Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Forbidden Fruit Tastes Sweetest

After Rose graduated, Dad started demanding more of my time. He even ordered me to stay home for months—hiring people to train me on how to be the perfect hostess.

And how to be the perfect wife.

Pathetic, isn’t it?

Actually studying how to be one?

As if my future husband would want me waiting on him hand and foot. I don’t even know how to hold a knife properly!

During those months, Mom started coming home more often too. Once, I even caught her and Dad kissing.

Eww! Gross!

Of all times, they choose now to act like lovesick teenagers.

If they dare have another child, I swear I’m running away! I’ll leave this whole life behind for my new sibling to deal with.

“Now, you have to wait until the oil shimmers before adding the garlic and onions,” Mrs. Garcia instructed.

“How will I know it’s ready? Does it boil?” I asked innocently.

She smiled gently. “You’ll see when it’s calm and still.” I raised a brow. “Look—there, it’s ready.” She pointed to the pan.

I added the ingredients carefully. I was amazed when nothing splattered this time. “Oh my! Did I do it right?” I asked, surprised, as I stirred them together.

“Perfectly,” she nodded. “Now add the chicken.”

I followed every step obediently. Honestly, this was the first time everything went smoothly.

The first few attempts were a disaster! I almost refused to go near the stove after hot oil burned me. I was terrified of adding salt too—afraid I’d ruin everything with too much, and there was no taking it back.

Once, we almost set the kitchen on fire. But Dad was determined that I learn at least the basics, so we kept going.

I complained that we had maids—why waste my time on this? I should be out there following Leon. I hadn’t heard a single thing about him since I was stuck here. But Dad wouldn’t budge.

He wanted me to know these things, just like Rose. He actually compared me to her—like we were even on the same level! It’s not my fault they raised me to have everything handed to me. Now they want me to struggle through all this?

I finally served my first decent dish. It actually looked like proper adobo—better than any I’d made before. Mom clapped when she saw it.

“As if you’d know good cooking,” I snapped.

“Of course she does,” Dad defended her.

I rolled my eyes. “Are you two ganging up on me? I should be with my cousins right now, not stuck here with you.”

Mom gave me a knowing smile. “You need to learn these things, sweetheart. What will your future husband think if you can’t even do something as simple as cooking?”

I scoffed. “The maids can do it. Why would he expect me to?”

“But what if he wants no staff around?” Dad asked.

I looked at him sharply. “Then I’ll hire one. I’m his wife, not his servant.”

“A wife serves her husband,” Dad emphasized—but I always had an answer ready.

“Did Mom serve you?” I shot back flatly.

Mom sighed. “I did… before you were born.”

“So what changed when I came along?” I asked.

They exchanged a look. Lately, they’d been so close—so different from what I was used to seeing.

“I think you should tell her, Aidan,” Mom said softly.

Dad cleared his throat and looked right at me. “Your mother hated me for years… because I couldn’t save your twin.”

My whole world stopped. I had a twin?

Why was I only hearing this now?

“She was so small and weak. The doctors said she only had a twenty‑percent chance. I searched everywhere for help… but she didn’t make it. Your mother blamed me for not being able to save her.”

“Then why are you okay now?” I asked. “Why are you acting like nothing happened? You wasted so many years over something you could have worked through.”

Mom shook her head. “It wasn’t just that. Your Grandma Anastasia made it worse. You know how she was—she hated seeing anyone happy. Before I could even think of forgiving your father, she sent me photos of him with other women. You were still just a baby, and I lost every bit of confidence I had. So I pulled away… and treated him like a stranger.”

“Dad, that’s your fault,” I said, crossing my arms. “Why did you have to run to other women?”

“Because I’m a man with needs,” he said simply. I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. “And we’re telling you this now because we know you’ll understand. You do, don’t you?”

I laughed bitterly. “The only thing I understand is that my life is pathetic.”

I saw the sadness in their eyes—regret for all the years they’d wasted being cold to each other. And they had every right to regret it.

“Avar,” Mom said gently, “what we want you to know is that love can grow… even if you marry for business. It’s hard at first, but you learn—just like I did.”

I stared at her. “You learned to love Dad?”

She looked away shyly. “Yes… at first. But love hurts so much that sometimes you have to choose yourself.”

I looked back and forth between them. I couldn’t believe my parents were more broken than I was. I pushed all those thoughts aside—what’s done is done.

“My adobo’s getting cold,” I said, changing the subject.

“Oh! Right! I’m sorry, honey!” Mom said quickly.

I watched Dad take a piece, cut it for her, and set it on her plate. In all the time I’d been away, I never noticed how they’d slowly found their way back to each other. Seeing them like this… it was almost nice.

What if I could learn to love the man I’m meant to marry? Would we ever be like this?

“Thanks, Aidan,” Mom said softly, taking a bite.

“How is it?” Dad asked.

“Mmm. It’s delicious! Try it,” she beamed.

Dad took a bite and nodded, giving me a proud smile. “You’ve really improved! You should try other recipes soon, sweetheart.”

I grinned. My only skill used to be spending money… now I had another one!

Skill #1: Spending money that isn’t mine

Skill #2: Cooking adobo

Wonder what’s next?

Oh god… it feels like my whole world is shifting.

“So… can I travel now? I miss my cousins!” I demanded. It had been two months since I’d been stuck inside. I couldn’t even video call them—they were both always busy.

Well, Tyler wasn’t that busy… but Rose was. And Rose was the one I wanted to complain to about all this—even if she’d just tell me my problems weren’t really problems at all.

“You can see them,” Mom said, raising an eyebrow, “but if I call you home, you come straight back. Understand?” She still treated me like a child who needed constant reminding.

“And no chasing Leon,” Dad added firmly.

My jaw tightened.

I’d already lost track of him—and now they were forbidding me too?

“Fine!” I huffed.

That afternoon, I flew straight to Japan. I went straight to my cousins’ apartment and found Tyler there—cut above his eye, bruising dark along his cheekbone.

“Who did that to you?” I gasped.

He rolled his eyes and flopped back onto the sofa. “Rose did it.”

I covered my mouth. Of course she did. Rose had been training in boxing, judo, and aikido ever since Maky introduced it to her. She said a woman needed to know how to protect herself—never let anyone take advantage of her. It was also how she let out all her anger.

Things I would never, ever be able to do. I don’t even know how to slap someone properly.

She once let me try punching the bag, but I was so bad she just laughed. After that, I never bothered again.

“Where is she?” I asked.

“Kyoto. Won’t be back till later.” He sat up. “Let’s go out. I need a drink.”

Even though I was exhausted, I agreed.

At first I sat right beside him—but as the club filled up, he was swept onto the dance floor, surrounded by people I’d rather not know.

I rolled my eyes as he got drunker, letting anyone touch him, kiss him. “Ugh! What a jerk!”

I drank at the bar instead—never once stepping onto that floor. I liked staying on the sidelines, watching. Someone tried to sit close when I moved seats, but one sharp look from me sent them away.

I faced the bartender and ordered another drink. I didn’t want to watch Tyler make a fool of himself. It was disgusting.

A moment later, someone sat on the stool right next to me. I glanced sideways and sipped my wine, daring him to try anything.

“Long time no see… Sloan.”

I froze. I knew that voice.

I turned slowly and stared. It was him. Leon. After all this time—after all those months—he was finally here, sitting right beside me.

A wicked, familiar smile curved his lips.

That stubble suited him perfectly. His hair was longer now too, and it only made him look wilder, sharper. My throat went dry just looking at him.

“Tell me… what do you look for in a man?”

I frowned. Why was he asking me that?

I pretended I wasn’t affected, rolling my eyes before taking another sip. “Someone who wears black,” I said, glancing at his dark dress shirt.

He smirked and looked down at his clothes. “And?”

“Someone with stubble,” I added. His grin widened, slow and knowing.

He leaned closer. “What else?”

I didn’t pull away. I could smell his cologne—same scent I’d memorized long ago. “Someone who smells good… and tastes even better. Do you?” I purred.

He ran his tongue over his lips and looked at mine. “We already started this once, didn’t we? Why don’t we finish it?”

He remembered? After all the women he’d been with… he still remembered?

Before I could answer, an arm slung around my shoulders. Tyler pressed his face right between ours. “She’s off‑limits, Simba,” he said coldly.

Leon sat up straight, still smiling. “Is that so?”

“You know it is,” Tyler snapped.

“Funny,” Leon said calmly, swirling his drink, “all I know is… forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest.”