Returning from the Dead: His Secret Lover

The villagers were ecstatic. Once the wood was measured and paid for, the farmer dragged Ian to his house for some potato and leek soup. As it was a local and expensive delicacy, it would only be prepared to honor significant guests.

Ian had already firmly made up his mind to decline even before the offer was made.

At the farmer's approach, Ian shuddered in recollection of the incident with the Villagers' Committee and hastened his departure.

"Hey, Small Fry, where are you going? My wife has prepared a feast to thank you for your help"

Ian almost yelled in exasperation as the farmer's soil-crusted hand reached out with surprising vigor to grab his snow- white shirt.

Fortunately, a slender figure in the distance quickened her pace in Ian's direction at the commotion of his struggle.

"He has a delicate stomach, sir," the figure cried from afar. "But I'm sure he appreciates the offer"

As she spoke, she forcefully pried the farmer's fingers away from Ian's shirt.

Oh my, it's as black as soot!

Susan quickly extracted a clean handkerchief and cleaned Ian's shirt as best as she could.

The farmer must have gotten the hint as he no longer insisted on Ian's presence.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Even if you won't have lunch, at least come for my wife's pineapple tarts."

Pineapple tart?

Susan, who was feeling rather hungry, swallowed when she heard that.

village is known

face the young man behind her, her perspiration-

Ian raised his eyebrows.

interest in morsels, he

at the farmer, she gratefully accepted. "We would love to come, sir. Thank

as Small Fry here has made us a lot of

led the way back to

village. With houses made of mud bricks and worn tiles, the fragrance of fresh produce wafted from both sides

smell and sight seemed

did not dare think about how Ian's impression of her would change after

think I have an ulterior motive against him and cast me aside as

showed no displeasure in doing so that the knot in her chest began to loosen. Unnoticed by her,

the pair that they had arrived at the

"It smells amazing!"

he beckoned them in. "She got up especially early today for this. We are the first to bake with our harvest this year, you know. Here, try

went in with him with Ian following

felt refreshingly cool due to the

it was not Ian's first time in a village, he could

suited him, a furry thing shot between his feet when he crossed

Thud!

backward and collided with the

the noise, Susan hurried over with the pineapple tart in her hand completely

"What happened?"

mixture of rage and humiliation as