# Chapter 30
The two arrived home, and as soon as they stepped inside, Manon headed straight for the kitchen. After a busy day with little to eat, she felt hungry. Preferring to cook for herself rather than have others in her space, she announced, "I'm going to make some noodles. Would you like some, Mr. Malcolm?"
Surprised, Louis raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Yes, I'm hungry too."
He changed his shoes and followed her into the kitchen, watching as she expertly boiled water and added the noodles. Though she seemed inexperienced, he was impressed by her skill.
With a knife in hand, Manon chopped scallions and sprinkled them over the noodles, adding various seasonings as the delicious smell filled the kitchen. Louis noticed her delicate fingers and realized he could easily hold her slender wrist. Suddenly, he frowned. "What happened to your hand?"
Manon glanced at her hand, her eyes flickering. "It's nothing. Just a scratch from working."
It was clear her injury was more than a simple scratch, but Louis didn't press her for details. They finished their meal in silence. Louis then offered to wash the dishes, and Manon didn't refuse. She moved to the living room to work on her computer.
When Louis walked out of the kitchen, he noticed Manon was gone. He took out his phone and called his assistant. "Find out who Manon met this afternoon and if there was any trouble," he instructed.
His assistant quickly began investigating. Soon, he called back. "Boss, Madam had a fight with Adrian when she left the company today, right outside the Anderson Group building."
The assistant, watching surveillance footage, explained, "Adrian forced a hug on Madam, and she fell while trying to break free. A woman who seemed to be her friend showed up afterward. I'm looking into her."
Louis's expression grew colder. Adrian? He still hadn't given up.
"Got it. Let me know as soon as you find out. All the security guards around Manon will be fired and replaced." He couldn't believe his wife had been mistreated outside her own workplace. What were those guards doing?
After a moment, his tone turned icy. "And Adrian? Have someone teach him a lesson." He hung up swiftly, then sat on the sofa, rubbing his tired temples as he looked toward the stairs.
The assistant, holding his phone, dialed another number with a blank expression. "Go teach Adrian Lincoln a lesson, but don't kill him."
Louis's gaze remained fixed on his phone, his mood darkening. The Lincoln family wanted a fight? Since Manon was hurt, he'd make them pay dearly.
When Manon walked downstairs, she paused at the sight before her. "Mr. Malcolm?"
Hearing her voice, Louis's cold demeanor softened instantly. He looked up, his gaze warm. "What's wrong, Manny?"
Manon frowned at the nickname, clearly displeased. "Mr. Malcolm, there's no one else here. You can call me Miss Anderson."
Her attempt to set boundaries made Louis's warmth fade. He smirked, touching his teeth with his tongue. "Miss Anderson?"
"Yes, just call me that." Her expression was indifferent. "I came to discuss something."
Hearing this, Louis felt the frustration lift. He would help her with anything she needed. "Do you prefer the master bedroom or the guest room?"
Manon stood firm, her voice cold. "Let's sleep separately."
Louis frowned at her words. "Let's sleep together. This is your house, not your grandfather's. We don't need to pretend."
The chill in her tone only deepened his coldness. He let out a low laugh, void of warmth. "What do you mean, Miss Anderson?"
Manon looked at him, her expression blank before she replied, "Nothing. This isn't the Malcolm family home, and there are no outsiders here. We don't need to keep pretending."
She acted as if it didn't matter, which only fueled Louis's anger. He stood up abruptly and strode toward her. Startled, Manon backed against the wall. "Mr. Malcolm? What are you doing?" she asked.
Louis positioned himself close, his arms on either side of her, gazing intently. Even Manon's strong resolve couldn't withstand his stare for long. She tried to push him away, but he didn't budge. Knowing the difference in their strength, she looked up calmly.
"What am I to you, Manon?" Louis stared, searching for any sign of weakness.
Manon frowned, confused. "What do you mean? Didn't we agree that this is just a contract?"
Hearing her words, Louis felt deflated, his arms dropping slowly. "Oh, is that so?" he replied weakly.
Manon looked at him with disbelief, turning to search his face for vulnerability, but found none. Louis radiated coldness, his eyes lacking warmth. "I will remember your words today, Miss Anderson."
With that, he grabbed his suit jacket and exited the villa in swift strides.