My Slime Wife: Training and Pampering Her Makes Me Stronger
Chapter 34: Waking Up Beside My Wife Again

Chapter 34: Waking Up Beside My Wife Again

A thin ray of sunlight slipped through the gaps in the blinds and landed directly on Liam’s face.

He frowned.

"Mm..."

He rolled over, trying to escape the morning light, but instead of finding an empty pillow, his arm brushed against warm, soft skin.

Slowly, he opened his eyes.

There was Lydia.

She was sleeping peacefully, part of her long black hair spread across the pillow, her face completely relaxed as she breathed softly.

Liam smiled without even realizing it.

’She really is back to normal...’

Just one day ago, she had been a tiny green gelatinous sphere that could barely communicate through the System’s messages.

Now he could watch her sleep, hear her breathing, and feel the warmth of her body.

Gently, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her a little closer.

Lydia let out a sleepy little murmur and instinctively nestled against his chest.

Liam felt a lump form in his throat.

There were still moments when all of this felt like a dream.

He gently kissed her forehead.

Just then...

[You showed affection to your Slime.]

[Achievement Unlocked.]

[Reward Obtained.]

"Huh?"

A small circle of light appeared in front of him.

A metallic object dropped from the glowing light onto the bed.

Liam caught it before it could bounce off the mattress.

It was a ring.

He stared at it carefully, and his breathing stopped for a moment.

"No way..."

It was exactly the same.

The same design.

The same shine.

The same inscription engraved inside.

The wedding ring he had given Lydia on the day they got married.

The very same one they had lost.

◇◆◇

The memories came flooding back immediately.

That afternoon.

The debts.

The threats.

Mr. Banks standing outside their apartment with his arms crossed.

"If you can’t pay, then leave me something valuable."

Liam had clenched his teeth.

They had nothing.

Nothing...

Except their wedding rings.

Lydia had been the first to smile.

"It’s okay. We’ll buy new ones once we’re back on our feet."

Even now, Liam hated remembering the moment he had taken his ring off.

Weeks later, after they had finally managed to repay the debt, Banks had simply told them the rings had been lost.

Liam had never believed him.

’That greedy old man probably sold them.’

He had wanted to confront him.

But Lydia had stopped him.

"It’s not worth it."

And in the end, he had let it go.

Now...

He was holding the ring in his hands again.

It was exactly the same.

Even the size matched perfectly.

He looked up at the ceiling.

"Pix?"

A second later, a floating message appeared before him.

[Pix: Yes?]

"Was this your doing?"

Liam asked with a smile.

[Pix: It’s my way of apologizing for all my mistakes.]

[Pix: I thought I should make it up to you... at least a little.]

A small smiling emoji appeared beneath the message.

Liam chuckled.

"You didn’t have to..."

he replied mentally.

"But thank you."

[Pix: I feel bad about everything I put you through.]

"Lydia’s going to be so happy."

[Pix: I’m glad.]

[Pix: You’re both Ace of Swords hunters now.]

[Pix: You deserve a fresh start.]

Liam looked down at the ring once more.

"Thank you, Pix."

The only reply was another tiny smiling emoji.

Then the messages disappeared.

◇◆◇

Liam carefully slipped out of bed without waking Lydia.

She was still fast asleep.

He smiled.

’She looks so peaceful...’

He quietly closed the bedroom door behind him.

Then he walked into the apartment’s small kitchen.

A few dishes from last night’s dinner were still sitting there.

The leftover chicken.

The pot that had held the mashed potatoes.

The silverware.

As he turned on the faucet, he remembered Lydia’s huge smile while she had been cooking.

She had insisted on making everything herself.

"After spending so long as a slime, I want to cook again."

And it had absolutely been worth it.

Liam finished washing every dish.

He wiped down the counter.

Swept up a few crumbs from the floor.

Then he opened the refrigerator.

’There’s still plenty left...’

He took out an avocado, some bread, and a few eggs.

He made two slices of toast, topped them with avocado slices, then cooked some softly scrambled eggs and placed them on top.

He heated water and brewed a cup of tea.

He glanced at the clock.

’She’s probably still asleep.’

Then an idea came to him.

He searched through one of the cabinets until he found a small white box that had been sitting there for months.

It was the original box the ring had come in.

He dusted it off, carefully placed the ring inside, and closed the lid.

Then he arranged everything on a serving tray.

Breakfast.

Tea.

The little box.

He smiled, satisfied.

◇◆◇

He gently pushed open the bedroom door.

Lydia was still curled up beneath the blankets.

The aroma of freshly brewed tea slowly filled the room.

She wrinkled her nose slightly.

Her eyelids fluttered before she slowly opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was Liam walking in with the tray.

She smiled.

"Good morning..."

Liam placed the tray across her lap.

"Good morning, sweetheart."

She looked over the breakfast.

"Avocado toast... eggs... and tea?"

She looked back up at him.

"I think I married the right man."

Liam laughed.

"I hope I can keep living up to that title."

Lydia picked up one of the slices of toast.

She took a bite and closed her eyes.

"Mmm... This is delicious."

"That’s a relief. After your chicken last night, I was worried this would disappoint you."

She shook her head.

"Nothing you make could ever disappoint me."

Liam felt his face grow a little warm.

He cleared his throat.

"Uh... speaking of marriage..."

Lydia raised an eyebrow.

"Yes?"

"I left something else on the tray."

She looked around until she noticed the small box.

She picked it up curiously.

"What’s this?"

"Open it."

Lydia smiled.

"A gift?"

"Maybe."

Carefully, she lifted the lid.

For several seconds...

She simply froze.

Her lips began to tremble.

Her eyes widened.

Inside was the ring.

Her ring.

"Li..."

She picked it up with shaking hands.

She examined it from every angle.

Ran her finger over the inscription inside.

It was exactly the same.

Tears began filling her eyes.

"No... It can’t be..."

Her voice cracked.

"How did you get it back?"

Before Liam could answer...

The black phone bearing the Ace of Swords emblem began ringing on the nightstand.

Ring...

Ring...

Both of them turned toward it.

The screen lit up.

It was Instructor James.