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,”

reply, only managing a

left the kitchen, thinking Serana’s smile was more unsettling

comforting.

was lounging on the sofa, perusing the stack

mature, reserved charm that struck a chord

her hand. Puzzled, he took her hand and kissed

disgust. “I wanted you to

smells nice,”

you like

beside him,

Washing dishes?”

her lips together tighter, withdrawing her hand. “I

work.”

the drawer under the coffee table, pulling out

He squeezed a generous

to massage

filled the air. Once her hands were soft

kissed them

that again,” he

arched an eyebrow, admiring her well-cared-for

so nicely, I won’t make it difficult

he gently tugged at her ear. “Staying

tonight?”

look. “Not going back

hand still on

pushed his hand away. “Of course. But until

about are

deepened

patted his shoulder. “No room

books on the coffee table. “What about starting next

cut him off

“Five days from now.”

“No.”

“Three days.”

“No.”

swept the books off the table, scooped

headed for

night, no

and leaned over her, Yasmine put

still here. Have you no

removed her hand.

embrace. “Then we’ll

to doing it under the watchful eyes of a

joking, Boyd sat up

of bed. “I’m

found that Boyd wasn’t in the

stepped out, intending to get

Boyd was speaking with a detached tone

graduation. You’re

he said.

anxious. “I think

a moment before conceding, “If you’ve really

it’s up to you.”

breathed a sigh of

hadn’t caught the beginning of their conversation, but she

about what it entailed.

the bedroom, Serana stood up from the

her for a moment.

glass of water.

temperature.”

glass, watching Serana pick

table and toss it in the trash. She took

way Bryson’s wife, Aliza, would play

capable wife at home. She would cook a

son liked, tidy the house until it was

she prepared the meal.

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

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