ked to Ethan's bedroom door, giving it a couple of kn

pped abruptly, and ever

e door, weak but sharp as ever, carrying a de

lmost picture his expression-cold

ated glass in her hand a

leave

e turned to leave but hesitated halfway, pausing, then leaning

inside that it

oor swung open

awkwardly straightening

usual, probably because he'd just had a heavy coughing fit. A bit o

on," he said hoarsely, vo

glass. "Still, ha

ever so slightly, skeptical. "It's

at must feel awful after all that coughing.

"You had the chance to walk away, but you chose not to. So what's the p

d to dig out even a hint of insincerity ben

quiet steadiness, and

e alive, might as well not make it harder than it already is. I already got

back, not expecti

the cup into his slightly cold fingers, tu

some

he warm glass in his hand. The surface ri

e air-something gentle and warm, so out

is legs started to go numb and that scratchy f

ingers gripped the

ng his cold skin slightly,

d around, walked back into the r

outside fell

lass on the bedside tab

dboard, eyes closed and brows slightly furrowed

was far

.

t a ripple.Carol worked her 9-to

, Jack's voice would echo in her mind, "Mr. Mitchell can't handle spicy f

, "You, of all people, living on spice, no

him? Look, I get swooning over a good-looking guy, but he's

simple as flipping a switch, okay? Plus, too much spice isn't

t don't worry, he's not some

omise you won't catch feelings, alright

m Jack letting her know Ethan had an evening

married he had dinner plans away from

y spicy time. But turns out, bland was her new default-she

ting when she heard the

ng table, Carol explained, "Didn't you have

and headed upstairs to his

of it and went back to

ything was quiet, a loud crash

than collapsed on the floor. A

d Jack and rushed h

aid it was a stomach issue. Gui

he hadn't made d

Golden Hearth restaurant, and I thought Mr. Mitc

d to come back and

e. No way Ethan wanted to come

she couldn't kick out, she wou

settled dee

ken soup and asked Jack to drop it off at the hospital. Luckily, Etha

ly estate before she even got off work. G

and quietly prayed for mercy unde

into the estate, Grace greeted her

the lead, "Grace, it's my fault. I d

ace couldn't lash out too much, thoug

more of your care. You two share a bed