Chapter 242

Lucy's coughing fit finally subsided as she accepted the water from Cillian. She downed it in one swift gulp. She then shot him a mock accusing glare. "This is all your fault. I wouldn't have choked if I hadn't been talking to you!"

Looking at her playful stare, Cillian could not help but feel a tad sheepish. He averted his eyes.

The rest of the dinner passed in peaceful silence, with both of them finishing their meal without further incident.

After dinner, Lucy rose to clear the dishes, but Cillian stopped her. "Leave the dishes to me. You head upstairs, relax a bit, and maybe take a nap—whatever you like."

Lucy touched her cheek, feeling a bit guilty. "I can't let you cook and clean. I'll be totally spoiled at this rate."

With a resigned shake of his head, Cillian insisted, "You shouldn't be dealing with water and soap. That'll roughen your hands, and not even the best hand cream will be able to fix that."

Lucy always marveled at how thoughtful Cillian was. He was the epitome o