Oliver entered quietly, carrying several sophisticated insulated bags in his hands. As soon as he entered the apartment, a chill ran down his spine. He looked up and found himself locked in Kristopher’s piercing stare—a gaze that was both inscrutable and unnervingly sharp.
His heart skipped a beat. Had he made a mistake? Panicking, he replayed the events of the morning in his mind, searching for any error. Setting the bags neatly on the table, Oliver glanced quickly at his watch. Exactly eight o’clock—right on time, just as Mr. Norris had instructed.
Kristopher emerged from the bedroom, his sleeves casually rolled up. He exuded a laid-back yet authoritative presence as he remarked, “Didn’t I ask you to wait at the alley entrance?”
Oliver stood up straighter, his tone respectful but rushed. “You didn’t eat dinner last night, so I thought I’d bring breakfast early today.”
Kristopher’s gaze shifted to Elizabeth, who had just exited the bathroom. She was brushing her teeth in swift, almost frantic movements. Within a minute, she had rinsed and washed her face, her speed showing she was starving.
Elizabeth wasted no time. She walked over to the table, tore open one of the bags, and pulled out a fresh bun. Without ceremony, she took a large bite, chewing quickly.
Kristopher leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching her with faint amusement. Her cheeks puffed out as she stuffed another bite into her mouth, reminding him of a hamster storing food.
Her single-minded focus on eating gave her a strangely endearing look.
“Mm,” he hummed lazily in acknowledgment of Oliver’s explanation, reaching out to touch Elizabeth’s cheek.
Elizabeth instinctively tried to avoid it, but she was just a bit too slow.
His fingers grazed her skin before pinching her cheek lightly.
Her brow furrowed as she glared at him. Kristopher’s fingers lingered in front of her face, now smudged with a hint of her facial cleanser. “Cleanser,” he said casually.
She narrowed her eyes, suspicious. Was this just an excuse to tease her? He was annoyingly good at these small provocations.
“Oh, thanks,” she muttered.
Too hungry to dwell on it, she returned her attention to the food. After last night’s exhausting events, her body felt drained, and she was famished.
Kristopher withdrew his hand, heading toward the bathroom without saying another word.
Watching the exchange, Oliver sighed quietly in relief. “Mr. Norris, I’ll wait for you at the alley entrance,” he offered, eager to leave.
Elizabeth barely noticed. She rummaged through the bag, pulling out more food.
She glanced toward the bathroom, watching Kristopher brush his teeth meticulously, as if he had all the time in the world.
She couldn’t help but wonder about him. How was he not starving? He hadn’t eaten a thing since last night, yet he didn’t seem the slightest bit hungry.
When Kristopher finally returned, he sat at the dining table, opened his laptop, and began typing as if nothing had happened. He sipped his coffee between keystrokes, the rich aroma blending with the scent of breakfast.
Elizabeth tilted her head, unable to contain her curiosity. “Aren’t you hungry?”
Kristopher looked up, his expression neutral. “Of course. I’m not a robot.”
She tilted her head, unimpressed. “Then why are you drinking coffee instead of eating breakfast?”
He paused, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. “Are you concerned about me?”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Eat or don’t—it’s none of my business.”
She stood abruptly, walking to the sofa to grab a small keychain. Removing a key from it, she returned and placed it on the table in front of him. “Here’s a spare key. I’m heading to my alma mater. Not sure when I’ll be back.”
“Dinner tonight,” Kristopher said, not looking up from his screen as he typed a response to an email.
“No need,” she replied without much thought.
Turning toward the mirror, she caught sight of her neck and collarbone. Her eyes widened slightly at the red marks still visible from last night.
She sighed, digging into her suitcase to pull out a turtleneck sweater.
She slung her bag over her shoulder, slipping her phone inside as she headed for the door.
Kristopher cleared his throat pointedly, the sound subtle yet commanding her attention. She turned briefly, meeting his gaze. His expression seemed to demand a proper goodbye.
Instead, she gave him a fleeting glance before shutting the door without a word.
For a moment, Kristopher sat there, staring at the closed door. His fingers drummed lightly against the table as his mind circled around a single thought: Acting like nothing happened.
What did this woman take him for?
Outside, Elizabeth descended the stairs just as Scarlett arrived on her electric scooter.
Scarlett spotted her immediately and came to a stop, her eyes narrowing as they roved over Elizabeth’s simple sportswear and bare face.
Scarlett had always prided herself on being the most fashionable woman in town. She loathed the small-town vibe and went out of her way to emulate the latest trends from the big city.
Today, she had taken extra care, applying delicate makeup and donning her most expensive outfit in hopes of running into the owner of the luxury car she had seen yesterday. Her finely tailored woolen suit, which had cost her an entire month’s salary, was meant to impress.
But standing side by side with Elizabeth, who wore nothing more than understated sportswear, Scarlett’s efforts felt futile.
Elizabeth’s natural beauty outshone her polished appearance, making her jealousy burn hotter.
Scarlett’s eyes swept over Elizabeth again, and she sneered, her tone dripping with contempt. “I heard you married a rich man and you gave away stuff to the neighbors yesterday. But look at you—still no taste. Not a single designer label in sight.”
Elizabeth glanced down at her clothes, which she’d taken from Bayview Villa. The outfit was a custom-made piece, crafted for comfort and understated elegance. It lacked a logo, but its price rivaled any luxury brand.
Uninterested in a petty argument, Elizabeth replied calmly, “I don’t need designer labels to look good. My face does all the work.”
Scarlett scowled. She opened her mouth to retort, but then, a thought crossed her mind, and a smirk spread across her face.
