Chapter 34: Putting His Heart
into it
I excused myself from the backyard.
In the spacious kitchen, Davina was flustered, rushing to prepare the ingredients.
The moment she saw me, her eyes lit up like she’d seen a savior.
“Charlene, what should I do? My cooking skills are just average.”
I glanced at the chaotic countertop. This wasn’t “just average“-it was downright terrible.
Tying on an apron, I said, “Let me handle this.”
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Though I wouldn’t call myself a master chef, whipping up a few of Daphne’s favorite home–style dishes was a a piece of cake. After all, I’d spent two years cooking for Fletcher, learning their preferences down to the smallest details–how he liked his steak cooked or whether certain dishes needed a hint of vanilla.
In less than half an hour, I had five dishes and a soup ready. Among them was grilled sea bass, made with the ingredients
available in the kitchen and coincidentally one of Fletcher’s favorites.
When Daphne saw the spread on the table, the stiffness in her expression finally eased.
She didn’t realize I was the one who made it.
For a moment, I wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or heartbroken.
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I had been the one preparing her meals when she was hospitalized for a heart condition- three meals a day, for over a month.
“Daphne, please have a try.” Davina said enthusiastically, urging Daphne to try the dishes. “See if they suit your taste.”
“Wait, Letch is still on his way”
“Fletcher’s coming back too?” Davina’s big, sparking eyes were filled with anticipation.
Speak of the devil–Fletcher arrived just then.
Seeing the three of us didn’t surprise him; he must’ve been tipped off in advance.
Davina hurried over on light steps, her face beaming with a smile. “Fletcher, I cooked
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tonight! Come and try my dishes.”
Fletcher took the head seat at the table.
Daphne, as the elder, sat to his left, while Davina eagerly took the seat to his right. She eagerly served him, playing the role of an attentive, dutiful girlfriend.
I was the odd one out.
But at least Daphne and Fletcher seemed satisfied enough with Davina’s “cooking” and ate heartily.
When the grilled sea bass was served, Davina excitedly urged Fletcher to try it.
The man took a bite and immediately frowned.
“What’s wrong, Fletcher?”
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Daphne noticed his reaction and glanced at the dish. Her tone turned icy. “Letch can’t handle the taste of vanilla. How could you, as his girlfriend, not know that?”
Her reprimand was sharp, her expression
sour.
Davina was stunned, looking at me with a mix of confusion and helplessness.
Of course, I knew Fletcher couldn’t stand vanilla. Whenever I made this dish in the past, I’d use lemon to mask the fishy smell instead. But today was different.
I offered a faint apology, “Sorry, Daphne, I’m the one who added the vanilla.”
Daphne stared at me, bewildered. “Lena,
you…
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She probably still thought of me as someone who treated Fletcher’s preferences like sacred rules.
I drooped my eyelids, feigning an innocent. expression.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a fleeting smile at the corner of Davina’s lips.
Little did she know, tonight’s performance alone wouldn’t suffice. At the right moment, she’d still need me–the fake ex–to play my contrasting role.
The vanillas? I placed them on purpose.
After dinner, Davina stayed behind to continue her act as the perfect girlfriend, while I found an excuse to slip away.
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By the time I reached my place, the night was deep and silent. No longer needing to keep up pretending, I lay quietly on the bed.
I thought: with tonight’s drama, Fletcher would find it even harder to abandon me as his pawn, wouldn’t he?
Suddenly, my phone rang abruptly.
Seeing the caller ID, my heart skipped a beat.
It was Fletcher.
At this hour, shouldn’t he be with his Ms. Bates?
With a mix of curiosity and unease, I hesitated before answering. “Mr. Lynton.”
“Nice performance tonight” came his raspy voice. “What reward would you like?”
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I
Caught off guard, I paused for a few seconds
and replied, “It was nothing. Whatever you see fit.”
Of course, I wouldn’t mind if he was
generous.
Before I finished speaking, a notification popped up–another transfer from Fletcher.
Another twenty thousand.
“Mr. Lynton, you’re too generous. If you ever need…”
“Ms. Grande, Fletcher interrupted, “you should consider venturing into the film industry. Your contrasting roles are impeccable.”
His words caught in my throat.
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I had prided myself on my flawless act. How did Fletcher see through me?
“Ms. Grande, you knew to use vanilla deliberately, so why didn’t you change your knife technique when cutting the sea bass?”
The willow–leaf knife method–I often used it when handling fish.
But I never expected Fletcher to notice.
The next day at work, Davina brought me breakfast, her face brimming with gratitude. “Charlene, you’re amazing. Daphne invited me to a floral design workshop tonight. I’m so happy!”
As expected.
I figured Fletcher’s generous payout had
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something to do with this as well.
I reminded her, “Daphne loves Damask roses
the most.”
Davina caught on quickly, thanking me profusely. “I’ll go prepare now!”
See? When the goal aligned, exes and current flames could get along just fine.
Kaitlyn, however, couldn’t help but feel uneasy. “Maybe I’m just petty, but if it were me, I’d never be this magnanimous.”
I rolled my eyes at her. “Who was it that said reputation and pride are just fluff? Cash in hand is what truly matters.”
Kaitlyn threw her arms around me. “Lena, stop working so hard. Go on a date. And if that doesn’t work, a hookup will do!”
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Not long after, I received an invitation.
It was from Winston.
“Are you free tonight? A new mystery film just hit the theaters. Want to go together?”
I wasn’t particularly interested, but recalling Kaitlyn’s embarrassed expression, I changed my mind.
I didn’t want Kaitlyn thinking I had no self–respect just because of the studio.
So, I asked Winston, “What time?”
Winston quickly sent a voice message. “Eight o’clock tonight. I’ll come pick you up.”
His cheerful tone felt strangely out of place against the bleak winter scenery.
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I gazed out at the nearly barren branches outside the window and sent back a simple emoji to confirm.
At the end of the workday, Kaitlyn dragged me toward the elevator, insisting on taking me out for a drink. I panicked and stopped her. “Sorry, I already have plans tonight.””
Kaitlyn’s eyes widened. “Who? Professor Fleming?”
I nodded, and she visibly relaxed. “Good for you, Lena. Just don’t forget to take precautions.”
Her words had barely left her mouth when a startled gasp came from behind us.
I turned to see Davina covering her mouth, looking awkwardly at us.
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A young woman who’s never had any sexual experience like her was bound to be easily shocked.
The three of us descended in the elevator, each lost in our own thoughts.
As luck would have it, Winston was already waiting downstairs.
The chill in Myslana after the start of winter was even sharper. He was dressed simply in a camel wool jacket with a black turtleneck sweater underneath, looking refined yet noticeably cold.
He was rubbing his hands together, which was unexpectedly amusing.
“Isn’t that Professor Fleming?” Davina exclaimed, as if she’d discovered a hidden
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treasure. “So the person Charlene has plans with tonight is him!”
Winston noticed us and quickly walked over.
He glanced at me and said, “It’s gotten colder. Aren’t you cold dressed like that?”
“I’m fine.” I looked at Winston’s slightly reddened nose and asked, “Have you been waiting long?”
“No, I just got here“”
Davina covered her mouth and giggled. “Professor Fleming, you’re really putting your heart into it.”
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