Looking at the two people in the kitchen, I chirped, “Hey guys, can I help with anything?”
“No, no, no,” Nora replied with a grin. “As I said, you’re a patient today. Just have a good rest and don’t come in here. The kitchen is greasy as hell. Shoo, shoo!”
Faced with her rejection, I looked to Armond instead. “Mr. Murphy, why don’t you go ahead with your work? I can help Nora in the kitchen.”
At that, Nora turned to Armond in question. “Are you going to discuss work later?”
Armond’s eyes darted to Ashton who was seated at the dining table and he shook his head. “No. Why?”
I was startled to hear his answer. Then, why did Ashton come here? For the free food?
Nora waggled her brows at me and grinned. “Go ahead and rest. Everything in the kitchen is under control and lunch will be ready in a bit.”
I flicked my eyes to Ashton, but still decided to go into the kitchen after some consideration. Padding over to the spot next to Nora, I put on a pitiful expression and whined, “I know you care about me and I’m really grateful for that. So don’t chase me away, okay? I want to stay here to help you!”
Of course, a sharp-witted person like Nora could tell my true intentions. She glanced sideways at the person at the dining table, then looked back at me and smirked. “Good excuse you got there. But why are you avoiding him? At least be friends with him. Don’t tell me you’re going to pretend to be strangers forever?”
I spaced out slightly after hearing her words, realizing that my thought process often varied from those of others. I thought that Ashton and I could only be strangers, but I never thought that we could get along like friends.
Seeing me lost in a daze, Nora added, “Scarlett, have you ever thought that perhaps you’re the one who’s overcomplicating the problem? Ordinary people like us only wish to live a normal and peaceful life with our partners. Regardless of what happened, life is too long to spend it alone. If humans insisted on separating over minor conflicts, then what would become of everyone in this world?
“Truth be told, many married couples would more or less have some strife between them, but as time goes by, they’d gradually get past their differences. My grandfather always said that if electrical appliances at home broke down, they should be replaced because those are non-living objects. No matter how hard you try to repair it, it’d be useless. But it’s different for people. Think about it, if two people insisted on replacing each other because of some minor dispute, then how many partners would we have to change throughout this long life of ours before we finally grow old? Besides, can we guarantee that the new one we choose will really be better than the first one we were with? I doubt that!”
I pursed my lips, finding some logic in Nora’s words. After a brief pause, I drew in a breath and said, “You’re right and wrong at the same time. It’s not a matter of who’s wrong or replacing each other between Ashton and me, but you’ve helped me realize something. Regardless of what our future holds, I’ll stop avoiding him or pretending to be strangers. From now on, I’ll treat him like a friend.”
Hearing my decision, she smiled in encouragement. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. Never run from problems. Facing them is the best way to solve them.”
With that, she handed me a plate of food and ordered, “Now go help me serve the food.”
I took the plate from her and brought it out of the kitchen. Ashton also entered the kitchen and helped set the table.
What surprised me was that he really seemed to be here for the free food and only used looking for Armond as an excuse.
Nora’s cooking was exceptional and Armond seemed to enjoy her food a lot. Both of them didn’t look like a couple who had just started dating. Instead, they looked like close friends who had known each other for a long time.
At least that was how Armond seemed like around Nora.
After eating, Ashton and I were on dish duty.
In the kitchen, I realized I really didn’t know how to act around Ashton anymore.
Nora said that we should get along as friends, but those years we were together, we either quarreled or gave each other the cold shoulder. Of course, there were the occasional sweet and romantic moments as well.
Come to think of it, I knew nothing about this man and I couldn’t seem to get past my first impression of him.
“What’s on your mind?” His voice reached my ears and I recollected my thoughts to shake my head.
“Nothing,” I replied tersely.
He took the plate from my hand and gazed at me solemnly. “Do you like Armond that much?”
I was stumped by his question, but when I saw Armond and Nora bantering in the living room and recalled the way I had spaced out earlier, realization dawned on me.
Ashton must have misunderstood and thought that I zoned out because of the heart-warming scene in the living room.
I shot him a sideways glance and noticed his dark eyes fixated on me. Mischief filled me and I nodded. “Yeah. What would it take for a woman to be able to meet such a handsome man like Armond? I think I’m pretty lucky to have met him.”
The temperature around me seemed to plummet a few degrees, so I stopped talking and bowed my head to wash the dishes as though my life depended on it.
At first, I thought he would make a dig at me, but unexpectedly, he chose to stay silent.
