Reborn as Mr.CEO's Fat Wife-Chapter 835: Did You Have a Relationship in High School?

Chapter 835: Chapter 835: Did You Have a Relationship in High School?

The snow was somewhat thick, crunching underfoot, the sound of air bubbles in the snowflakes bursting. Catherine Ford hadn’t heard this sound for a long time. At this moment, listening to it seemed inexplicably relieving, making her footsteps inadvertently cheerful.

Following behind Catherine, Benjamin Jones keenly sensed the change in the woman’s mood. Looking down at the footprints ahead, those feet were particularly small, not larger than size 36, looking even more delicate next to his own prints. Last time, when he saw her shoes didn’t fit well, causing her to limp while holding Alice, it was none of his business but he intervened anyway, which led to her determination to return them, possible only to that high-end brand, so he had the driver to remove the packaging before giving them to her.

But she stubbornly wanted to repay him, and at that time he could have simply refused, yet he inexplicably suggested that she cook for him as a condition.

In fact, if Abby hadn’t moved to Rose Valley, his villa would often be vacant; over the years, he had grown accustomed to staying in hotels due to frequent work trips. Since the time Abby had moved back to Moon Lake Manor, the house in Rose Valley had become almost irrelevant to him. Ironically, lately, he had been spending more time at Rose Valley than when Abby was there.

Previously, he had never considered the reason why, but now, watching the petite figure ahead of him, a ludicrous thought suddenly arose in his mind. Was it because of her?

"Lawyer Jones, we’re here." Just as Benjamin was stunned by his own thoughts, Catherine suddenly turned around and asked him.

Benjamin came back to his senses and met her beautiful face, which was pink from the cold. Her mood seemed quite good at the moment; her lips were curved in a slight smile, and her eyes sparkled as she asked him.

The usually composed Benjamin froze for a moment, momentarily forgetting to respond.

Seeing no reaction from Benjamin, Catherine thought he might dislike the place and apologetically explained, "I’m sorry, Lawyer Jones. This is the only breakfast spot in our town; it’s not very fancy, but the taste is decent."

After speaking, and due to the cold, Catherine couldn’t help but raise her hands to cover her cheeks.

Benjamin had regained his usual elegance, and standing in the snow, he looked even more imposing than usual.

Catherine felt a chill from Benjamin’s aura, and her eyes filled with even more apology; she felt regret for presumptuously deciding to take him here for breakfast, "Or we can just grab something simple back at the hotel, and then have a proper meal after we return to Swallow City."

"No need." Seeing Catherine’s discomfort, Benjamin simply responded and stepped into the breakfast shop ahead of her.

In the small space, which was void of other customers because it was too early, Benjamin’s presence made the tiny shop feel even more cramped. The elderly couple who were busy inside were initially stunned upon seeing him, then hesitantly asked, "...breakfast?"

Their question was filled with uncertainty. In their eyes, the tall man with a strong presence, handsome and refined as if he had walked out of a television, seemed out of place in their small eatery.

But that wasn’t the main issue. The crux was that the man had a cold expression on his face, as cold as a block of ice—colder than the snowy ground outside—and did not look like someone there to eat breakfast but rather like a debt collector.

The old couple at the breakfast shop were intimidated by the chill in the air and kept their distance, asking from afar.

"Yes." Benjamin grunted in acknowledgment and sat down at the closest table.

With just a glance, he noticed the shop was small, yet clean and tidy, and he could faintly smell the savory scents wafting from the kitchen.

Upon realizing they actually had a customer, the old couple, despite still being wary of Benjamin’s overwhelming aura, pointed to the menu on the wall, "Eat... what would you like?"

"One basket of soy sauce pork buns, two servings of fresh pork wontons, and also a serving of small salted vegetables." Before Benjamin could answer, Catherine, having caught up, rushed in and answered first. After speaking, she did not forget to explain to Benjamin, "This place has the best soy sauce pork buns. The fresh pork wontons paired with the small salty vegetables are particularly tasty. See anything else you’d like to try?"

"Just like that." When Benjamin Jones heard Catherine Ford’s voice and looked up at her, he saw the woman lick the corner of her lips subconsciously, evidently tempting herself first, and amusingly responded.

Seeing the man relax, Catherine Ford turned her head happily to the old couple running the shop and said, "Let’s start with these."

"Young lady, you’re back?" Catherine Ford had just finished her sentence when she heard the breakfast shop owner’s wife exclaim with surprise.

Catherine Ford nodded, "Yeah, I’m here on an errand."

"Oh my, you haven’t come back since you graduated, looking more beautiful." The shop owner’s wife chatted away while she and her husband prepared their breakfast.

Feeling a bit embarrassed by these words, Catherine Ford modestly said, "Not at all."

"Of course, of course, is that your boyfriend or husband? He is really handsome, much better than the one from high school." The elderly shop owner’s wife, being talkative, sighed in a lower voice after hearing Catherine Ford’s modesty.

However, the breakfast shop was so small that no matter how low she spoke, the voice couldn’t travel far. Catherine Ford was startled, her large eyes widening, and she instinctively looked at Benjamin Jones first, only to see the man casually scrolling through his phone, seemingly oblivious to the conversation here, which allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief. Then she explained softly, "No, that’s not it. Please don’t talk nonsense."

"Still shy, huh?" the woman chuckled and handed a steamed bun to Catherine Ford, then turned to talk to her husband, paying no mind to Catherine Ford’s explanation.

Catherine Ford’s cheeks, already reddened by the cold, turned a deep blushing shade. When she was a student, she almost ate breakfast at this shop every day; she hadn’t expected that the owners would still remember her. Clearly, they didn’t know she was already married with children, so they misunderstood her relationship with Benjamin Jones.

After setting down the steamed bun, Catherine Ford wanted to explain, but seeing the man apparently hadn’t heard anything, her explanation would seem even more like a guilty conscience. After thinking it over, she resigned herself and softly reminded Benjamin Jones, "The buns are ready, best when eaten hot."

"Okay." Benjamin Jones responded, putting his phone down, and looked up to see Catherine Ford’s cheeks even redder than before. Recalling what the breakfast shop owner’s wife had said, he secretly laughed; how could this woman be so easily embarrassed? He thought of something else, "Did you use to come here often?"

"I attended high school around here and was a boarding student. The cafeteria food wasn’t good, so I often came here instead. I didn’t expect the owners to still remember me." After saying this, Catherine Ford felt nostalgic for the carefree days of high school but felt sick to her stomach when she remembered that she and Forrest Martin had started their relationship back in high school.

"Hmm." Benjamin Jones nodded, just when Catherine Ford sighed in relief thinking he indeed hadn’t heard the owner’s wife, the man who appeared to have ended his conversation suddenly blurted out, "Were you involved in an early romance in high school?"

In a flash, Catherine Ford felt as if she had been struck by lightning, petrified on the spot. A whirlwind of thoughts crossed her mind, all boiling down to the realization that he heard everything – not only did he hear, but he also questioned her about having a high school romance, her entire body flushing from her cheeks to her neck and underneath her coat.

She was somewhat puzzled, would a man like Lawyer Jones be gossipy?

Her almond-shaped eyes, filled with confusion and embarrassment, looked across at the man who was calmly waiting for her answer.

Actually waiting so earnestly for her reply.

Catherine Ford felt like dying inside, but in the end, she could only pluck up the courage and murmur a "Yeah, it was an early romance."

Upon hearing this, Benjamin Jones with his distinct knuckles pinched another bun, then slowly stated, "Early romance is not good."

Catherine Ford, "..."

Who better than she knows the pitfalls of puppy love? No one!

Back then, her grades were good enough for a decent first-tier university. Not quite up to the prestigious university or 211 levels, but certainly better than the second-tier university she ended up attending. All because she got hot-headed over so-called love, secretly put down the same college choices as Forrest Martin behind her family’s back, only to be betrayed and humiliated, ultimately hurting herself in an attempt to get back at him and ending up where she is now.

There are some things better left unthought of, thoughts that only lead to wishing for a chance to go back to being 18 and slap some sense into oneself.

Benjamin Jones noticed Catherine Ford’s sudden downcast expression and guessed she might be thinking of her first love. He started to feel remorseful for his earlier question; meddling wasn’t his style at all.

"Sorry." The man regained his senses and apologized. His question had overstepped, perhaps the resemblance Catherine Ford bore to Abby had made him unduly meddle. After all, Abby had recklessly followed him to M Kingdom because of her infatuation.

"Huh? No... there’s no need, what you said is right, puppy love isn’t good. If I could, I’d rather never have experienced it," Catherine Ford was taken aback by Benjamin Jones’s apology, hastily waving her hands, and her nervousness made her forget the annoyance she had felt moments earlier.

"Let’s have a steamed bun." Benjamin Jones offered a plump meat-filled steamed bun to the flustered woman.

Catherine Ford looked at the bun in the man’s hand, her mouth slightly opening, utterly clueless about the man’s intentions today, a look of confusion in her eyes.

Benjamin Jones didn’t move, just held out the bun waiting for her reaction.

At this moment, the shopkeeper brought over a steaming bowl of wontons and saw Benjamin’s gesture, saying with a smile, "You two young ones seem to have a really good relationship."

Startled, Catherine Ford hurried to explain, but the shopkeeper had already turned around to fetch a second serving. With her mouth half-open, Catherine’s words of explanation were forcibly swallowed, as she stared blankly at the handsome man in front of her, "Lawyer Jones, let me explain..."

Benjamin Jones pinched the chubby bun in his hand and placed it in front of Catherine Ford, "No need for explanations."

"But..."

"It’s fine." Benjamin Jones interrupted Catherine Ford, lowered his head to taste the wontons, which were quite good, but not as good as the ones Catherine made.

Upon hearing Benjamin Jones’s words, Catherine Ford reflected that the innocent have nothing to hide, and, after all, this was someone she might never meet again in the future. If there had been a misunderstanding, so be it. Perhaps it was her own guilty conscience that made her so eager to explain.

Once she had come to terms with her thoughts, Catherine Ford began to nibble the bun that Benjamin Jones had recently placed in front of her.

Years had passed, but the taste of the food at this little shop remained the same, and she ate with relish, occasionally reminding Benjamin Jones that the buns tasted better with the pickled vegetables.

By the time they finished eating, the breakfast shop had gotten busier. Catherine Ford packed up three breakfasts before saying goodbye to the shopkeeper.

As they left the shop, Benjamin Jones, walking ahead, suddenly stopped. Catherine Ford looked at him curiously, only to see him pull out her scarf from last night from the bag she was carrying.

Catherine Ford stared at the man, a guess flicking through her mind, but she quickly dismissed it.

But the next moment, seeing that her hands were full, the man used his beautiful long fingers to wrap the scarf around her neck, winding it three times in a clockwise direction, covering her entire ear and half of her face within.

The winter sunlight is pale, amplified by the surrounding snow, creating an almost surreal brightness. Catherine Ford glances at the man before her, and then at the scarf around her neck, unable to distinguish whether the scene that just unfolded was reality or a dream.

"Let’s go." As Catherine is lost in her thoughts, a pleasant low voice rings in her ear. She snaps back to reality and looks at Benjamin Jones, her mouth agape, only to hear the man add, "You’re holding onto my hand."

Catherine’s previously frantic heart suddenly settles, and she looks down at her hands, then offers an awkward smile, "Thank you."

Indeed, she was overthinking.

Her heart doesn’t fully calm down until they’re back at the hotel. The man in front of her appears unfazed, while Catherine silently berates herself. She hands breakfast to the waiting driver and is about to say goodbye to Benjamin when her father and brother arrive, each holding two cardboard boxes.

Catherine steps forward in confusion to take the boxes from her father, "Dad, what are you doing?"

"These are local specialties from our area, for Lawyer Jones." Mr. Ford says with a naive smile directed at Benjamin, "We’re troubled Lawyer Jones with Catherine’s matters. These are some homemade specialties from our own home. Please don’t disdain them, Lawyer Jones."

"Right, they’re all made by my dad, really good. Please accept them, Lawyer Jones." Gabriel Ford’s voice cracks as he speaks, sounding boisterous yet uncertain. His face betrays his nervousness; he has heard some villagers say that city folks are particular and might not appreciate his family’s products.

Benjamin doesn’t say a word, his face looks troubled at the sight of four cardboard boxes from Mr. Ford and Gabriel combined. Reed, who is at Benjamin’s side, is about to step forward to refuse, but upon meeting Catherine’s eyes—filled with shame and hope—Benjamin suddenly speaks before anyone else, "Then I shall respectfully accept, thank you Uncle Ford."

Upon his words, the Fords collectively exhale in relief. Meanwhile, Reed glances suspiciously at his boss, wondering since when did their boss agree to accept gifts, especially rustic specialties like these?

However, considering that their boss has always had a particular soft spot for Miss Ford, Reed thinks maybe it’s not so strange for him to agree to accept these items.

"Put them in the car." Benjamin says, dismissive of whatever Reed is thinking, and orders him to load the items into the car.

Only then does Mr. Ford realize that Benjamin is leaving. After pondering for a moment, he looks at Catherine, "Catherine, go back with Lawyer Jones. We’ll handle the Newman family matters. When Foster Newman apologizes, Gabriel can record it for you. You don’t need to stay."

"Yeah, sis, you should go back first. The village is buzzing with rumors, and it’d just upset you if you stayed." Gabriel is much more straightforward compared to Mr. Ford.

Catherine has no intention of being present when Foster apologizes, yet she shakes her head at her father, "But mom is in the hospital..."

"You don’t need to worry about mom, I can deliver the meals during my winter break. If not, our eldest sister is there, and mom will only scold you if you stay." After saying this, Gabriel winks at Catherine.

Catherine, "..."

"Gabriel’s right, go back. Alice is more important." Mr. Ford adds, then turns to Benjamin, "Please take care of Catherine on the way.

"No problem, Uncle Ford," Benjamin replies, and with that, the matter is settled.

Catherine doesn’t even get a chance to refuse, unconsciously swallowing, feeling anxious about the prospect of sitting together again.