Chapter 238: Happy Wife, Happy Life
Both Damien and the barista turned toward the voice.
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An older man emerged from a doorway behind the counter. His hair was mostly gray, and he wore a neatly
pressed button–down shirt tucked into a pair of dark slacks.
There was nothing particularly remarkable about his appearance, yet the easy smile on his face made him
seem immediately approachable.
The barista visibly relaxed when she saw him.
“Mr. Lawson.”
“I heard enough to know what’s going on,” the older man said with an amused chuckle before turning his
attention toward Damien.
“You must be Mr. Blackwood.”
Damien raised an eyebrow slightly.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”
The older man chuckled.
“No, we haven’t.”
His eyes drifted briefly toward James before returning to Damien.
“But we did receive a rather persuasive phone call not long ago asking us to remain open a little later than
usual.”
He paused thoughtfully.
“Let me see if I remember correctly.” His brow furrowed in exaggerated concentration. “Ah, yes. Something about a devil awakening and innocent bystanders being caught in the aftermath.”
Damien slowly turned his head toward James.
If looks could kill, James would have died on the spot.
Several feet away, James suddenly found the floor remarkably interesting.
A knowing smile tugged at the older man’s lips.
“And you must be Mr. Horton. The gentleman responsible for all the excitement tonight.”
James let out an awkward laugh and scratched the back of his head.
“Ah… good evening, Sir.”
The older man nodded before shifting his attention toward the dessert display, his gaze settling on the empty space where the pecan cheesecake had once been.
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Chapter 238 Happy Wife, Happy Life
“You must really like our pecan cheesecake.”
“No,” Damien replied immediately. “I’ve never tried it.”
The answer clearly wasn’t what the older man had expected.
“Then why all the determination?”
A brief silence followed.
“It’s for my wife.”
Understanding immediately appeared on the older man’s face.
“Ah.”
The single syllable carried entirely too much meaning.
“That explains everything.”
Damien frowned slightly.
“Explains what?”
Mr. Lawson shook his head, an amused chuckle escaping him.
“Have you ever heard the saying happy wife, happy life?”
Damien remained silent.
For some reason, that silence told Mr. Lawson more than any answer could have.
The older man smiled knowingly.
Clar
“In my experience, the only men willing to go to these lengths over a dessert are either hopelessly in love or desperately apologizing for something.”
A laugh slipped out of James before he could stop it. The sound was brief, but it was enough.
Damien’s head turned sharply in his direction, causing James to immediately press his lips together and
straighten as though nothing had happened.
Mr. Lawson’s gaze moved between them, taking in the entire exchange.
His smile widened.
“Judging by that reaction, I’d say I’m not far off.”
James wisely kept his mouth shut.
The older man let out another warm chuckle before turning toward the barista.
“Go ahead and finish closing up for the night, Emily. I’ll take care of things here.”
“Yes, Mr. Lawson.”
Chapter 238 Happy Wife, Happy Life
Only then did he turn back to Damierrand gesture toward the back of the café.
“Come with me for a moment, young man.”
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Curiosity flickered briefly across Damien’s features before he followed the older man through a staff–only
door and into the kitchen.
The space beyond was modest but spotless. Stainless steel counters lined the walls, and the lingering
aroma of baked goods still hung in the air.
As they walked, Mr. Lawson spoke casually.
“My wife and I have been running this place for nearly twenty years. I handle most of the pastries and cakes, but the cheesecakes are all hers. Every cheesecake recipe we sell came from her.”
There was unmistakable pride in his voice.
A few moments later, they stopped in front of a large freezer. Mr. Lawson opened it and smiled.
“Well, looks like your luck hasn’t run out after all.”
Inside sat an untouched pecan cheesecake.
“My wife baked an extra one this morning for us. We were planning to take it home after closing, but I have
a feeling she won’t mind sharing with a man who tried to reopen an entire kitchen just to keep a promise
to his wife.”
For a moment, Damien simply stared at the cheesecake.
After everything that had happened that evening, the solution had been sitting here the entire time.
“Thank you,” he said sincerely.
Mr. Lawson smiled.
“Don’t mention it. Truth be told, seeing someone go to this much trouble for one of my wife’s cheesecakes
is flattering.”
His expression softened slightly.
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“She spent years perfecting that recipe. If she knew a man was willing to reopen a kitchen just to get a slice, she’d probably be talking about it for weeks.”
The older man reached for the cheesecake before pausing.
“Would you mind grabbing a knife and a couple of containers from that shelf?”
Under normal circumstances, Damien Blackwood was not accustomed to taking instructions.
This time, however, he found he didn’t mind.
A moment later, he returned with the knife and two containers before handing them over.
“I only need one slice,” Damien said. “You’ve already been generous enough.”
Chapter 238 Happy Wife, Happy Life
Mr. Lawson merely chuckled as he carefully cut two generous slices and placed them into separate
containers.
When he finished, he secured both lids before returning the cheesecake to the freezer.
Then he handed both containers to Damien.
“Give the other one to your grandfather.“
Damien blinked.
“You know my grandfather?”
Mr. Lawson laughed.
“Know him? Charles Blackwood used to come here all the time.”
The older man shook his head fondly.
“Usually right before closing.”
A look of amusement crossed his face.
“He’d tell his wife he was going for an evening walk, then somehow end up here ordering pecan
cheesecake.”
Damien stared at him.
Mr. Lawson pointed toward the container in Damien’s hand.
“That cheesecake has been his favorite for years.”
Another laugh escaped him.
“One evening, he didn’t realize his wife had followed him.”
The older man grinned.
“She caught him halfway through a slice.”
For a moment, he looked genuinely nostalgic.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a grown man look so guilty.”
He chuckled.
“It’s been a while since he’s stopped by. Take that slice to him for me.”
Then, after a brief pause, he added,
“But if he gets in trouble with your grandmother again, let’s agree that this was entirely your idea.”
The older man’s eyes twinkled with amusement.
“Consider it the price of my generosity. The least you can do is help me stay out of trouble.”
Clairo
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.