“Sylvia, why did you resign?” That was the first thing Tristan asked when the call got through, and anxiety permeated the line.Sylvia calmly replied, “I don’t want to work there anymore.” “I don’t believe you. Is it because Sonia is giving you more trouble?” “No.” “Then, why did you leave?” Sylvia knew that if she did not tell Tristan the truth today, the man would continue to haunt her like a ghost. A quick thought later, she said, “Well, I don’t want to work in your studio anymore.” “You don’t want to work in my studio? Did you resign because of me?” Tristan was in disbelief. “Yes.” “Why?” Sylvia was stunned. She was as straightforward as she could be, but he still did not understand. On the other end of the call, Tristan clutched his phone tightly, his brows furrowed as he said, “Sylvia, tell me. Did you leave because you want to reject me or did Sonia make you do it?” Sylvia tightened her lips. Some words were too hurtful when made verbal, and she knew how i
Every dish had been cooked to perfection, and it even gave Odell a sense of novel happiness with each bite he took. A few seconds of silence later, he said to Tara, “I have something to do later. You can have dinner on your own.” “Odell, I thought you are done with work. Are you going back to have dinner with Isabel and Liam?” she asked. A slight hesitation later, he reluctantly hummed a reply. Tara answered in disappointment, “Okay.” Odell asked, “Do you still have any money on your bank card? I’ll transfer some money over. You can have dinner with your friends and go shopping later. Buy anything that catches your eyes. You don’t need to hold back.” Tara’s eyes shone upon hearing Odell's generosity, but she remained calm and said, “Odell, I still have my own money. You don’t need to transfer any more to me now. I don’t want to always spend your money.” Odell did not say a thing and simply transferred two million to her. …At Sylvia’s place, just when the sun almost di
Warm light shed over the yard. Isabel and Liam never stopped slurping and chewing their food. Although Odell’s stern presence made the atmosphere a lot tenser and quieter, Sylvia still smiled happily when she saw her kids enjoying the food. The only downside to the harmonious atmosphere was the lack of pasta. Sylvia only had a small plate of spaghetti. She then added more to Isabel and Liam’s plate. There was still some in the pot, which was enough for Aunt Tonya and Odell each to have an extra serving. Odell finished his spaghetti in a few bites. He wanted another plate, but he saw Sylvia stop eating and was drinking water. He had a glance at the pot, then he also put his fork and spoon down. He said, “Make more next time.” Sylvia was stunned. She thought he did not have enough, so she said, “There’s still some in the pot.” Odell did not answer. Instead, he started eating the fruits that were prepared. No matter how much he wanted to have another plate, he was not that
Despite being unhappy, Sylvia still bought ingredients for dessert the next day after work. After she prepared all the ingredients for the main dish, she started making dessert: pumpkin cookies and Isabel’s favorite cakes and donuts. In the evening, when Odell came with the kids, Sylvia put the desserts on the table. “Wow! Mommy is the best!” Isabel praised as her eyes shone in delight. Sylvia bent over, and the little girl gave her a kiss on the cheek. Liam also came over and wanted to give his mother a kiss. “Thank you, Mommy.” Sylvia also moved closer to him and let the little boy’s lips touch her cheeks. The interaction between mother and children was intimate and heart-warming. When Sylvia bent over for the kisses, her collar gaped open around her neck, exposing her chest. Odell was standing slightly further away, and he saw right inside. He frowned slightly as the temperature started to rise. He loosened his collar and even gulped nervously. Sylvia kissed the
Sylvia stayed in the kitchen until she finished all the cooking. Odell was sitting opposite the kids, and when she came out, he turned to her. Sylvia glared at him before she sat down beside the kids, diagonally across him. When Aunt Tonya came around, the family started eating. Isabel and Liam were never picky when it came to their mother’s cooking. They simply gobbled up whatever was placed in front of them. Odell had a glance at the mother and the children before he started eating. Dinner was a feast with some bread, chicken, fish, and a big pot of soup. It seemed simple, somewhat plain in Odell’s opinion, but the aroma from the dishes was alluring. It seemed to provide an indescribable delight to those feasting. Odell picked a piece of chicken and discovered that it was tender and juicy. He enjoyed the food a lot. His brightened mood somehow also lifted the atmosphere. Sylvia enjoyed dinner better than yesterday. At the same time, she also placed vegetables on the
Surprised, Tristan looked at Tara and asked, “How did you know she resigned?” Sylvia and Tara were barely acquaintances given their relationship, so she would never tell the lady about her resignation. Tara sighed. “I heard some news.” Then, she pulled out her phone from her bag and showed Tristan the pictures she sneakily snapped at Elysian House the other day without Odell’s knowledge. The picture showed Sylvia sitting at a table with Catherine, Tristan’s mother. Tristan grabbed her phone and zoomed in. A closer look later, he nervously asked, “Where did you get this picture? Why is Sylvia sitting together with my mother?” “I accidentally ran into them at Elysian House the other day, and I heard Mrs. Ledger wanted to give her money to make her leave your studio.” Tristan frowned. He asked, “My mother really spoke to Sylvia about this?” Tara looked into his eyes. “Why should I lie to you? I was in the other room that day, and I overheard it with my own ears.” Tristan
Sylvia was once again stunned. Questions filled her mind. She pushed him and asked, “Tristan, put me down! Let’s talk!” Tristan giggled and put her down. Excitement lingered on his face as he stared at her. It made Sylvia lose the thought of rejecting him using the harshest words possible. Curious, she asked, “Tristan, I thought I made myself clear on the phone. Why are you here talking to me about all this?” “I know everything.” He acted like he really knew everything. “What do you know?” “You resigned because my mother got to you and forced you to.” Tristan then put his hand over her head and caressed her hair. “You rejected me with all those harsh words on the phone because of my mother, am I right?” Sylvia was rendered speechless. She did not resign because of that. “Tristan, what I said to you over the phone is all real. Mrs. Ledger did come to me, but I did not resign because of her.” “You don’t need to explain anymore. I understand.” Sylvia did not know what
Odell furrowed his brows. It was still not time to clock out and he disliked people from his private life visiting his workplace. However, knowing that it had been days since he spent time with her, he said to Cliff, “Bring her in.” “Yes, sir.” A few minutes later, Tara came in in a fitted dress with an intricate box in her hands. “Odell, are you busy right now? Am I interrupting?” she asked softly. Odell put the documents down on the table. “It’s okay.” She went up to his desk and put the dessert she brought for him. “Odell, these are the desserts I got from a famous bakery. I’ve been queuing for an hour for this. Have a taste.” “I’m not hungry now. I’ll try them later. Why are you here?” he asked. “Oh, it’s nothing. It’s just that it’s been a few days since I've seen you and I missed you.” Tara then went behind him and put her hands over his shoulder, giving him a gentle massage. Odell tightened his lips. “It’s been quite hectic lately.” The look on Tara’s face sl