Chapter 406 - 409: The Fragrance of Mint Between Lips and Teeth

The first light of dawn shone gently through the carved window lattice, spilling into the bedroom.

Adrian Lancaster woke first.

He slowly opened his eyes, his lashes casting faint shadows beneath them. His gaze was still heavy with sleep.

A warm, soft weight was pressed against his side. Wren Sutton was nestled in his arms, her cheek pressed against his chest.

Her long, jet-black hair was strewn across the pillow. A few strands had wound themselves around his neck, soft and ticklish.

Adrian Lancaster subconsciously held his breath, not daring to move for fear of disturbing his wife.

Still recovering from his illness, he felt a little languid and weak, yet he craved the secure feeling of their embrace.

He lowered his gaze to Wren Sutton’s serene, sleeping face. Her features were gentle, and her lips held a slight curve. The sight made his heart melt, and he longed to lean in and kiss her...

A faint blush crept up the tips of Adrian Lancaster’s ears as he remembered how clumsily he had held her last night. A shy flutter went through his heart.

He raised a hand and gently pulled the blanket back over Wren Sutton’s shoulder where it had slipped.

A short while later, Wren Sutton’s eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes, still hazy with sleep, met the sight of Adrian Lancaster’s handsome, gentle profile and his tender gaze fixed upon her.

Their eyes met.

A gentle smile touched Wren Sutton’s lips, and she snuggled deeper into Adrian Lancaster’s arms.

"Did you just wake up?"

"Mhm," Adrian Lancaster replied in a low, gentle voice, laced with morning hoarseness. "I woke you."

"No," Wren Sutton said, shaking her head and looking up at him. "I slept really well. I just woke up on my own."

As she spoke, she raised a hand, her fingertips gently brushing over the faint shadows under Adrian Lancaster’s eyes.

"You didn’t get enough sleep, did you? Go back to sleep for a bit."

Adrian Lancaster couldn’t resist raising his own hand to tuck a stray strand of hair from Wren Sutton’s forehead behind her ear.

"I slept really well, too. All the way until morning."

They shared a smile.

Just then, two soft, sweet whimpers came from the nearby crib, breaking the room’s tranquility.

Owen and Nina were awake. Their little arms waved in the air and their legs kicked off the blankets as their tiny bodies wriggled in the crib.

Hearing the sounds, Wren Sutton immediately got out of bed. "The babies are awake. I’ll go check on them."

Seeing this, Adrian Lancaster didn’t hesitate to get out of bed as well.

Wren Sutton had just reached the crib when she turned and saw him following. She quickly tried to persuade him in a soft voice, "You need to rest. Get back in bed. You don’t need to come over, I can handle this by myself."

But Adrian Lancaster stubbornly shook his head and walked to Wren Sutton’s side, his gentle gaze falling on their two children.

"I’m fine. It’s too hard for you to take care of two babies at once. I’m their father. I have to help."

Wren Sutton insisted, "I can manage."

"Honey, I know you can, but I want to help. They’re our children, so we should take care of them together. I can’t bear to see you struggle all by yourself." Adrian Lancaster’s tone was gentle but his attitude was firm; he flatly refused to go back to bed.

Looking at his earnest and determined expression, Wren Sutton felt a warmth spread through her heart. She let out a small, helpless sigh, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

"All right. Sometimes, there’s just no winning with you."

The two of them stood side-by-side at the crib.

Wren Sutton picked up their daughter, and Adrian Lancaster, their son.

Although Adrian Lancaster didn’t remember the past, he clearly recalled how to care for the babies.

Changing diapers, preparing formula, dressing them—he did it all with practiced speed and care.

Wren Sutton was a little surprised. She’d thought Adrian would be rusty after so much time, but he was even faster than she was.

Her heart filled with relief, happiness, and contentment.

...

After soothing Owen and Nina and putting them back in their crib, the couple went to wash up together.

In front of the mirror, Adrian Lancaster and Wren Sutton moved in perfect sync, picking up their respective toothbrushes, squeezing out the same mint-flavored toothpaste, and even brushing with the same rhythm.

With her mouth full of foam, Wren Sutton happened to look up and meet Adrian Lancaster’s eyes in the mirror.

He wasn’t paying attention to his brushing at all; he was just watching her. When she caught him, his ears turned red.

After Wren Sutton finished washing her face, she reached for a towel, but Adrian Lancaster beat her to it.

"Honey, let me dry your face."

Wren Sutton smiled and didn’t refuse, tilting her face up for him.

Adrian Lancaster’s movements were gentle and deliberate, as if he were tending to a baby.

"Honey, your skin is amazing. It’s so fair and soft, smooth as silk."

It was the first time Wren Sutton had heard Adrian Lancaster say something like that, and she wasn’t used to the praise. She felt a little embarrassed.

She cleared her throat. "Your skin is nice, too. A healthy tan... It’s very masculine."

The word "masculine" was exactly what Adrian Lancaster wanted to hear.

As if wanting to prove something, he suddenly mustered his courage, wrapped his arms around Wren Sutton, and gazed at her with deep affection in his dark eyes.

His Adam’s apple bobbed. He lowered his head and kissed her, the faint scent of mint lingering between their lips.

Adrian Lancaster kissed her softly, lingeringly. There was no roughness or haste, only the tender care of someone who had recovered a lost treasure.

With his eyes closed, he pulled Wren Sutton tightly into his embrace, treating her like the most precious treasure in the world. Every touch was filled with cautious reverence.

Wren Sutton’s heart melted with sweetness as the pleasant scent of Adrian Lancaster filled her senses.

She rose onto her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and gently responded to his kiss.

After what felt like an eternity, they reluctantly parted. They rested their foreheads together, their breaths mingling as one.

A shy, unsatisfied longing lingered in Adrian Lancaster’s eyes.

"Honey, I want to get ready with you every morning from now on."

Wren Sutton asked playfully, "So you can kiss me?"

"Mhm." Adrian Lancaster’s ears turned red, giving him an innocent, boyish look.

Wren Sutton smiled sweetly and nodded. "Okay, I agree."

Their warm breaths still mingled. Hearing his wife’s teasing laughter, Adrian Lancaster’s ears grew even redder.

But he didn’t pull away. Instead, he held her even tighter, his hand settling on the small of her back with a gentle but firm grip, refusing to let go.

"It’s not just about wanting to kiss you."

"I want to see you the moment I open my eyes every day. I want to brush my teeth and wash my face with you, watch the babies wake up with you. I want to make up for everything I missed before, everything I didn’t get a chance to do... I want to get it all back, little by little."

Adrian Lancaster spoke slowly. Each word was soft, yet exceptionally firm.

In that moment, all the confusion and anxiety from his amnesia were soothed away, leaving only the most direct and pure of intentions.

Wren Sutton raised a hand. Her fingertips gently traced over Adrian Lancaster’s brow, followed the strong lines of his profile, and came to rest on his cheek.

She was no longer joking. Her voice was soft and earnest. "Okay. Every day from now on, I’ll be right here with you."

At that, Adrian Lancaster’s heart felt completely full.

He couldn’t help but lean down again and press a kiss to Wren Sutton’s forehead.

"Honey, thank you. You’ve shown me what true happiness feels like. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, happy just like this."