<h4>Chapter 160 - Home Every Night</h4>


    "Master DeHaven, it''s such a pleasure to host you tonight!" The manager of the restaurant hurriedly greeted them, bowing his head in their presence.


    Lina was stunned that Kaden had brought her here. Reservations were often made four months in advance. The restaurant had been around for centuries now, starting off as a small hole-in-the-wall before transforming into fine dining. She recalled how Evelyn and her socialite friends always gossiped about finally snagging a seat at this restaurant.


    "This must be the lovelydy you''ve reserved the private table for." The manager turned to the woman dressed in green. His eyes widened at how beautiful she was. Her hair was so dark, it was almost midnight blue. Her eyes were clear and sharp, but her features were docile.


    The temperature dipped. The manager felt daggers piercing into his skull. Shakily, he lowered his eyes.


    "P-please, let me guide you to your table for the night. It has the best view of the city," the manager quickly stated.


    Lina wondered why it suddenly felt so chilly. She rubbed below her elbow, where her green sleeves finished. She felt a hand slip around her hips, gripping the spot tightly.


    "Woah… is that the manager leading them?"


    "Who is that?"


    "Oh my god, it''s the Dehaven Young Master!"


    As Kaden brought Lina through the restaurant, with a possessive hand around her, everyone was watching them. They couldn''t take their eyes off the stunning couple in ck and green. They never thought the two colors looked so well together until they saw his ck attire and her emerald one.


    "How did you manage to get a reservation here?" Lina naively asked him, raising her head to look at him properly.


    It was nighttime, and the restaurant was located on one of the highest floors of a popr skyscraper. The bottom few floors were filled with an array of outlets making up a mall, but it wasn''t the one that Kaden oversaw. She''d know.


    "I own a good amount of shares in thispany," Kaden stated, referring to the office located within the skyscraper.


    Lina slowly blinked. She tried to remember who owned this skyscraper. It was arge family-dominatedpany as well. She could''ve sworn they were specialized in hospitality like hotels, resorts, touristattractions, and so forth.


    "This ce supposedly has one of the best sushi dishes," Lina told him. "My mother—"


    "Did you enjoy the sushi I brought to your housest time?" Kaden asked.


    Lina nervously shifted her attention to the windows. Truly, the ce was stunning. She opened her mouth, but was saved by the manager.


    "Master Dehaven, Madam, your table." The manager gestured to the fancy table set up at the back of the restaurant, where privacy was a given, but the spot had the best view of the city.


    Lina''s eyes lit up at the sight of the skyscrapers before them. There was something so calming about the bright and colorful lights in the evening . She could see the street lights, the highways of speeding cars, and the different offices.


    "Come, dove," Kaden murmured.


    Kaden guided her to the chair. Before anyone could help her, he pulled out the chair. This action startled the waiter, who''s eyes briefly widened before quickly lowering to the ground. It was his job.


    "Thank you," Lina gratefully said with a slight smile.


    Lina tucked her dress and sat down. He pushed the chair in for her and took his


    own seat. Despite the menu of delicious food presented to her, she was still staring out the enormous windows.


    "Do you like penthouses?" Kaden mused.


    Kaden''s heart was being squeezed by her child-like wonder. She could not look away from the ss windows that oversaw the entire city. His office offered a better view, but she wouldn''t have known that. Thest time she came to his office, they were arguing, and then, she fainted into aa.


    "No," Lina responded. "I just like looking at the view."


    "The view?" Kaden echoed. "Am I not your favorite view?"


    "Meh."


    Kaden''s lips curled into a slight smirk. Only she would have the guts to insult him like this.


    "What is so interesting about the view then?" Kaden murmured.


    Lina could hear the sulking in his voice. Her mouth twitched to suppress a smile.


    "It takes my mind off things. I''d look at the cars on the highway and wonder where they''re going, what their life story could be, and if they''re happy. Then, I''d see the office cubicles and wonder when they''ll go home. What are they working on? Are therefamilies waiting for them when they get back? Or, are they returning to an empty house?" Lina said.


    Kaden''s gaze softened. She must''ve been lonely. He could hear it in her voice. He could see it in her faraway expression. He slid an arm across the table and grasped her hand.


    Lina''s eyes snapped to him. Her heart skipped, but she pulled her hand back. Shakily, she nced up at the waiter who was kept waiting. She blinked in confusion. Why did he look so touched by her words?


    "I''ll start off with lemon water," Lina told the waiter.


    Kaden raised a brow. "A bottle of your finest wine," he told the man.


    The waiter quickly nodded, bowed his head, and scurried off. Lina wondered if now was a good time to tell Kaden she was a lightweight. One or two sses of wine was enough for her to get drunk.


    "You seem to enjoy these kinds of views," Kaden murmured. "Did you know it stems from loneliness?"


    Lina pressed her lips together and shook her head. "I just enjoy watching other people''s lives. It always seems better than mine."


    "It rarely is better than yours," Kaden corrected her.


    Lina simply revealed a pained smile. She nced down at the menu.


    Kaden stared intently at her. Suddenly, she seemed so small. Not in stature, but in presence. Her shoulders caved in, her hair revealing her swan neck. He could not help but feel like she was all alone in this world.


    "I''ll stay in the mornings until we finish our breakfast," Kaden suddenly said.


    Lina''s head shot up. "But your work—"


    "I''ll be home every night before dinner is ready," Kaden added.


    Lina knew it was the bare minimum, but some people didn''t even have that. She couldn''t suppress her happy smile.


    "I''ll remain home after dinner, to be with you all night long," Kaden stated.


    Lina''s cheeks grew warm. She knew what he meant. Even so, her face burned. Stupid dirty mind. Then, she saw his heated gaze, and knew, she wasn''t the only one realizing the double meaning.


    "I''d like that," Lina finally told him.


    Lina revealed a slight smile and went back to the menu. She could feel his brooding stare on her face, but said nothing. She noticed he liked to watch over her. He was always protective and possessive. She did not understand why, for women like her weren''t rare.


    "If you like the view of the city, let''s live in a penthouse at the heart of Ritan," Kaden said. "Think of it as a vacation home before we have children and settle in the mansion."


    Lina blinked. She''d like that, but something told her she''d grow tired of it. In the end, her heart still belonged to the peaceful estates.


    "No need," Lina said with a slightugh. "I like the quietness of our current home."


    Our home.


    Kaden could not hold back his smile. He lowered his head and began to read the menu. His stone-cold chest suddenly felt warm.


    "Our home, huh?" Kaden stated under his breath.


    Lina waspletely oblivious to the emotions running through his head. Right on time, the waiter arrived. She ced her order and Kaden ced his. All the while, she wondered the cause of the wolf smile on Kaden''s lips. Could it be the wine? Or the food?


    Lina did not know.