Novel & Cerita This Kitchen's Not The Same Without You

She checked everywhere else in the kitchen, looking for some tea bags, but it seemed that apart from the luxurious and large kitchen, it was empty without any foodstuff or stock in the fridge. "Your kitchen is empty! All these modern utensils are nothing but decors." Kathy thoroughly examined every nook and cranny, but there was truly nothing inside. "Wait for me here, and I'll make it in my apartment and bring it over once it's ready." Kathy shut the refrigerator door and turned to face Dominic. The moment Kathy mentioned leaving, Dominic's expression instantly soured. He furrowed his brows and shook his head solemnly. "I won't have the tea then. Stay here with me, please…"

“Me too.” Then they continued walking toward the kitchen. “Your kitchen is big too.” Rebecca almost exclaimed, commenting on the surrounding place. The kitchen was neat and had vast space to move around. It was like everyone’s dream of a kitchen. “Yes. But I don’t really use it often.” “Why?” “The person sitting there limits me from coming too often to the kitchen. He’d rather have himself cooking for us.” “Oh, he’s so sweet.” “Is he?” “Yes. Isn’t that every girl’s dream to be treated nicely by their partner?”

"None whatsoever." "And no purple substances." "That's implied by the no cooking." "I'm just being clear," Adrian said. Through the bond, warm and steady and entirely without frustration: love of the specific kind that accumulated over eleven years of everything, including the disasters. Especially the disasters, maybe. "Happy almost-anniversary," Adrian said. "Happy almost-anniversary," Cassian said. The purple stain on the counter caught the candlelight. The kitchen had stories, which was better than a kitchen with no stories.

The walk to the kitchen was short, but each step built anticipation, their palms warm against each other. The kitchen doors swung open to reveal a vast, gleaming space—stainless steel counters, rows of pristine equipment, and the faint echo of earlier bustle now replaced by stillness. Gordon flicked on a few low lights, casting a warm ambiance that made the area feel almost cozy. 'This is where the magic happens,' he said, releasing her hand reluctantly to gesture around. 'Show me yours.'

My footsteps echoed softly on the hardwood floor as I made my way downstairs. The kitchen was empty, the stainless steel appliances gleaming under the recessed lights. A pot of coffee was already brewed, a clear sign that Aiden had been up for a while. I poured myself a cup, the rich aroma of the brew mingling with the lingering traces of Aiden’s scent in air, a bizarre yet comforting blend of his presence and absence.

Its black metal grates rise above the surface of the stove, and fire leaps underneath at the turn of a knob. Pan. Heat. I stare down at the eggs, little brown orbs neatly nestled in the gray carton. The other maids are gone now. The only person left in the kitchen besides me is the grouchy lady, and no way am I going to ask her for help. My eyes dart to the knife block, which is in easy reach. Would she notice one missing? Do I even have a chance if I rush out of here with it? I’d most likely have a better chance at stabbing myself than someone else.

Still, her eyes shine with unease as we cross into the kitchen, which is empty and sterile. “Are you hungry?” I ask. “Can you even cook?” I roll my lower lip between my teeth, shaking my head. “Never learned.” She leans on the massive kitchen island, giving me the softest of smiles. “Me neither. I guess, since you dismissed your entire staff, or they’re cursed, we’ll just have to starve.” “Lavender’s still here. She wouldn’t let that happen to us.” “Why didn’t she leave with Marcella?”

I quickly opened the door and slipped in with Sage right behind me, silently shutting the door behind us. The kitchen was the same as I remembered from the many times I'd been forced to cook food for the laughing men who'd hurt me right before. Marble floors and counters. Stainless steel appliances. It was a dream kitchen unless you lived in the nightmare it covered up with it's cleanliness and appetizing food smells when one of us cooked in here. The lights were blazing lighting up every surface as Sage slowly made her way through the kitchen before me. Where was everyone? There were always people in the kitchen or somewhere close in the mansion. Why the sudden silence now?

"You look nice. Ready to get out of here?" "Starving," she admitted, slipping her hand naturally into his. His palm was warm, but his grip felt a little loose, lacking the firm squeeze she used to rely on. Still, she leaned into his shoulder as they turned toward the sliding glass doors of the hospital exit. "I was thinking that little Italian place three blocks over. The one with the—" "Don! Wait up!" The voice cut through the ambient noise of the lobby like a scalpel. Yolande’s shoulders dropped a fraction of an inch before she could stop herself.

He stared at the champagne bottle on the table, his fingers tapping restlessly against the armrest. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore. He stood abruptly, the movement drawing Erick’s brief glance, and strode toward the kitchen. His shoes clicked against the marble floor, matching the beat of his pulse. Inside the kitchen, the air was thick with the aroma of tomato sauce, garlic, and something buttery. Chef Antonio, tall and broad-shouldered with dark curls tucked under his white cap, stood close to Anna. Too close. Anna leaned against the counter, laughing as Antonio lifted a spoonful of sauce toward her lips. “I told you, you’d ask for more,” the chef teased, his accent smooth and heavy.