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.

the meal,”

didn’t reply, only

thinking Serana’s

comforting.

on the sofa, perusing the stack of books she’d

a mature, reserved charm that struck a chord with

hand. Puzzled, he took her

with faint disgust. “I wanted you to

nice,”

washed dishes. So you like the

down beside him, his brow furrowing with suspicion.

Washing dishes?”

lips together tighter, withdrawing

work.”

the drawer under the coffee

of hand cream. He squeezed

began to massage it

faint scent of flowers filled the

kissed them again,

do that again,”

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

won’t make it

laughed, shaking his head as he gently tugged at her ear.

tonight?”

languid look. “Not going

Boyd paused, hand

hand away.

thinking about are off

frown deepened at her

patted his shoulder. “No room

books on the

Yasmine cut

“Five days from now.”

“No.”

“Three days.”

“No.”

off the table, scooped

headed for the

night, no

on the bed and leaned over her,

mouth. “Serana’s still here. Have

hand. “She’ll leave

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

to doing it under the

wasn’t joking, Boyd sat

got out of bed. “I’m going to

that Boyd wasn’t in

and stepped out, intending to

left yet, and Boyd was speaking with a detached tone on the

two years before graduation. You’re thinking about this

he said.

“I think

a moment before conceding,

it’s up to you.”

sigh of relief.

beginning of their

about what it entailed.

the bedroom, Serana stood up

moment. “I’ve got

a glass of water. “It’s at the

temperature.”

glass, watching Serana pick up an orange peel from

in the trash. She took a

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

cook a table

liked, tidy the house until it was spotless, and

she prepared the meal.

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

Comments ()

0/255