“Quinn, I made this cake specially for you. Does it taste good?” asked the woman.
I didn’t expect Diana to be here.
In the living room, she was dressed in a delicate white dress, holding a cake plate in her left hand and offering a spoonful to Quinn with her right.
Her sparkling eyes gazed affectionately at Quinn, her face radiating with happiness.
Quinn opened his mouth and ate the spoonful of cake.
His deep–set eyes looked at Diana as he softly said, “It tastes good
Their sweet interaction stung my eves
Carrying the bags. I lowered my head, wanting to quickly enter the kitchen.
Diana noticed me first and called out, “Natalial
In front of Quinn, she acted as an innocent girl, understandingly saying, “We both made mistakes before. Although you and Quinn are divorced, you are forever family to him. If there’s anything you need help with in the future, feel free to come to
Her tone suggested she had already taken on the role of Quinn’s legitimate wife.
I gave a cold laugh and ignored her.
Diana didn’t mind; her big eyes shifted to the bags in my hand, and she cooed, “I’ve never tried your cooking. Quinn, can I stay for dinner tonight?”
Quinn didn’t even glance at me and casually replied, “Sure.”
I didn’t want to engage with them anymore and just wanted to finish cooking and leave.
I entered the kitchen to start preparing, occasionally hearing Diana’s cheerful laughter from the living room.
It was a kind of happiness and pampering I had never experienced.
Suppressing the discomfort in my heart, I prepared a table full of dishes, using ingredients I had carefully selected at the supermarket–nearly all of Quinn’s favorites.
“Dinner is ready. I’ll be going now,” I said as I removed my apron addressing Quinn solemnly.
Quinn
t respond, but Diana, with
a bright smile, coaxed him. “Natalia worked hard to make such a feast. Let her join us
for dinner.
“No need. I refused with a cold face.
Just then, my phone rang, displaying Aiden’s name on the screen.
I muted it, planning to answer when I stepped out.
For some reason, Quinn suddenly said. “Sit down” His commanding tone brooked no refusal.
Even though we had agreed on everything in the car, did his attitude toward me change just because Diana appeared? Did he think he could do whatever he wanted to me?
1/3
Chapter 23
My heart throbbed painful
as I met his icy gaze. Remembering Rose’s sanatorium, I had no courage to resist.
Diana enjoyed her meal, praising my cooking while attentively serving Quinn.
“Natalia, could you serve me some soup?” Diana handed me a bowl with a smile. “I like warm soup.”
I nodded and got up to ladle a bowl of steaming soup from the pot.
As Diana received the bowl, her eyes narrowed slightly.
The next moment, she forcefully lifted her hands upward, spilling the entire bowl of hot soup onto my hands.
The porcelain bowl shattered on the ground.
The sharp pain made me cry out, “Ouch!”
Diana immediately pretended to be shocked and apologized, “Sorry, Natalia! I wasn’t holding it steady when you let go. Are you okay?”
Of course not! Looking at iny red and blistered hands, I felt the pain intensify.
Quinn frowned and quickly brought over the first aid kit. Suddenly, Diana exclaimed, “Ah!” Instantly, tears welled up in her eyes. “Quinn, I think I’m also burned. It hurts so much!”
Diana looked pitifully at him, revealing her slightly reddened right index finger.
Quinn took out a burn ointment and immediately threw the first–aid kit in front of me, saying in a deep voice, “Take care of it yourself.”
He pulled over Diana’s hand, carefully checked it, and then gently applied the burn ointment to her.
Watching his focused expression and gentle actions, along with the smirk on Diana’s face as she looked at me, I felt like being pierced, unable to breathe through the heartache.
Tears welled up in my eyes, realizing I couldn’t stay any longer. Or else, I feared I wouldn’t be able to hold back my tears in front of them.
Such tears would only earn me Quinn’s cold stare and Diana’s mockery.
I refused to accept that
Grinding my teeth against the pain, I ran out of the villa. My phone in my bag kept ringing, but I was in no mood to check it. Behind me. I heard the sound of a car horn.
1 paused, subconsciously thinking Quinn might be chasing afterme.
The car stopped beside me, and a man anxiously got out, calling my name with concern, “Natalia, why aren’t you answering your phone? Did Quinn give you a hard time again?*
Looking up at Aiden, large tears betrayed my efforts to remain strong.
What happened to your hand?” Noticing my burned hands and seeing me cry. Aiden punched the nearby tree trunk angrily. “Bastard Quinn! What did he do to you?”
Aiden was furious and wanted to confront Quin at the villa to take
my side.
Coming back to my senses, I stopped him, wiping away my tear and choking out. “It wasn’t him. I’m fine.”
* 54%
Chapter 23
Jec 12
“Natalia, when will you stop making excuses for him?” Aiden sighed, tenderly checking my hands. “If it is not treated promptly, it could scar. Get in the car, I’ll take you to the hospital
At
the tapital Aiden personally applied medicine and bandaged my hands,
hiszents gentle as he sofily advised. “It
might be painful during recovery. Don’t get your hands wet these few days.”
“Hmm.” I quietly responded. Once I had calmed down, I asked curiously, “How did you know where I was?”
“Rose called me when I was in surgery. It was only after coming out of the operating room in the evening that I learned what you and Rose went through today. When I couldn’t reach you Luer, I guessed Quinn must have taken you away
Aiden blamed himself. “Had I picked you up sooner, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”
Thank you, Aiden.” I smiled sincerely. “But I’m not a child anymore. You don’t have to treat me like a kid. I can take care of myself
“If possible. I’d like to protect you for a lifetime.” Aiden looked deeply into my eyes, his gaze tired yet resigned.
I was taken aback, and he gave a slight smile before continuing. You know, I have no siblings. If the ‘little sister‘ I grew up with isn’t happy. then neither am I
I was touched: Aiden meant as much to me as family.
After the bandaging was done, I urged him who had been operating all day to go home and rest.
I went to the r
mall to buy a new phone and took a taxi back to the Hinton family.
Just as I was about to sleep that night, my phone on the nightstand suddenly rang once and then was hung up.
Thinking it was a wrong number, I didn’t pay much attention toit.
When I woke up the next morning, I checked my phone and saw an unanswered call from the previous night–it was from Quinn.
的
