Are you going back?

Emily walked closer and sat beside her. “Your dad is mature enough to know the kind of woman he wants in his life. I don’t think he will let anyone ruin his family or hurt you in any way.”

Sandra shook her head. “Yes, and that was what I expected from him. He's wise and mature enough to know what is best for his family. But I don't know what is happening to him. I think my dad is under her spell."

Emily burst out laughing before she could stop herself. “You mean a love spell?”

“Yes, and I’m serious,” Sandra said without smiling. "I'm suspecting that woman."

Emily wiped her eyes. “Sandra, come on. You don’t really believe that.”

“I do,” Sandra insisted. “She makes my dad agree to things he would normally never agree to. What hurts me most is that he always defends her even when she’s clearly wrong.”

Emily shook her head. “That’s not a spell. There's nothing like that." Emily countered. "Maybe you are misunderstanding some things."

Sandra scoffed. “No. I know what I feel. You need to see how she demands things from my dad and how he has them done without questions. She acts like she already owns this mansion."

Emily smiled softly. “You know... Men don’t always explain everything to their kids. There might be more going on you are not aware of.”

Sandra leaned back on her hands. “I don't care. I wish he wouldn’t marry her. Better if he never marries again.”

Emily glanced at her. “Don't say that. He needs a beautiful woman behind him. He has a lot of years ahead, and he's too handsome and charming to remain single. Just pray for him to get a nice woman."

"I wish he could get a woman that behaves like you. I will have peace of mind." Sandra said, and Emily smiled before asking, "Do you think he can get one?"

"That's why I want him to remain single forever if possible."

Emily reached out and squeezed her hand. “I understand your fear and everything. But he needs to get married."

Sandra stood up too. “If he ever gets married, it will never be that woman. Anyway, enough talk. Let’s go downstairs and prepare something together. I’m starving.”

Emily laughed. “Same. I haven't eaten today.”

They left the room chatting and laughing. The kitchen was painted white and very spacious.

Everything was arranged neatly, from the shiny countertops to the labeled spice jars. Sandra dropped her phone on the counter, tied her hair back, and wore her apron.

“Okay,” she said, clapping her hands once and heading towards the large refrigerator. “Let’s make something simple. Potato salad and fried chicken.”

Emily blinked. “Fried chicken? From scratch?”

“Yes,” Sandra replied while opening the fridge. “Stop being lazy.”

Emily laughed and sat on the long stool behind her. “I’m never lazy. You know, I've been looking forward to asking you why your dad doesn't have domestic workers. I’m surprised that even with this kind of house and money, your dad didn't employ any cook. I was expecting at least a cook and three house helps.”

Sandra smiled faintly and pulled out a sachet of potatoes. “Yes, we don’t have any.”

Emily frowned. “But why?”

Sandra paused, then continued washing the potatoes. “My dad hates domestic workers.”

Emily watched her for a moment before asking her, “Why did he hate them?”

Sandra sighed and turned off the tap. “One of the maids we had years ago poisoned my mom.”

Emily’s mouth gasped open. “What?”

“She was sentenced to life imprisonment,” Sandra said. "My mom died that same night.”

Emily felt her chest tighten. This was the first time Sandra was telling her about her mom's death. “Oh my God… That's so bad.”

Sandra shrugged lightly, as if trying to brush it off. “It was a long time ago when I was still little. After that, my dad fired every single domestic worker in the house. We only allow a cleaning company to come once a week. They clean and leave. No one stays.”

“And cooking?” Emily asked.

“My dad was doing the cooking until I was able to take over the kitchen.” Sandra replied. “He actually cooks very well.”

Emily shook her head slowly. “I wouldn't have believed he can actually cook. That's nice."

“Most people wouldn’t,” Sandra said as she began to peel the potatoes. “But that’s how it’s been.”

"It's okay." Emily said and moved closer. “Let me help.”

“Please,” Sandra handed her a knife. “You can cut the potatoes.”

Emily took the knife and started cutting the potatoes. Sandra moved to season the chicken. “You can wash the lettuce for the salad.”

They continued cooking, occasionally bumping into each other in the large kitchen.

After a while, Sandra leaned against the counter and looked up at Emily. “So… are you planning to go and apologize to Desmond?”

Emily paused what she was doing and looked up sharply. “Apologize?”

“Yes. Your father said you have to apologize to him. Are you going to do that?”

"Don't tell me you are thinking of convincing me to go back to that proud cheater and apologize to him." Emily said. "I will never apologize."