Hearing the voice, Shalma Hughes hurriedly ducked behind Julian Winslow.
At over six feet tall, his towering frame was more than enough to completely hide her.
“Julian!
What brings you here?
You should have called me first so I could prepare,” Miss Laura said as she came out of the house.
Though there were still bandages wrapped around her forehead, she looked to be in reasonably good spirits.
“Mother told me you were in a car accident a few days ago, so I came to check on you.” Julian Winslow reached behind his back and tightly grasped Shalma Hughes’s hand, gripping it so hard that her bones almost creaked.
Miss Laura gave a warm smile.
“My aunt is always so thoughtful.
Tell her not to worry, I’m fine now.”
Behind Julian, Shalma’s beautiful eyes widened in shock.
“Julian, who is that hiding behind you?” Miss Laura leaned to the side curiously to get a better look, but as soon as she did, the person dodged to the other side, seemingly on purpose.
Julian tightened his grip on Shalma’s hand.
“She’s just shy.
Look at her, still hiding even though we’re already here.”
Suddenly, a strong force yanked Shalma right out into the open.
She let out a gasp of surprise.
“Shalma?
It’s you?” Miss Laura was equally shocked as she heard the young woman’s gasp.
Julian seemed entirely taken aback as well, his deep eyes darkening a fraction.
Shalma stood there wringing her hands and softly murmured, “Miss Laura.”
“So you two already know each other! This story is hosted at g.com.
Oh, that’s right!
You both work at the same place.
Aethelgard isn’t too big, but it isn’t exactly small either—what a true coincidence!
Shalma, I’ve always been so worried about you, a young woman living all alone in Aethelgard.
But this is perfect!
From now on, I’m leaving you in Julian’s hands.
Julian!
You’ll take good care of Shalma, won’t you?” Miss Laura spoke with growing excitement, completely oblivious to the dark, gloomy expressions settling over both of their faces.
She wondered what on earth was going on.
Ever since Shalma realized that Miss Laura and Julian knew each other, she had been in a state of utter confusion.
Later, in the living room.
Shalma kept stealing glances at Julian, who was earnestly flipping through a magazine.
He didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable, acting as if the earlier awkwardness had never happened.
“Julian Winslow!” she called out cautiously, terrified that Miss Laura, who was busy in the kitchen, might overhear.
Julian elegantly set down the magazine and leaned back into the sofa.
His lazy posture exuded an air of absolute, aristocratic grace.
No matter how casual the movement, everything this man did looked exceptionally attractive.
“I certainly didn’t expect your mother to be a member of the Thorne Family.” His gaze, hidden behind his glasses, was dark and profound.
At the mention of her mother, a sharp pang pierced Shalma’s heart.
She abruptly stood up and fled toward the kitchen. Find the original chapter at g.com.
Watching her slender silhouette disappear, Julian’s eyes darkened like the dead of night.
An intense, forbidding aura flared up around him, warning anyone and everyone to stay away.
He truly hadn’t expected her to be a child of the Thorne Family.
An hour later, five dishes were laid out on the dining table.
There was Dongpo pork, crab-roe meatballs, stir-fried bok choy with shiitake mushrooms, tomato and egg soup, and a plate of something pitch-black that seemed to be radiating toxic fumes, making it completely impossible to identify.
The three of them took their seats.
Miss Laura sat at the head of the table, leaving Julian and Shalma seated directly across from one another.
“Miss Laura, where is Mama Archer today?” Shalma asked.
She hadn’t seen a trace of Mama Archer since they entered the house.
“She had some family matters to attend to, so she asked for the day off,” Miss Laura explained, gesturing warmly.
“Come now!
Don’t just look at it, let’s eat!
It’s just some simple home-cooked food.”
Julian elegantly picked up his chopsticks and his bowl, but his gaze remained strictly fixed on the pitch-black dish.
Catching his look, Shalma leaned forward and pulled the dark, unidentifiable plate right in front of herself.
Seeing her action, Julian asked in confusion, “Why did you pull that in front of you?”
“Because I don’t want to poison you,” Shalma blurted out.
Then, remembering that Miss Laura was sitting right there, she hastily explained, “I made this dish!
It’s my first time cooking, and as you can see, it’s pitch-black and practically inedible.
But in the spirit of not wasting food, I’ll just finish it myself.
You should eat what Miss Laura made!
Her cooking is amazing, easily on par with a five-star chef!”