Chapter 1

While I stood there in a daze, clutching the food order record, Ruth Frost and the Knapp family finished their meal.

Marvin Knapp's mother, Olga Hoffman, walked toward the exit with her arm linked through Marvin's.

"Ruth is always so thoughtful," she said approvingly. "Even when it comes to a simple meal, she pays attention to every little detail.

"She knows your father, Earl Knapp, doesn't eat onions, that I love garlic, and that you've hated cilantro since you were little. We can rest easy knowing you've found a girlfriend like Ruth."

Marvin blushed awkwardly.

Ruth smiled and said, "It's the least I can do. You're Marvin's parents, which makes you mine too. How could I not treat you well? Mr. and Mrs. Knapp, is there anything else you'd like to eat? I'll prepare it for you tomorrow."

With just a few words, she made it clear how much she valued them. Her eyes practically sparkled as she looked at Mr. and Mrs. Knapp.

I stood at the front desk, staring at Ruth in a daze as my eyes began to prick with tears.

It turned out Ruth, who always claimed she hated dealing with elders, was capable of being this warm and enthusiastic after all.

"Ruth," I called out.

Ruth stiffened. The moment she turned and saw me, she nearly lost her footing.

Marvin's face went pale for a moment too.

"Why are you still here?" Ruth blurted out.

Mr. and Mrs. Knapp exchanged puzzled glances.

"You two know each other?" one of them asked.

Marvin looked to Ruth as though begging her to save him.

Ruth quickly regained her composure and explained, "This is my colleague, Cedric Goodman. Cedric, whatever it is, we can talk about it at the office tomorrow."

She looked at me with a silent plea in her eyes.

I pretended not to notice. My gaze slowly swept over Marvin's nervous, guilt-ridden face before settling back on Ruth.

"So, is this a family dinner?" I asked.

Oblivious to the tension, Mrs. Knapp replied with a smile, "That's right. Ruth is Marvin's girlfriend."

She spoke with pride, but I noticed Marvin's hands trembling.

I forced a smile. "Then he's a very lucky man."

Mrs. Knapp clapped her hands together. "Exactly! Let me tell you, Marvin and Ruth have been childhood sweethearts. When Marvin didn't want to go to school, Ruth would wait downstairs for him every single day so they could go together.

"Whenever he got sick, whether it was a fever or a stomachache, Ruth was even more anxious than we were. She watched over him to make sure he took his medicine three times a day.

"And now that they're grown up, Ruth always keeps my husband and me in mind. Why, she just gave me a gold bracelet. Isn't it beautiful?"

Mrs. Knapp raised her wrist and waved it in front of my eyes.

Ruth's face turned even paler.

Marvin had practically hidden behind her, and the sight made my eyes sting painfully.