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.

for the meal,”

reply, only managing a

the kitchen, thinking Serana’s smile

comforting.

perusing

charm that struck a chord with her. She

he took

looked at him with faint disgust. “I

nice,” he

just washed dishes. So you like the scent

her down beside him, his brow furrowing with suspicion.

Washing dishes?”

lips together tighter, withdrawing her hand.

work.”

reached into the drawer under the coffee table,

of hand cream. He squeezed a

to massage

the air. Once

Boyd kissed them again,

that again,”

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

so nicely, I won’t make it difficult for

as he gently tugged at

tonight?”

a languid look. “Not going back until you

Boyd paused, hand

and pushed his hand away. “Of course.

thinking about

frown deepened at her

patted his shoulder.

on the coffee table. “What about starting next

Yasmine cut

“Five days from now.”

“No.”

“Three days.”

“No.”

books off the table, scooped Yasmine

and headed for

tomorrow night, no

the bed and leaned over her,

still here. Have you

removed her hand. “She’ll

of his embrace. “Then we’ll talk after she leaves. I’m

doing it under the watchful

she wasn’t joking, Boyd

bed.

Yasmine found that Boyd wasn’t in the bedroom. She

out, intending

yet, and Boyd was speaking with a detached

years before graduation. You’re thinking about this

he said.

anxious. “I think my major is

silent for a moment before conceding,

it’s up to you.”

a sigh

their conversation, but she had

about what it entailed.

Serana stood up from

moment. “I’ve got homework. I

stood and handed Yasmine a glass of water. “It’s at the

temperature.”

the glass, watching Serana pick up

and toss it in the trash. She took

way Bryson’s wife, Aliza, would play the part of

cook a table of dishes

until it was spotless, and always speak softly

she prepared the meal.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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