Care

Irene's heart raced in her chest, thumping louder than ever before. The relief she felt earlier, when she managed to distance herself from him, now faded away. The man was approaching her, his footsteps unmistakable, and she dreaded what was about to unfold.

Fear consumed her, gripping her tightly as she realised the gravity of the situation. It was all too overwhelming for her to bear, and she knew deep down that there was nothing she could do to escape it.

"This smells absolutely dreadful," Theodore commented, drawing near to Irene. He placed his hand on her shoulder, causing her to jolt back and meet his face, which loomed far too close for comfort.

"Huh?" Irene's mind went blank as his words reached her ears. Should she react to his intrusive proximity or to the fact that he was degrading her cooking and calling it disgusting?

As she looked upon her creation, she knew it might not be a culinary masterpiece, but it certainly didn't warrant such harsh criticism.

"I said this food smells like shit," Theodore stated, sniffing her hair. The aroma was actually quite pleasant, and Irene emitted a faint sweet scent that was undeniably alluring.

But Theodore was more intrigued by her reaction to his disparaging remarks about her food. He delighted in witnessing her anger, as if she were ready to unleash her fury upon him.

"It doesn't," Irene gritted her teeth, her body surging with anger. Cooking was a passion of hers, and hearing him label her food as disgusting struck a nerve. 

He only made matters worse for her. Couldn't he use kinder words instead of hurling insults her way?

"Are you trying to argue with me? Do you realise the consequences that may entail?" Theodore raised an eyebrow, astounded that the same girl who had once begged for his forgiveness now stood before him, engaged in a full-fledged argument. This was not how he had expected things to play out.

"Even if my cooking isn't exceptional, it certainly doesn't stink," Irene defended herself and her food. She had put a great deal of effort into her culinary creation, and his words wounded her.

The situation escalated to a point where he could no longer communicate like a civilised human being, further fueling Irene's anger. She leaned closer to inspect the source of the alleged stench, but she couldn't detect any foul odour. He was simply trying to provoke her, and she could see it plain as day.

"Why must you be so rude? Is this how you speak to someone older than you?" Theodore pinched her cheek, eliciting a glare that warned him she would not hesitate to harm him if he continued with his close proximity and pushed her to her limits. The intensity in her eyes was evident, yet Theodore paid no mind to her thoughts, finding her mixture of cuteness and annoyance intriguing.

Irene couldn't fathom his age, but he had been in his late twenties when she was nineteen. While she acknowledged he was older, it seemed he had no concept of proper behaviour. What good was an age when all he knew was how to spew insults?

"I am the same age as your husband, twenty-eight. Don't you think you should show me some respect instead of giving me that look?" Theodore spoke with a serious tone. He was displeased to discover that she had been a mere nineteen when her sister, who was now twenty-six, had arranged the marriage between them. He hadn't even wanted this union in the first place.

He understood why nobody ever mentioned Irene. She couldn't hold a candle to her sister's beauty and lived in this humble abode, underscoring her insignificance within her own household.

"How about you start behaving like an adult, then?" Irene replied, her voice dripping with sass. Her retort caught Theodore off guard; clearly, she was a force to be reckoned with, and he found her alluring in her uniqueness.

"Girl, do you really think you can handle it? Behave like an adult?" Theodore smirked, fully aware of the provocative game he was playing. It was certainly not what she had anticipated, as she had hoped to avoid any semblance of a past encounter.

She didn't want him to exhibit any behaviour that might be considered mature in her eyes. She would rather have him remain an irritant than expose his true, perverted nature.

"No! Let me serve and sit outside," Irene broke eye contact and focused on plating the already cooked spaghetti. She didn't want to engage any further with him.

"I already told you, I can't wait any longer, so serve quickly instead of working slowly. And don't boss me around. I don't appreciate it, nor do I trust you. I'm even keeping an eye out for any attempts to poison me," Theodore stepped back slightly as he voiced his concerns.

He knew his claim was utter nonsense since Irene lacked the courage to poison him. Even though they had just met today, he could sense that he possessed an innate ability to uncover things effortlessly.

He understood she was stubborn, but her lack of intelligence when it came to causing harm was glaringly obvious.

Hearing his words, Irene was tempted to retaliate in the same manner. She contemplated poisoning him to ensure he would no longer disrupt her life.

However, she knew such an act would jeopardise her own safety. Things seemed to be slowly improving, and she couldn't risk her life for a futile endeavour.

If she were to harm him, the Myers family would tear her apart, and even the Jones family would seek retribution. It was in her best interest to refrain from endangering herself with such actions, which would ultimately lead to unfavourable outcomes.