로그인I forced myself to breathe evenly, willing my heart to stop its reckless pounding against my ribs. My palms were already clammy as I schooled my features into a scowl and turned to face him. "Come with me." Without waiting for a response, I grabbed his wrist and yanked him out of the kitchen. His face registered a mixture of shock and surprise. "What are you doing here?" I hissed, my voice barely above a whisper as soon as we were away from prying ears. He tilted his head, the smoke from his cigar curled upward in lazy spirals, catching the warm glow of the sconces. "Do you like your room?" "That's not the question I asked," I shot back, coughing as the acrid cloud invaded my lungs. I waved my hand frantically, fanning the air between us. "You're in my family's house. I came to see how you're doing." "You didn't tell me I'd be working for your family," I replied, a note of regret creeping into my voice. "Well, what difference does it make?" "I wouldn't have accepted if I'
I had spent the day under the personal guidance of Chef Rosa, whose warmth reminded me of a caring mother. Honestly, it felt like a dream, one of those ones you’re afraid to wake from.At one point, she even stepped back and let me take the lead—trusting me to cook for her. When I finished, she tasted my dish in silence, then looked up with soft approval in her eyes. “You were right,” she said gently. “You really do have talent.” The words bloomed in my chest like sudden sunlight. Joy swelled so fiercely I had to fight back tears. I turned away quickly, pretending to check the stove, but my heart was hammering with a happiness I hadn’t felt in years. I had been watching her earlier, mesmerized by the elegant way with which she sliced vegetables. It reminded me so much of my own mother in our tiny kitchen back home, humming softly as she worked. It was evening already I wished today would be longer. “Are you going to keep staring at me like that?” Rosa asked, a teasing lilt in
I heard Rosa speak to me again and blinked. "What is wrong with you? I have been talking to you!" she snapped. "I'm sorry—I really don't understand the language you were speaking." "You are not Latina?" she asked suddenly, tilting her head as she studied my face. "Um... no." "You look like one," she said. First Indian, now Latina...? I wonder what other ethnicity I'll be told I look like. Mother, I wish you'd told me who I really am before you left me alone in this world. "Now, as you can see, this is the kitchen," she declared, waving me forward with both hands. "Come in, come in! Don't just stand there like a lost puppy." I muttered a quick "thank you" and stepped fully inside, my eyes wide as I continued to admire the space—professional-grade ovens, a walk-in pantry that could feed an army, and every gadget imaginable. "Over here," she snapped her fingers sharply, pulling me out of my daze. I blinked, heat rushing to my face. "Sorry! I got distracted by the beauty... this
LENA'S POV The sharp knock on the door jolted me awake with my heart slamming against my ribs like a startled bird. I blinked rapidly, disoriented, with silky sheets tangled around my legs. Oh no! Only then did the memories flood back. I had let my guard down completely, falling asleep in this unfamiliar room after accepting an offer in a haze of desperation yesterday. I had told myself to stay awake not and not be too trusting but I fell asleep instead. "Who..who is it?" I called out, my voice still hoarse from sleep. "This is Chef Rosa. Are you still asleep in there?" The voice replied. I blinked, and the last remnants of sleep vanished from my eyes immediately. That's right. Yesterday, I'd accepted the position as an assistant chef and even signed a full-year contract because I was utterly desperate for a place to stay. It came with a roof over my head and the chance to do what I loved most—cooking. The man who made the offer, though... he was someone I'd rather avo
If you are paying attention from the beginning of this book: · Mitch praised Lena for her cooking skills. · Lena is working at the café because she loves anything that has to do with cooking, which includes baking. · The culinary school didn't come out of nowhere. · She is not going to the school yet because she has no MONEY, of course 🫢 · She was only thinking about her new dreams of having a restaurant, and then she was thinking of focusing on herself and going to culinary school if she gets the MONEY. · Her childhood dream, which she buried after she met MITCH and decided to be a houseWIFE. 2) Now... about the driving to somewhere unknown—her destination will be revealed soon. But the SUITE SCENE IS A DREAM 🫡 If you read the next chapters, you can see it was TARZAN'S DREAM. LENA'S POV stopped at her going somewhere in a car, while AUTHOR'S POV began with Lena seeing Tarzan in a suit. The two are different scenes: ONE is REALITY; the other is A DREAM. That's why I used
"We did it... Our true love’s kiss healed you. It wasn’t a stupid idea after all." Lena said with a delightful laugh and threw herself into his arms. They tumbled backward onto the bed. Tarzan’s deep laughter rumbled through his chest as Lena giggled against his neck, pure happiness bubbling out of her. "You will always be my dream, Lena," he murmured, cupping her face with both hands, his voice low and fervent. "I can’t imagine a life without you." Lena blushed deeply, the color blooming across her cheeks. She searched his eyes. "So... do you really mean those cruel words you said to me before?" Tarzan’s expression softened with regret. He pulled her closer, their foreheads touching. "All lies. Every single one of them. I wanted to keep you safe... That was the only way I knew how. It worked, but at the cost of our love." She kissed him then — slow, deep, and full of forgiveness. When she pulled back, her face softened even more "That’s all I wanted to hear.
"It's just a get well soon kiss."I replied, with an eye roll.He grinned wider."I have a cut on my lip. Can I get one there too?"I frowned tightly but instead of scolding him again, I decided to be nicer. I promised myself to ignore his cocky attitude."You know," I said, tilting my head as I lo
The drive to his place felt endless, but I was glad I could locate it anytime. I made sure to memorize the route to his house. When we finally arrived, the driver helped Tarzan move inside, and I made sure he lay down on the mattress. I thanked the driver over and over until his car disappeared
Even though he said that, I noticed a familiar sad expression on his face, honestly I had to let this one out. There has been a significant improvement in my married life I can't possibly ruin it now. Mitch is someone who is very possessive. Outside the bar. I walked towards the super bike
LENA'S POV I exhaled through my nose, trying to keep my anger in check. "You are being reckless with your life, Tarzan. Besides, what am I going to do with the extra money?" He smirked. "Give yourself a day off and go shopping. Do something nice for yourself." My hands paused for a brief







