A Matter of Wife and Love

Chapter 253

While Blake silently swept his somewhat innocent gaze across the female guests sitting across from him, Amelie was wondering to whom he had taken a liking. So she looked toward him only to find that he had already been looking at her for some time.

His eyes were curved into crescents as he smiled gently, and that smile seemed to be laced with affection as it was uniquely lingering.

Goodness, that man sure can pull a smile that kills, Amelie mused.

Meanwhile, the hosts and audience followed Blake’s line of sight to where all the female guests were sitting. Everyone was like a radar, searching, wanting to dig up Blake’s secret immediately.

“Can I keep it a secret?” answered Blake after finally looking away.

As disappointed as the hosts were at Blake’s answer, they refused to give up and continued probing for a definitive answer. However, the man merely smiled no matter what question had been thrown at him.

In the end, when the hosts used up every trick in their book, the female host was so desperate she was nearly begging on her knees. “How about this? Why don’t you describe your impression of her to us?”

Amelie was also curious as to who in the world he came for, so she looked toward the young man with great interest before shifting her gaze inadvertently toward the other female guests.

The ladies were of different ages and personalities, but seemingly none matched Blake’s crisp personality.

Then again, who could be so certain about love in this era?

“She’s really amazing.” This time, Blake answered crisply instead of keeping quiet. “She’s the cutest and the most unyielding girl I’ve ever met. There’s nothing I can do about her most of the time.”

His lips curved into a gentle smile as he spoke, and in that smile laced a hint of coddling.

“Goodness, they really don’t call lady-killer a lady-killer for nothing. His smile is killing me,” exclaimed the female host as she pressed her hand against her chest. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

She wasn’t exaggerating at all, for Blake’s affectionate smile laced with bashfulness hadn’t only intoxicated the female host but also the entire audience. The live stream portal was filled with various exclamations and gushes as well.

‘Goodness, this smile sure is intoxicating!’

‘Help me! I can’t breathe!’

‘Who’s this lucky woman who has won Blakey’s heart?’

‘I can already rest in peace if he can glance at me with those eyes.’

Amelie, on the other hand, sat quietly in her seat, but, unsure if it was because of the angle, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that he was smiling at her.

I must be over-sensitive.

Though Julia—the unreliable best friend—White had once casually set the two up together, Amelie always believed a gentleman like Blake would never have feelings for her.

“Blakey is talking about me, isn’t he?” giggled Jodie while Amelie was deep in thought. At that, she cupped her cheeks as hearts flew out of her eyes. “I’ve never given up winning his heart. Isn’t it precisely the unyielding he’s talking about?”

As Jodie was mumbling to herself, only Amelie heard her, and the latter frowned subtly in response. Blake came for Jodie?

The answer was clearly unrealistic. However, Jodie didn’t think it was the case at all. In fact, she was certain her persistence had touched Blake, and that was why he had come to win her heart this time.

“Word is that he has only decided to join this week’s episode today,” commented Giada, who was sitting on Amelie’s other side, plainly.

Her voice was a little loud, so even Jodie heard her, and the latter’s smile deepened in response. So much so that her eyes had curved into crescents. I also happened to have decided to join the show at the last minute. Blakey sure is well aware of my whereabouts!

Back on stage, Blake behaved impassively toward the hosts’ and the live stream’s praises and gushes the whole time, looking aloof and noble, completely unfazed by all the attention he was given.

Amelie, on the other hand, stopped guessing and lowered her head to ponder how she should loaf around to kill time. Hence, she never noticed the layers upon layers of gentleness and affection he had in his eyes toward her.

Of course, it didn’t mean that no one else noticed it.

Leo was looking at the monitor with narrowed eyes that were condensed with grimness.

He had long known about Blake’s feelings for Amelie, but he didn’t expect the man to pursue her all the way there, on reality TV.

Eight out of ten crushes would ultimately be revealed during a shooting of a reality dating program, and it was evident Blake intended to confess his love to Amelie!

How dare he covet Amelie when he can even barely be called a man?! What is he, blind? Does he not know that Amelie is a divorcee and has a child with her?!

Leo quickly noticed that what he minded wasn’t whether Blake cared if Amelie was a divorcee and had a child with her. What he minded was the way he looked at Amelie.

It was absolutely, totally jarring! Not only jarring but also heart-wrenching!

Even if they had divorced, no one and no one had the right to covet his ex-wife!

“Mr. Alston, Mr. Alston?” The station manager’s heart skipped a beat when he saw Leo’s suddenly malicious gaze glued onto the monitor.

Is Mr. Alston displeased with the show? The station manager’s eyelid twitched worryingly, for Leo was the reality show’s investor. At that, he hurriedly humbled himself and asked fawningly, “Do you happen to have a better idea for the show, Mr. Alston?”

“Yes,” Leo drawled, then pointed at the screen and said something.

He wasn’t loud, but his words left the station manager dumbfounded, and his eyes widened with incredulity. “Y-You…You’re… s-saying…”

Leo took an impassive gander at the station manager, causing the latter to shut up and nod at once. “Yes, sir, I’ll see to it right away!”

Meanwhile, the audience was sated with Blake’s gentleness at that point, and though they weren’t willing to move on just yet, time waited for no one, and the show must continue.

At that, the hosts had to spare him and let him return to his seat.

After all the guests had been introduced, the two hosts briefly mentioned the production’s following arrangements.

‘Show Your Love’ had already been around for a few seasons, so everyone was aware that it had some adventure elements, and it was through various adventures that the secret admirers had the chance to showcase themselves while also letting their crushes see how they performed, ultimately deciding if they would become a couple by the end of the season.

Of course, before the activities began, the twelve guests would be split into two teams, which were left for them to decide how the teams should be split.

“Let’s stick together,” Fiona suggested when she went up to Amelie, who nodded in agreement since she was only familiar with Fiona.

Giada, too, approached the two and asked to join them.

Following that, Blake and a tall actor approached them. “We’ll join you guys,” said Blake with an amiable, crisp, and bashful smile at the three ladies.

Amelie naturally was fine about Blake joining their group. After all, having someone familiar looking after each other’s backs was better than having none.

Now, they just needed another guy to join them, and their team would be full.

Just then, Jodie hopped in out of nowhere. “I want to join you guys too!”

“Sorry, we already have enough female members,” Giada reminded, leading Jodie to shoot the young woman a side-eyed glance with displeasure, refusing to leave. “Well, I’m staying!”

As if she would ever join the other group when Blake was in this one!

Hence, she asked matter-of-factly, “So which of you three will be backing out?”

Giada’s face turned grim at once.

I joined the show with notable work, at any rate, and now I’m being ordered around by a rich brat that I’ve never even heard of?!

But as displeased as she appeared to be, she eventually just kept her mouth shut. However, she didn’t move either.

Amelie, on the other hand, shook her head helplessly, seeing Jodie digging her own grave off the bat. Not wanting such an insignificant issue to blow up, and she wasn’t into Jodie either, she took a step, about to back out when someone grabbed her arm.

It was Fiona. “I’ll head to the other team,” announced the young woman with a smile before walking past the tall actor toward the other group.

Meanwhile, an actor also approached their group, and with that, the teams were paired perfectly with three guys and three ladies in each of them.

“And now, for the first adventure,” The hosts flipped their cue cards and announced after ensuring no further changes to the teams would be made. “This week’s activity is—”

“Wait!” The director gestured offstage, baffling the two hosts with the unforeseen change. Everyone, too, looked toward the director.

Moments later, the director sent a crew member to hand a note to the two hosts.