Chapter 11 - Nice Timing

An awkward silence settled over the room.

Bella, being the ray of sunshine she always was, suddenly looked at me just as I was about to head upstairs.

“Siis…?”

I stopped and turned around.

“Hmm?”

The smile on her face immediately made me suspicious.

She was definitely up to something.

“Are you going to cook for me?”

I sighed.

I knew it.

Before I could answer, Marcus spoke.

“Don’t bother her. We can just order food. Besides, you do nothing while she does all the work.”

I blinked.

It was the second time today he had taken my side.

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

“Oh, come on, Dad,” Bella whined dramatically.

“I’ll wash the dishes,” she promised.

“I’ll cook,” I said before the two of them could continue arguing.

“Yay!”

Bella jumped up and down happily.

Honestly, it was the least I could do.

They had welcomed me into their home without hesitation, and I genuinely loved cooking, so it wasn’t a burden.

I smiled.

“What would you both like to eat? I want to make each of your favorite dishes.”

Bella answered immediately.

“Rice and peas!”

“Okay,” I laughed. “Noted.”

Then the room fell quiet.

It was Marcus’s turn.

For some reason…

I couldn’t bring myself to ask him directly.

Bella sighed dramatically.

“Come on, Dad. It’s your turn. Hurry up.”

He thought for a moment.

“Spaghetti… and meat.”

The color slowly drained from my face.

That had been my father’s favorite meal.

A sharp ache settled in my chest.

Why…

Why did they have so many things in common?

First the song.

Now his favorite food.

“Ella?”

Bella’s voice snapped me back to reality.

“Are you okay? You suddenly went quiet.”

I forced a smile.

“I was just thinking about the recipe I’ll use.”

It was a lie.

“I’ll go change first and come back.”

Bella nodded.

“Okay.”

I hurried upstairs.

As soon as I closed my bedroom door, I let out a long sigh.

Why did I suddenly miss Dad so much?

I shook the thought away.

They were waiting for dinner.

I quickly changed into my comfortable clothes before heading downstairs.

Soon, I was busy in the kitchen.

Bella talked nonstop beside me, just like a radio that had forgotten how to switch off.

Normally, it would have been exhausting…

But somehow, her chatter made the kitchen feel warm and alive.

Before long, dinner was ready.

I carefully served everyone’s plate exactly the way they had requested.

Bella took the first bite.

“This is amazing!” she exclaimed dramatically.

I smiled politely.

Honestly…

Bella would have praised me even if I had cooked mud.

Her opinion didn’t tell me much.

The only reaction I was secretly waiting for…

Was Marcus’s.

He took another bite before finally speaking.

“This is good.”

His voice was calm, but there was warmth in it this time.

Far more warmth than before.

He looked at me.

“I could hire you as my personal chef.”

I smiled awkwardly.

“I’ll do it…”

Then I laughed softly.

“…but without payment.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Then how exactly am I supposed to repay you?”

For one reckless second…

A ridiculous answer flashed through my mind.

Wrap those strong arms around me… call me a good girl…

My face instantly burned.

I quickly buried the thought.

“It’s okay,” I mumbled. “You don’t have to.”

Dinner suddenly felt much more comfortable than it had before.

When we finished eating, they both thanked me.

True to her word, Bella gathered all the dishes.

“I’ll wash them,” she insisted.

“I can help—”

“Nope.”

She pointed toward the stairs.

“You’re tired. Go and rest.”

I smiled.

“Okay.”

I returned to my room.

It was getting late.

I lay on my bed, closed my eyes…

And waited for sleep.

It never came.

Instead, my mind drifted back to the car ride.

Bella had asked Marcus why he suddenly started opening car doors.

His answer echoed in my head.

“People make new rules every day.”

I smiled to myself.

No matter how much he tried to deny it…

I was almost certain he had made that rule because of me.

Impulsively, I stood up. What if I make the dream come true? What if I go downstairs…

Henry had always told me I had nice legs no man could resist. I stripped off my oversized clothes and slipped into tiny shorts that barely covered anything. Halfway to the door, I paused. What the hell are you doing, Ella?

But I didn’t stop.

Downstairs, the lights were brighter, illuminating everything clearly. I went to the kitchen for a glass of water, just like in my fantasy. No one was there. I sighed in disappointment. What a waste of time.

Then I heard footsteps.

My body tensed. It was him.

Marcus entered the kitchen wearing grey sweatpants and a fitted tank top that did nothing to hide his sculpted muscles and prominent veins. The outline of his cock was clearly visible through the thin fabric. He didn’t stop. He came straight toward me.

This isn’t a stupid dream anymore. My heart screamed.

He got so close I could feel the light brush of his body against mine. I shivered inwardly. Then he reached past me and grabbed a bottle of medicine from the cabinet behind me.

.medicine.

“I came for this,” he said casually, holding it up.

My excitement instantly crumbled.

Oh…

For a ridiculous second…

I had thought he came because of me.

His eyes briefly dropped to my bare legs before returning to my face.

“You should cover yourself,” he said calmly. “It’s late, and you’ll catch a cold.”That was all , then he turned around and walked out of the kitchen as though nothing had happened.

I stood there frozen.

My fingers immediately found my hair as I raked them through it in frustration.

“Seriously?” I muttered under my breath.So this jerk had been lying all along?He saw my legs…

And they didn’t even affect him?Not even a little?

Couldn’t he at least have looked flustered?Or stumbled over his words?Or… anything?

I groaned quietly, burying my face in my hands.

I dragged myself back upstairs, silently cursing my own stupidity with every step.

A voice suddenly startled me.

“Why are you talking to yourself?”

I jumped and spun around.“Bella! Jeez, you scared me.” She giggled unapologetically.

“Sorry. I came looking for you, but you weren’t here, so I made myself comfortable.”

She was already lying on my bed, hugging one of my pillows like she owned the place.

“Besides,” she added with a pout, “I want to sleep with you tonight. I feel lonely.”

I couldn’t help smiling awkwardly trying hard to cover my guilt and disappointment .

“Yeah, yeah,” . “Let’s sleep together.”

She grinned triumphantly, making herself even more comfortable beneath the blanket.

Just as I was about to climb into bed beside her, my phone buzzed on the bedside table.

Then it buzzed again.

And again.

I frowned and reached for it.

The moment I saw the name on the screen, I let out an irritated sigh.

Nice timing…

It was Henry.

He had sent several messages, all saying the same thing.

He was begging me to meet him.