Chapter 427: Sparing No Expense

Zeke had gone shopping for home goods with Amina before, so he was familiar with her spending habits and the quality of things she usually bought.

But the bedding she was buying today was nothing like her usual style.

Seeing her struggling with all the bags by herself, Zeke couldn’t bear it and went over to take a couple from her.

He glanced at them. Damn, they were a pretty big brand.

’To atone for her boyfriend, she’s really sparing no expense today.’

They brought the bedding inside. Before she even had a chance to wipe the sweat from her brow, Amina said to him,

"I’ll go up and make the bed for you. I bought three sets in total, so you’ll have enough for guests in the future."

As she spoke, she started to carry the items upstairs, but Zeke stepped forward and took them from her.

They went to the room together. Amina tore open the packaging, spread the fitted sheet, stuffed the pillows into their cases, and laid out the comforter.

Watching her bustle about, Zeke couldn’t help but be reminded of the days they used to live together. It had been so peaceful, so comfortable. He missed it dearly.

He hadn’t actually intended for anything to happen with Amina, but in that moment, he lost control.

Amina finished making the bed and turned to look at Zeke.

When she saw him looking at her with *that* kind of expression, her face instantly flushed red.

"You... what’s wrong?"

"Did you buy the things I asked you to get?"

Amina knew what he meant. She gently pulled open the nightstand drawer to show him.

’Not bad. She bought three boxes.’

Zeke raised his arms above his head and pulled off his T-shirt.

"Let’s take a shower."

’They hadn’t seen each other in so long. They’d only just met again yesterday, and now... taking a shower together...’

Amina was just about to refuse when Zeke grabbed a box, stuffed it into his pants pocket, and grabbed her wrist.

From the bathroom to the bedroom, they went at it until the sky had turned dark before Zeke finally let her go.

He didn’t know if it was because it had been so long or something else, but Amina felt exactly the same. It was just like every other time. Zeke still loved this with her.

But after it was over, he felt a deep sense of disgust.

’She’s someone else’s girlfriend now. That’s an undeniable fact. Why am I being so pathetic?’

Zeke lay facedown on the bed, his back to Amina. He didn’t want to look at her. Amina snuggled up against him, her eyes tracing the lines of his back, which was much broader than before. She looked at his long fingers and his dark, lustrous hair. Recalling everything that had just happened, she felt utterly content.

When they’d last broken up, she had been too emotionally unstable, which had made things very uncomfortable for Zeke. She’d felt guilty about it ever since. Today, it felt like she had finally brought things to a perfect close.

’For the rest of my life, whenever I think back on this, I’ll have no regrets.’

’I’ve done what Zeke asked. It’s dark now. It’s time to go.’

Amina’s hand lingered on the back of Zeke’s head as she gently stroked his hair.

"Are you tired? Why don’t you sleep a little more? I’ll leave after you fall asleep."

Just a moment ago, Zeke had been disgusted with her, but now, hearing that she was about to leave, his heart ached even more.

’Why doesn’t she love me? After everything we just did, why is she still going back to that man? Why? Am I, Zeke Walton, so unworthy of being loved?’

Knowing Amina had once brought him such happiness, but now it was just torture.

Her lack of love for him was making him start to doubt himself, to wonder if there was something wrong with him.

Zeke was too upset to speak, but right at that moment, his stomach rumbled.

The room was so quiet that Amina heard it perfectly.

"Are you hungry?"

’That makes sense. He hasn’t eaten all day. After all that... exertion, of course he’d be hungry.’

"Then I’ll go make you dinner. You haven’t had my cooking in a long time. What do you want to eat?"

Back when they were poor, Amina would make very cheap meals, and Zeke would still eat them with great relish.

He never held back his praise, always complimenting Amina on being beautiful, kind, gentle, and a good cook.

Seeing that she suddenly wasn’t leaving and was going to cook for him, Zeke’s pain lessened a little.

But there weren’t any groceries in the house, and he wasn’t even sure if the kitchen was functional.

"Don’t bother. You can go. I’ll order takeout."

The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them so much he could have bitten his tongue off.

’I obviously want her to stay, so why did I just say that?’

Fortunately, Amina didn’t agree.

"Takeout is never as healthy as a home-cooked meal. You’ll ruin your health eating it every day. Let’s take a break from it today. Do you have any groceries in your fridge? I’ll go downstairs and check."

With that, she got dressed and headed downstairs, her steps light and quick.

After hours of being pressed against her, her sudden absence left an empty, hollow feeling. Unused to it, Zeke quickly dressed and followed her downstairs.

The kitchen was fully equipped and everything was in working order, including the refrigerator. There just wasn’t any food.

Amina saw him come down and came out to speak to him.

"I saw a supermarket nearby when I was out shopping just now. I’ll go buy some groceries. You just wait here a bit. I’ll just whip something up, it’ll be quick."

She was about to leave as she spoke.

The villa community was huge, and security didn’t allow vehicles inside, so she’d had to run back and forth. Thinking about how many times she’d already made the trip, Zeke’s heart softened.

"I’ll go with you."

’Together? Zeke actually wants to go to the supermarket with me?’ Amina was thrilled.

Zeke drove, and she sat in the passenger seat.

The car drove to the main gate, where the security guard greeted Zeke respectfully. Zeke stopped the car and told Amina to get out.

"Register her for facial recognition. Let her through anytime she comes in the future."

So the "delivery girl" who had run back and forth so many times today was with him? The security guard recognized Amina by now.

Hearing Zeke’s order, the guard quickly agreed.

Amina didn’t know what the point of registering was, since she probably wouldn’t ever come back, but she complied and let the system scan her face.

Soon, the car was parked in the mall’s underground parking garage.

They reached the supermarket entrance. Amina put a coin in to unlock a shopping cart, but just as she was about to push it forward, Zeke took it from her.

"I’ll do it. You go pick out the groceries."

Amina chose the groceries, and Zeke followed beside her.

"This looks good, it’s nice and fresh. Should we get this?"

He didn’t object, so Amina took it as a yes and put it in the cart.

"Let’s get some of this, too. And a little of this."

"I remember you really like this, so let’s get some. Oh, and you like this, too. Let’s get some of this as well."

"How about I just buy enough for a week? I can cook it all and put it in the fridge, and you can just heat it up whenever you want to eat, okay? That way you won’t have to order takeout every day."

By the end of their shopping, the two of them had filled an entire cart.

It was a stark contrast to the past, when Amina would hesitate to spend even twenty yuan on meat. Today, she was on a real shopping spree.

At the checkout, Amina stood at the front of the line and pulled up her payment QR code in advance.

But when the moment to pay actually came, Zeke stopped her.

"I’ll get it."

A middle-aged couple in the next lane saw them both trying to pay and couldn’t help but tease.

"You can tell they haven’t been together long, still in that phase where they fight over who gets to pay. An old married couple like us, we’re always trying to make the other one pay. Really makes me miss the days when I first met you."