Chapter 7
That night, the police came and made a record. They said that the man should be a repeat offender, He first turned off the power switch in my house and waited for me to come out.
Fortunately, I didn’t go out alone, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable.
After they left, I asked Neil, “How did you come out?”
He replied, “I was just working out.”
He was still angry for not catching that man. “Whenever he heard any noise outside, he would come
out to take a look.”
“Thank you, if it weren’t for you today, I really wouldn’t know what to do.”
I thanked Neil with a pale face, and he looked at me for a while before suddenly reaching out and
hugging me.
The man’s breath completely enveloped me, and his slightly warm body temperature seeped through the thin pajamas onto me. I should have pushed him away, but at this moment, my
unsettled soul was truly comforted.
We stood in the hallway like this, embracing under the dim light. His back muscles were smooth
and strong, radiating warmth from his burning palms.
The scent of tobacco lingered in the thickening air, wrapping around me like a net.
There seems to be something indescribable and unclear that was fermenting.
My heart started pounding for some unknown reason, and I awkwardly pushed him away.
“Thank you.”
“Wait for me,” Neil said without changing his expression, then he went back to his room and came
out with a pillow and a blanket.
“He probably wouldn’t dare to come back, but just in case, I’ll sleep at your place tonight.”
He spoke so naturally, and it seemed to make sense. I wanted to refuse, but the words stuck in my
throat, hesitating.
We had just met not long ago, and it didn’t seem quite right for a man and a woman to be alone
together in a room.
“Don’t worry.”
He seemed to see through my thoughts and grinned, “I’ll sleep on the couch. If you’re worried, just lock the door and get a good night’s sleep.”
1/4
I was originally quite scared, but for some reason, when I thought about Neil being outside, I fell asleep in a daze that night.
And there were no dreams throughout the night.
I was awakened by a scent, and for a moment, I thought I was still in a dream.
Wearing slippers, I came out and saw Neil bustling around the kitchen with an apron on.
When he saw me coming out, he held a shovel and said to me, “Are you awake? Go wash up and come eat, I have cooked polenta.”
I stood in the corner, suddenly feeling a bit dazed.
I have already passed the age when I would be moved by a bowl of polenta, but at this moment, my heart still feels warm.
When Neil brought the sweet polenta in front of me, I couldn’t help but say, “I didn’t realize you
could cook.”
“I couldn’t.”
Neil was a bit proud and said, “But I learned it, I followed the steps in the video, and not a single one was wrong!”
I laughed and said, “Thank you, but you didn’t have to do all this. I could have done it myself.”
Neil, however, suddenly stopped smiling and looked at me seriously, saying, “Helen, cooking is your interest, not your obligation.”
“No one had to cook for others, you didn’t have to do it.”
I was stunned.
I just said that out of habit, because I have been the one cooking all these years while being with
Lucas.
He couldn’t cook and had never cooked before.
Sometimes when I was sick, it was also Aunt who came to our house.
I never thought that one day someone would say to me that cooking is just my interest, not my
obligation.
Someone used to cook me a good meal and then tell me that I didn’t need it. I lowered my head and suddenly felt like I had really been wrong for these seven years.
Lucas was right, I shouldn’t have been constantly revolving around him.
Back then, I thought that this was good for both of us. Now I realize that marriage should not be
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about one party compromising without limits.
Before leaving, Neil reminded me, “Call me as soon as anything happens.”
He curved his lips upwards and said, “Don’t be afraid, I am here.”
