Chapter 22
places. The man carried an air of authority that felt out of place in this peaceful
retreat.
“Helo, Mr. Lawson,” she replied politely, her voice soft yet clear.
Nathan gave a small nod, then hefted a suitcase into the house without another word. His movements were deliberate, almost meticulous and his silence left no room for small talk. It was clear he wasn’t the type to invite familiarity easily.
Bianca lingered on the balcony for a moment longer, debating whether to offer a neighborly word or two. But sensing his reserved demeanor, she decided against it and returned to her studio. Her half- finished painting awaited, the meadow scene on the canvas glowing under the afternoon light.
*–*–*
The hours slipped by quickly as Bianca. immersed herself in her work. By the time.
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she glanced at the clock, it was almost 6 PM. She stretched, her muscles stiff from hours of sitting and opened her window to let in some fresh air. The tantalizing aroma of pan–fried pork and braised prawns wafted in, making her stomach grumble audibly.
Curious, she leaned slightly over the balcony railing and spotted Nathan arranging dishes on a stone table in his yard. The sight of the neatly laid–out meal surprised her–it seemed incongruous for a man of his stature and reputation to be preparing a home–cooked feast.
Just as she considered retreating inside to avoid drawing attention, Nathan looked up. Their eyes met again and this time, he called out. “Miss Bianca, come over for
dinner.”
His tone was calm and casual, as if they were old acquaintances. Bianca blinked, caught off guard. She hadn’t expected such an offer, especially not after their brief and
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distant greeting that morning.
Her gaze drifted toward the food, the scent making her mouth water despite herself. Still, she hesitated. They barely knew each other and it seemed presumptuous to accept. “No need, thank you, Mr. Lawson,” she replied, feigning a polite smile. “I’ve already eaten.”
Nathan’s lips quirked slightly, the faintest hint of amusement in his usually stoic expression. “Elisa asked me to take care of you,” he said evenly. “She specifically told me to make these dishes for you.”
The mention of Elisa dissolved some of the awkwardness. Bianca sighed inwardly, realizing she couldn’t refuse now without seeming rude. “In that case, thank you for the invitation. I’ll be over shortly.”
***
When Bianca arrived next door, she found the table set with four dishes: pan–fried pork, braised prawns, stir–fried vegetables
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and a fragrant soup. She paused,
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momentarily taken aback. The spread was so thoughtfully prepared that it left her feeling a touch self–conscious.
“You didn’t have to go through all this trouble,” she said, taking a seat hesitantly.
“It wasn’t any trouble,” Nathan replied simply, setting down a bowl of rice in front of her. His movements were precise, almost graceful, as if he had done this countless times.
Bianca discreetly snapped a photo of the meal and sent it to Elisa with a quick message: [You asked your brother to cook for me? Isn’t that a bit much?]
Elisa’s response came almost instantly. [I didn’t ask him to do anything! But don’t overthink it. Nathan likes cooking. Just eat
-it’s better than whatever you’ve been trying to make for yourself.]
Bianca chuckled softly at Elisa’s candid remark, then turned her attention back to
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the food. She tentatively picked up a prawn and took a bite. Her eyes widened slightly as the rich, savory flavors filled her mouth.. “Mr. Lawson, your cooking is excellent,” she said, her tone warm and sincere.
Nathan’s expression remained neutral, but a flicker of something–perhaps sadness- flashed in his eyes. Without a word, he picked up another prawn, peeled it expertly and placed it into her bowl. His:
actions were unassuming yet oddly intimate, leaving Bianca momentarily flustered.
They ate mostly in silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Nathan’s presence was steady, grounding even and Bianca found herself relaxing more than she had in weeks. By the time the meal ended, she had nearly forgotten her initial
reservations.
As they cleared the table, Nathan finally broke the silenc “I’m here for a vacation.” he explained. “Thought I’d stay for about a
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month.”
“Well.” Bianca said. offering a small smile, “thank you for the meal. It’s been a while since I’ve had something this good.”
Nathan’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, unreadable as ever. Then he nodded. “You’re welcome, Miss Bianca. Let me know if you need anything.”
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