Dear Ex-wife, Marry Me novel Chapter 22

"My hubby's just an average Joe programmer," Maja replied, fabricating a lie on the spot. She continued with a serious tone, "Marriage requires both partners to contribute; he can't be the only one working hard." She pushed the coffee towards Ian and smiled politely, "His income may not be much, but he's dedicated to taking care of the family."

This ideal partner image was a creation of Maja's imagination. Clearly, Ian needed to fit that description.

"So, Mr. Raymond, that lady earlier mentioned you're married. What's your wife like?" Maja asked, trying to make small talk and build rapport with the client. After all, Ian didn't even know the name of the designer. What kind of answer could she expect?

Ian frowned slightly and answered honestly, "I have no clue." He wondered how that woman had been dragging her feet about the divorce. The divorce papers were already on the Pennyfeather family's table, yet she showed no reaction. What was she waiting for? Did she want to continue mooching off the Raymond family?

Maja was taken aback by his straightforwardness. Just then, the waiter arrived with the food, allowing her to change the subject. "Chef Bell is a true art enthusiast. He has a talent for incorporating famous paintings into his dishes."

Three exquisite dishes were served, their colors seemingly chaotic but strangely harmonious.

"Please, Mr. Raymond."

Maja's vision started to blur, and she wanted to wrap up the conversation and head to the hospital. But Ian held his coffee cup, asking casually, "How did you know I have stomach problems?"

Maja was caught off guard. "I took a wild guess. I heard you're a workaholic, Mr. Raymond, so I figured you often skip meals." In reality, Ian's father had complained over the phone about Ian's intense focus on work, leading to frequent stomach issues. He had pinned his hopes on Maja, hoping she could remind Ian to care for his health. Maja never let the old man down and always made promises.

However, they had been married for three years without ever meeting.

The following dishes arrived one after another, and Maja briefly introduced each one while observing Ian's reaction. But Ian maintained a poker face, not even a flicker of his eyelashes through the seven courses, leaving Maja clueless about his preferences. He only took a few bites when tasting. Were none of the dishes to his liking?

Maja began to question the accuracy of Ryan's information. If Ian had prior knowledge of art, his reaction shouldn't be so indifferent.

"Miss, what are you thinking about?"

Maja snapped out of her thoughts, realizing Ian was standing before her with furrowed brows. She couldn't recall her recent memory and quickly said, "I'll go settle the bill."

Ian glanced at her. He might have thought Maja was contemplating how to dine and dash if it weren't for her sincere expression. The waiter handed her the bill, but she didn't react. With no other choice, the waiter moved the card machine towards Ian. Amused, Ian swiped his card and noticed Maja still lost in a daze.

"It's paid."

Maja awkwardly stood up too quickly and felt dizzy. Unprepared, she leaned towards Ian.

Ian initially intended to dodge, but he hesitated to notice they were near the escalator. In that split second, Maja fell into his arms. Only then did he realize that she had a fever.

The man's scent filled her nose, awakening Maja's foggy mind. Despite feeling unwell, she forced herself to step back. "Sorry, I think I caught a cold last night."

A cold? Seeing her pale face, Ian wondered. Didn't she spend the whole night soaked in cold water?

"Why didn't you have your husband pick you up last night, now that you're married? It's always better to have someone take care of you instead of fending for yourself."