Reborn as Mr.CEO's Fat Wife-Chapter 861: Are you craving my porridge or me?

Catherine Ford seemed quite experienced in taking care of people. She wiped Benjamin Jones’ palms, chest and feet with a cold towel, then folded the towel and placed it on his forehead.

After a few back-and-forths, Benjamin Jones’ temperature had significantly dropped. She finally breathed a sigh of relief and remembered that Alice was still hungry, "Mommy will go and cook for Alice and Uncle Jones. Alice, keep an eye on Uncle Jones. If he feels unwell, call for mommy, okay?"

"Okay," Alice obediently responded.

Upon hearing this, Catherine Ford patted her daughter’s head and went downstairs to cook.

Considering Benjamin Jones’ current stomach condition, she cut half a pumpkin and started to cook pumpkin porridge for him, and then prepared food for Alice.

In the midst of cooking, she went upstairs to check on Benjamin Jones. She found her little girl imitating her by applying a wet towel on Benjamin’s forehead. Her heart melted and she hurriedly went back downstairs.

In fact, Benjamin Jones was not feeling as feverish anymore. Watching Alice clumsily but earnestly take care of him moved him deeply. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Catherine Ford checking on them mid-way up the stairs, his gaze deep. If he was previously unsure about his feelings, at this moment he was certain that he would never let go of either of the mother and daughter.

"Uncle Jones, do you feel a bit better?" Alice saw Benjamin Jones open his eyes, came closer eagerly and looked at him with bright eyes.

"Yes, Uncle Jones feels a lot better, thanks to Alice." Benjamin Jones reached out to pat the little girl’s head, feeling like the mother and daughter were a divine gift to him.

Imitating Catherine Ford, Alice let out a deep breath, and with all her might, patted her own chest, "That’s good, that’s good, Uncle Jones should be healthy!"

Benjamin Jones laughed softly and asked gently, "Does Alice like Uncle Jones?"

"Like!" The little girl answered without hesitation.

"Then, would Alice want Uncle Jones to be her daddy?" Benjamin Jones cautiously asked the little girl. He knew she was clever and more mature than other children her age, which is why in pursuing Catherine Ford, he wanted to first win over the little girl to his side.

Alice, upon hearing Benjamin Jones’ question, widened her eyes and opened her mouth slightly, looking exactly like Catherine Ford when startled.

Thinking he had frightened the little girl, Benjamin Jones awkwardly touched his nose, only to hear the little girl with a serious expression, "Does Uncle Jones want to be Mommy’s husband?"

"Ah? You can say that," Benjamin Jones, surprised to be questioned by a three-year-old girl, paused before affirmatively answering.

Upon hearing his response, Alice laid her head on the bed, seemingly deep in thought about the matter, then looked somewhat worriedly at Benjamin Jones, "I hope Uncle Jones can be Alice’s daddy, Alice likes Uncle Jones."

Benjamin Jones’ eyes brightened only to see the little girl tilting her head in concern as she continued, "But I like Uncle Jones and I like Mommy more, Alice listens to Mommy."

Benjamin Jones, thinking he had been half-successful, "..."

Are three-year-old girls these days really this hard to deceive?

"Is your mommy easy to pursue?" Benjamin Jones seriously continued to ask the three and a half-year-old girl.

A sly look flashed across Alice’s face, "I can help Uncle Jones pursue Mommy."

"Really?" Benjamin Jones’s disappointment faded away as he immediately raised his eyebrows looking at Alice.

Alice brought her little head closer, her soft, adorable face carrying a concern beyond her years, "I can help Uncle, but Uncle has to promise to be nice to Mommy, not hit her, not yell at her, and not hit or yell at Alice either."

Upon hearing this, Benjamin Jones felt a sudden pang in his nose, reached out his arms, and picked up the little girl. Maybe in her eyes, being nice meant not hitting or yelling at them, which made him feel guilty and distressed.

Held by Benjamin Jones, Alice looked at his pale face with concern and asked, "Uncle, what’s wrong? Are you feeling very bad? Should I get you something cold?"

After saying this, Alice struggled down from Benjamin Jones’s arms and went to get a towel to apply on his forehead.

Benjamin Jones didn’t move, quietly watching the little girl busying around for him, trying to think about what other three-and-a-half-year-old girls he knew were doing.

Dressed in beautiful dresses, eating fine foods, their biggest worries probably being where their parents would take them to play next. But what about Alice? Before she started going to the property management’s daycare, she would stay alone in the room when Catherine Ford was at work, playing by herself, eating lunch alone, sleeping by herself, and waking up just to wait quietly for Catherine Ford to finish work.

Only three-and-a-half years old, yet so sensible she didn’t seem like a child at all, wanting a father but also fearing that the new father might hit her and her mother.

Benjamin Jones looked at the little girl’s serious actions, his heart shattered, feeling once again that he had been too lenient on Foster Newman!

Just as Benjamin Jones was wishing he could go and kill Foster Newman right then, Catherine Ford came upstairs with dinner, seeing that Alice was still bustling around, called out softly, "Alice, wash your hands and come eat."

"Okay." Alice, whose stomach had been growling from hunger, immediately trotted over to Catherine Ford’s side, "Mommy, what are we eating? Can Uncle eat too?"

"Of course." Catherine Ford bent over and rubbed her chin against her daughter’s head, set the dinner on the bedside, took out a small portion for Alice, and then looked at Benjamin Jones, who had been staring at her since she entered, trying to look normal, "Lawyer Jones, how would you like to eat? Should I... feed you?"

Thinking of how the man struggled even to get up earlier, Catherine Ford took a deep breath and said.

Benjamin Jones pursed his lips. Though he really wanted to nod, he felt it was somewhat excessive, but then heard Alice, who was holding her little bowl and eating porridge, lift her small head, "Uncle, don’t be shy. Mommy fed me when I was sick too."

A flush that had just faded from Catherine Ford’s face was now creeping back, she glanced at her daughter, seemingly wanting to say that it wasn’t the same, but Benjamin Jones took the opportunity to hum affirmatively.

Catherine Ford, who was originally worried that the man might be impulsive, "..."

Fine!

Catherine Ford had never fed a man before, let alone a grown, handsome one. She was a bit nervous and quite embarrassed, especially thinking about that unfinished kiss from before she was called by Alice, or perhaps that he really intended to kiss her then? What exactly did he mean by that?

"What are you thinking about?" Benjamin Jones saw Catherine Ford spacing out with the spoon aimed at him, asked with a somewhat amused smile.

Catherine Ford suddenly snapped back to reality, realizing what she had just been doing, and her face became flushed, quickly shaking her head, "Nothing, I made you pumpkin porridge, it’s very good for the stomach. You’ll need to eat light meals for a while."

"Oh." Benjamin Jones raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth.

Catherine Ford hurriedly brought the spoon to his mouth, her eyes meeting Benjamin Jones’ deep gaze, her heart trembled, so she quickly retracted the spoon and continued. This time, she didn’t even dare raise her eyes, keeping her head down as she fed him, wishing she could bury her head in the porridge bowl.

Benjamin Jones watched her behaving like this and couldn’t help but chuckle softly. That deep, magnetic laughter seemed to tremble in his chest, making Catherine Ford’s hand shake. Annoyed, she looked up and caught his deep black eyes. For a moment, she felt like she had fallen into a pond and involuntarily swallowed. Then she heard Benjamin Jones ask in a low voice, "Are you craving my porridge or me?"

Catherine Ford’s mind buzzed, and she hurriedly looked over at Alice, who was hungrily tackling the porridge in her bowl, clearly not listening to their conversation. Despite this, Catherine still glared fiercely at him.

But her glare, which she thought was fierce, appeared adorably naive to Benjamin Jones. His smile deepened, yet he didn’t tease her further but instead asked seriously, "You mentioned I should eat light meals for the next period, but our agreement is ending in a week. Not to mention light meals, I’m worried about getting even three meals a day."

This sudden change in topic left Catherine Ford puzzled, "What about before?"

With his pitiful look, could it be that he didn’t eat meals before she came?

"Oh, it’s because my meals weren’t regular before that I ended up with a stomach illness," Benjamin Jones said with a helpless expression.

Upon hearing this, Catherine Ford also worried. Thinking about the proposal he made last night, she actually hadn’t wanted to agree. Even the suggestion that he should pay her the market rate was a spur-of-the-moment remark out of anger; she had no intention of becoming his cooking maid and planned to sever the relationship at the end of the month. But now, seeing him ill because of her, and noticing his pale face and the rare fragility in those determined eyes, she just couldn’t bear it.

After much inner struggle, seeing the look of dejection in his eyes, her heart softened, and she nodded slightly, "Well...okay then."

"Thank you," Benjamin Jones heaved a sigh of relief, and then added, "About the market rate, I..."

"No need, you’re sick because of me, it’s only right that I take care of you," Catherine Ford said, interrupting him, remembering today how a dish of stir-fried green peppers caused his stomach perforation—it would be embarrassing to charge him.

Benjamin Jones raised an eyebrow in surprise, finding this woman’s simplicity endearing, "Do you really think so? But you haven’t heard everything I have to say."

Catherine shook her head, "No need, it’s decided. You’re hospitalized because of me, I’ll take full responsibility."

Mainly, Catherine Ford thought about how that morning he had tried to swindle her for ninety-eight thousand just because she drooled on his shoulder; judging by his character, he might extort medical fees as well. Rather than letting him demand compensation, she felt it was better to take the initiative and show responsibility.

Benjamin Jones watched the little woman’s gallant and righteous demeanor and chuckled softly again.

Catherine Ford felt uncomfortable with his laughter, feeling like she had missed something, and impulsively asked, "What were you about to say?"

Benjamin Jones looked at her earnestly, "I was about to say, regarding the market rate you mentioned, I can give you double."

Catherine Ford was stunned, her whole body petrified on the spot, staring at the man in front of her in disbelief. It took her a while to slowly speak, "If I say I regret it now, is it too late?"

Benjamin Jones shrugged, "Probably not."

Catherine Ford, "..."

Regret came suddenly and fiercely; Catherine Ford’s heart ached. She still remembered her initial offer to Benjamin Jones was six thousand a month—if it was doubled, that would be twelve thousand, which was more than her salary!

What about responsibility or feelings? Can you eat those?

She regretted it!

"Um...you can pretend you didn’t hear what I just said." Catherine tried her best to redeem herself.

Unfortunately, Benjamin was determined to tease her and shook his head firmly, "I can’t."

Catherine, "..."

So sad!

Catherine ended up going downstairs with a somber face, while Alice, after finishing her porridge and shrimp cakes, was completely oblivious to her mother’s sadness. Instead, she was overjoyed to hear that she could see Uncle Jones every day from now on.

Catherine despised this, feeling like her daughter wasn’t as sweet anymore. She had no idea what sacrifices her mother was making!

Watching the woman’s retreating figure, Benjamin’s smile grew deeper, and he didn’t miss the chance to add, "I’m not feeling well, so tonight you and Alice can sleep next to me."

Catherine’s movements stiffened as she exited the bedroom. Even though she felt the man’s request wasn’t entirely unreasonable, something inside her felt weird.

However, immediately regret surged, dispelling the queerness in her heart, and she hurried downstairs to clean up the kitchen.

After finishing up, she went next door to grab some daily necessities for herself and Alice. When she came back, Alice quietly approached her and hissed, "Mom, Uncle fell asleep."

Upon hearing this, Catherine stepped forward and used a thermometer to check the man’s temperature—it had risen again. Her heart tightened, she settled Alice in the next room, and then returned to the man’s room.

Throughout the night, Benjamin’s temperature fluctuated. Catherine stayed by his side until his temperature stabilized after 3 a.m., which finally allowed her to lean against the headboard and fall asleep.

The next morning, Catherine opened her eyes to find herself in a strange room. Initially startled, she then remembered that she had stayed over at Benjamin’s villa the night before. Just as she relaxed, she realized she was lying in a bed, although she clearly didn’t remember returning to the bed next door after caring for Benjamin.

With this thought, she slowly lowered her gaze to the familiar blanket, then turned her stiff neck and saw the man still asleep beside her. His handsome face, free of its usual sternness, looked serene and youthful, his messy hair spread over his forehead making him seem much younger than usual.

This was the first time Catherine had seen Benjamin like this, and her heart raced uncontrollably as she leaned in closer, greedily admiring the face she usually could only look up to.

Probably no one can resist a handsome man, especially one with looks and wealth like Benjamin.

Yet one should also be aware of their limitations. Catherine considered herself mediocre, even tacky, yet she never imagined she could get so close to someone as outstanding and handsome as Benjamin, whose heartbeats she listened to the previous night when he had her lay on his chest, stirring up her greed.

What should I do, I just want to be with him no matter what!

This thought was especially intense on this slightly chilly winter morning, so intense that Catherine didn’t want to think about the differences between them, didn’t want to consider being a match in terms of social status, and didn’t even want to think about how genuine his feelings for her were—she just wanted to be a moth drawn to his flame.

Once this idea took root, it became somewhat uncontrollable. Catherine carefully moved closer until she could clearly count the man’s eyelashes, and then stopped to admire Benjamin—his eyebrows, his nose, his lips, all so beautiful, all so perfect, irresistible to kiss, to touch.

"What should I do? I resolved not to have any more ties with you, but why do you always tempt me?" Catherine murmured softly.

Just then, the quietly sleeping man suddenly moved, and Catherine abruptly held her breath.