After dinner, Yasmine and Serana tidied up the dining area.

“Cleaning up” was a generous term, considering Serana was doing most of the

work.

Yasmine, who had grown up in an orphanage, may not have had the easiest

childhood, but she was never required to do chores like cooking, laundering, or

chopping wood. Once she left the orphanage, such tasks were even further from

her reality. Her hands were soft and beautiful, with slender, pale fingers.

Standing beside Serana at the sink, the most Yasmine would do was to wipe

down the already clean dishes. And she had this air about her, as if she had

done some monumental task that deserved high praise.

Enter title…

Serana wasn’t much of a talker. It seemed ever since Yasmine started dating

Boyd, Serana had become even quieter. The time they spent washing dishes

was particularly tough for her. The moment the last plate was dried, she let out a

sigh of relief and quickly said, “There’s nothing left to do now, Yasmine. You

should get on with your evening.”

Yasmine rinsed her hands under the faucet and watched Serana put away the

dishes. “I’ve always meant to say, you have a real knack for cooking and

cleaning,” she said.d2

Serana paused for a moment, then smiled at her. “I’m just curious about these

things, so I tend to pay more attention. Boyd isn’t too keen on eating out. If you

have the time, I could teach you a few of his favorite dishes.”

Yasmine chuckled and shook her head. “No time for that.”

After putting away the utensils, Serana turned and gave her a strained smile.

“They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I’m sure Boyd would

be delighted if you cooked for him.”

“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?” Yasmine smirked, looking at

her. “Is that what you thought back then?”

Serana’s smile froze instantly. Her eyes locked with Yasmine’s for a few

seconds before she forced herself to look away, her grip tightening on the edge

of the countertop. “It seems like you’ve misunderstood something about us,”

Serana said softly.

Yasmine observed her for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. “Why so

tense? Who did I misunderstand you with?” she teased.

Serana bit her lip, replying quietly, “Nothing…”

Noticing Serana’s trembling hand on the counter, Yasmine’s eyes sharpened.

you for the

didn’t reply, only

kitchen, thinking Serana’s smile

comforting.

on the sofa, perusing the stack

that struck a chord with her.

he took her hand and kissed

looked at him with faint disgust. “I wanted you to smell

nice,” he

you like the

him, his brow furrowing with suspicion.

Washing dishes?”

withdrawing her hand. “I

work.”

and reached into the drawer

of hand cream. He squeezed a generous amount onto

to massage it

flowers filled the air. Once her hands were

kissed

that again,” he

admiring her well-cared-for hands. “Fine,

won’t make it difficult for

as he gently tugged at

tonight?”

look. “Not

Boyd paused, hand still on her

smirked and pushed his hand away. “Of course.

thinking about are off

frown deepened

his shoulder.

the books on the coffee

Yasmine cut

“Five days from now.”

“No.”

“Three days.”

“No.”

the books off the table, scooped Yasmine

headed for the

tomorrow night, no

the bed and leaned over her, Yasmine put

“Serana’s still here. Have you no

hand. “She’ll leave

of his embrace. “Then we’ll talk

to doing it under the watchful eyes of a

joking, Boyd sat up

of bed.

that Boyd wasn’t in the bedroom.

out, intending to get

yet, and Boyd was speaking with a detached tone

have two years before graduation. You’re thinking about

he said.

think my

before

it’s up to you.”

breathed a sigh

their conversation,

about what it entailed.

from the bedroom, Serana stood up

for a moment. “I’ve got

Yasmine a glass of

temperature.”

watching Serana pick up an orange peel from

it in the trash. She took a sip of

reminded her of the way Bryson’s wife, Aliza,

She would cook a table of dishes

son liked, tidy the house until it was spotless, and always speak

she prepared the meal.

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