. I'll make dinner."

"Okay." Cassia smiled. "Thank you."

Thorn just waved his hand at Cassia while his back was on her as he walked out of the closet.

With a smile, Cassia then frowned when she realized something while looking at Thorn's back. "He's too manly." Cassia still held her own chin while thinking. But that is not the measure. Then she herself had seen the truth about it, so she had no doubts.

Some gay men were really good at hiding themselves. Maybe Thorn was like them. Oh, well. As his wife, I'll support him all the way! It's the least I could do for him to treat me nicely.

With that in mind, she started taking out her clothes from the boxes and putting them in her new closet. After tidying up her clothes, she turned to tidying up her bags, shoes, accessories, and other stuff.

Cassia couldn't help noticing that she was having fun. She felt so carefree, like she could breathe freely. Back home, she always had to mind her manners. Even her smile was not welcome.

But now, in this house and in this new life she was starting, she could smile whenever and wherever she wanted. No one would control her smile again.

Unconsciously, her fingers played with the charm bracelet she had on her wrist while a soft smile was playing on her lips. "I'm starting a new life, Claire. I know you're watching over me. Don't worry." She looked down at her charm bracelet. "I'll be fine."

Taking a deep breath, Cassia looked around the room. The color and the ambiance were so manly, she could even smell a faint smile of Thorn's scent.

"If only I didn't know the truth, just by smelling him, I would fall in love," Cassie whispered as she remembered how her husband smelled on their wedding day.

He smells so good, but not overbearing. In short, he smelled scrumptious. But she also wants a man, so I'll just support him.

With that in mind, Cassia left the room and went down to the kitchen. It took her a couple of minutes to find the kitchen. The house was not as huge as a mansion, but it was big enough to get lost in.

Entering the kitchen, Cassia stopped at the door to see Thorn with his back taken out of the oven. and Cassia couldn't help noticing how Thorn's arm muscles would flex every time he moved.

Darn, he's ripped. Cassia couldn't stop commenting in her mind, but she immediately scolded herself as her husband turned to face her.

"Done with your things?" Thorn asked as he placed the baking dish on the wooden heat pad on the island counter and looked at her.

Cassia nodded, then walked closer to the island counter and stared at the baking dish. "What's that?"

"Our dinner. Baked Tilapia." Thorn replied. "With butter, lemon juice, garlic powder, and salt blended together, and a little sprinkle of capers, oregano, and paprika."

Cassia couldn't stop smelling what Thorn cooked, then swallowed, "The smell is delicious."

Thorn chuckled. "It tastes good too."

Cassia looked at Thorn teasingly. "Someone is bragging."

Thorn jokingly puffed his chest and said, "I'm that good."

A small laugh escaped Cassia's lips, and for a moment, she stilled. Unconsciously, she was waiting to be scolded for laughing, but no one did; instead, she saw Thorn frowning at her.

"Why stop laughing?" Thorn asked. "Go on. Laugh some more. It's free."

Hearing that, Cassia laughed again, and it felt wonderful. It felt nice not to be restricted.

"Let me help you serve," Cassia said, still laughing a little.

Before Cassia could move, Thorn stopped her. "Nope." He grabbed Cassia by both shoulders from behind, then gently pushed her towards the dining table. "You, Cinnamon, will sit here like a queen." Thorn made Cassia sit in the chair, "and I'll do the rest."

"But-" Cassia was about to stand up to help but was stopped by Thorn.

"Just let me do this," Thorn said, then took two plates and carefully placed them on the table while telling a story: "My cousin, Cali, got married a few years back, and every time I visit his home and they're eating, I always see him preparing everything for his wife, so," he smiled at his wife, "let me learn from him and let me do that too, okay?"

Cassia was speechless and could only nod her head. She knew Thorn was being considerate of her because he was a nice person, but she didn't see this one coming.

With a charming smile, Thorn continued preparing the table and their dinner.

"Anyway, speaking of my cousin," Thorn placed the dish on the table, and while moving around and preparing their water, dessert, and other food he prepared, he was talking, "When do you want to meet him? Wait, meeting him means meeting my other friends as well, so you have to prepare yourself. I actually don't want to introduce you to my friends. You'll be traumatized."

Cassia looked up at Thorn and said, "You say it like they're bad people."

"Not bad but they're noisy." Thorn finally finished serving at the table and sat down next to Cassia, "just crazy—yep, that's the right term. Crazy people."

Cassia didn't know what to say, so she kept silent, and she also didn't know how to act after seeing Thorn put food on her plate and do everything for her.