I had just finished changing the curtains. Now, I was cleaning the living room when I heard the doorbell ring. I glanced at the wall clock. It was almost five in the afternoon.
Fabio had left earlier that morning, and he didn’t even stay long. When he came downstairs, he was already dressed for work.
He didn’t even say goodbye. Not a glance. Not even a simple, “Hey, woman, I’m heading out.”
I walked straight to the door to check who it was. It couldn’t be Fabio. He never rings the doorbell.
“Good afternoon,” James greeted me with a smile. My face instantly lit up, and I opened the door wider.
“Hi! What’s the update? Come in,” I said, inviting him inside.
I wanted to applaud myself. Look at me, already feeling at home in this place. He sat on the couch and casually glanced around the room.
“Same update on Normani. Nothing new from the Montoyas, so the plan remains. Stay here and be a good wife to Mr. Arvenze while your sister’s still recovering,” James said seriously.
I sighed. How do you even become a good wife? I had no experience in relationships. Everything I knew came from TV shows, and even those were limited.
“Alright. I guess all I can do for now is wait and do what’s expected of me,” I replied quietly.
I shook my head. I shouldn’t be sulking. I’m the only one Normani can count on right now. While she’s unconscious, I have to do everything I can for her.
I forced a smile and changed the topic. “Have you eaten?”
“Not yet.”
I smiled. He wasn’t shy around me anymore. He wasn’t as formal as he was the first time we met. I liked this version of him better. He felt more genuine.
“Let’s go to the kitchen. I’ll cook something. It’s the least I can do to thank you, James. But fair warning, my cooking skills are limited,” I said as we walked toward the kitchen.
I had been planning to cook dinner anyway. I spent the whole day cleaning, even if the house wasn’t that dirty to begin with. I just had nothing else to do and nowhere else to go.
When we got to the kitchen, I was caught off guard when James took off his black suit. He was left in a white button-down shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. It was hard to believe this man was supposed to be my bodyguard. I couldn’t help but grin.
Whoever James ends up loving someday is lucky. He seemed kind and attentive.
“Let me help,” he offered with a laugh as he reached for the ladle.
**
Fabio frowned when he saw a black car parked outside the house. He was sure it didn’t belong to his dear wife. He had already gotten rid of all her cars. The last one she used was white, and come to think of it, she never brought that one home either.
So where was it? Did Normani give it to some man?
His jaw clenched at the thought.
He stepped out of his own car and stormed toward the house, his strides sharp and filled with rage.
His hand trembled as he pushed the door open. Voices drifted from the kitchen, and he froze.
He could feel the fury rising in his chest.
A man’s voice. Inside his house. “Careful with that,” the man said.
Fabio’s eyes narrowed. He hadn’t even realized his fists were already clenched. If anyone got in his way right now, they’d be lucky to walk away in one piece.
**
“Ow! Is it really supposed to be like this? Why is it so big? Ah!” I groaned. Then I froze. Oh God. That sounded awful. Out of context, it was just... wrong.
Fabio didn’t speak. His mouth hung open.
He had always believed I was cheating. At least in his head. But now, hearing it with his own ears, it was no longer just a suspicion. It was betrayal, sharp and real.
“Hurry up! Quick, my husband might come home. Fabio could be here any minute!”
“Don’t worry, maybe he’ll be late,” James replied.
Fabio was seething now. Those two. The traitors. His blood boiled.
What the hell were we doing in his house? Had I been bringing my lover here more than once? The thought made him want to kill.
“What the fuck are you doing in my house?!” he roared, slamming the door open.
He marched into the kitchen, fists clenched, and kicked a chair out of his way.
I turned to him in shock. James looked surprised too, but he quickly forced a smile.
Fabio was breathing heavily. He looked like he was seconds away from attacking. I rushed to him and held his arm. My skin prickled at the contact.
“Hey. Calm down. He’s my bodyguard. We’re not doing anything wrong. He’s just helping me,” I said as gently as I could. Fabio glared at me, then turned to James.
“You two fuck here? In my kitchen?!” he shouted.
My mouth fell open. I couldn’t believe what I had just heard.
“You’ve got it all wrong, Mr. Arvenze,” James cut in, taking off the apron he was wearing.
Fabio bit down on his tongue. He seemed to realize we weren’t even undressed.
“Shut the fuck up!” he snapped at James before turning his glare back to me.
James quietly walked out. I gave him a look that said to just let it go for now. He gave a small nod before walking past me. I wanted to pull him back, but I kept my eyes on Fabio.
“What are you even saying? We were just cooking,” I said, shocked by my own calm tone. Back then, if he raised his voice, I’d raise mine too. But now, I don’t know... something felt different. I could speak without shouting back.
“Then how do you explain what I heard?” he snapped.
I frowned, trying to remember what James and I had been talking about. When it clicked, I shook my head and laughed a little. That only seemed to piss him off more.
“We were talking about the fish. It was huge, and I was struggling to flip it over. Look,” I pointed to the fish on the table.
It was his favorite dish.
He stared at me without a word.
“And what about you telling him to hurry? And who the fuck is he?” he asked under his breath, his glare still locked on mine.
“We were preparing dinner. I told him to hurry in case you arrived. And please don’t curse. He’s my bodyguard. A gift from Mommy.” I wanted to applaud myself.
Wow. I really had learned something from watching all those dramas.
But to be honest, I was shaken. He came in so suddenly and looked absolutely furious when he saw James. I was trying my best to stay calm while explaining, even if his stare made my knees weak. I felt like I was being interrogated.
All I wanted was to cook dinner. I also just wanted to try and treat him well, even just a little. The Montoyas had asked me to be good to him, for my sister’s sake. I didn’t want Normani waking up to find she was already divorced.
I couldn’t let that happen.
“Who told you to cook for me? Is this part of your little plan? Eat that yourself. I don’t eat garbage,” he yelled before stomping out of the kitchen.
I blinked. I was left sitting there, alone. I had really tried. James and I even asked around to find out what Fabio liked to eat. And now he was calling it garbage?
That hurt.
“You’re such a jerk!” I shouted after him. I sat down, weak and defeated, and stared at the food I had prepared. I bit my lip and started eating. I couldn’t just throw it away. What a waste. If he didn’t want it, fine. Let him starve.
I kept taking bite after bite.
I was hurt.
I knew his anger wasn’t really about me. It was all meant for my sister. But it still hurt. Being yelled at hurt. Seeing my efforts dismissed hurt even more.
At least in the orphanage, people appreciated me. Someone always saw my worth.
Maybe my sister really did get tired of this man. He was handsome, sure, but his attitude was awful. Always yelling, always frowning. Total turn-off.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Normani felt the same way.
If I had known he wouldn’t eat, I wouldn’t have cooked. Then I wouldn’t have burned my hand and gotten oil splashed on my arm.
I let out a sob as I forced the rice down my throat.
“Stop crying while you eat.”
I blinked when I saw Fabio sit beside me and slam his plate down. He scooped some rice and fish, then started eating without a word.
My jaw almost dropped.
Only then did I realize I was crying. I quickly wiped my tears and smiled, even though he wasn’t looking at me.
So he was going to eat after all. He was just being dramatic.
“Eat some more,” I said happily. I poured him a glass of water and went back to eating, this time with more energy.
I couldn’t help smiling as I watched him eat.
He liked my cooking!
