The atmosphere between Cain and Anika seemed tainted with a mixture of coldness and, from Anika’s perspective, a hint of romance.
She smiled at the man standing in front of her.
“Mind if I help?” Anika asked again, anticipation evident in her voice.
Cain looked at her with a calm but expressionless face.
He did not bother replying.
Instead, he nonchalantly shook her hand off his arm and walked away.
Anika watched his retreating figure with a smirk.
“First time seeing someone who can resist my charm,” she murmured to herself.
“And for that, I’ll grant you special attention.”
With that, she walked back toward her gate.
Once Cain entered the house again, he found Tara standing beside the glass doors that overlooked the garden.
Her figure against the dim light looked lonely and lost in thought.
He gently closed the front door behind him.
“I’m back with what you wanted,” he said while walking toward the kitchen to place the pastries on the counter.
When he got there, he noticed that the broken glass pieces that had previously been scattered across the kitchen floor were gone.
Cain sighed before walking to the sitting room.
He stopped a short distance behind Tara and spoke calmly.
“Were you the one who cleaned the kitchen floor?”
Tara did not turn around.
“Apart from you and me, who else is in the house?” she asked coldly.
Cain was stunned by her tone.
Ever since she came back from the hospital, she had always spoken to him sweetly, but now it felt like he was speaking to the original Tara again—the Tara who would not even spare him a glance.
Cain cautiously walked closer, leaving enough space between them.
“Hey… what’s wrong?” he asked softly.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“I only answered your question, Mr.
Woods,” Tara replied in the same cold tone.
Cain stiffened immediately.
That tone… and the way she addressed him… it was exactly how the original Tara used to speak to him.
“You remember your past memories now?” Cain asked directly, though his tone remained calm.
Tara stayed silent for a long moment before finally turning to look at him.
“I’m tired.
I’m going to my room,” she said before walking toward the staircase.
“It’s too early for you to go to bed,” Cain said, confused.
“Besides, I bought the pastries you asked for.
Don’t you want to try them?”
“They’re dirty.
Go throw them away,” Tara replied coldly before continuing upstairs without another word.
Cain stood there in confusion, unable to understand her sudden change in attitude.
Unsure of what to do, he pulled out his phone and called Jade.
After a few rings, the call connected.
“Yes, bro?
What’s up?
Miss me already?” Jade asked amusedly, considering Cain had just seen him minutes ago.
Cain rolled his eyes even though Jade could not see him.
“I just wanted to ask you something.”
“Ooh?” Jade instantly became interested.
“So, remember when Tara asked me to buy pastries from the bakery on the main street before we came home?”
“Yeah,” Jade replied.
“Well, I bought them.
I even bought different kinds in small portions so she could choose what she liked, along with some healthy drinks.
But the moment I got back, she suddenly started acting like the original Tara again—her tone, expressions, actions, even the way she addressed me.
Then when I mentioned the pastries, she said they were dirty and told me to throw them away.
Right now, I don’t know what to do.
It’s still early, so she’ll probably be hungry later, and to top it all off, I don’t even understand how this girl thing works.”
Frustration was clear in Cain’s voice.
The entire time, Jade listened quietly.
Then another voice suddenly joined the conversation.
“Did you do anything before you met her?”
Cain blinked in surprise at hearing Kalon’s voice.
He pulled the phone away from his ear to confirm he had indeed called Jade.
“Hello?” Kalon said.
“Ah… I’m listening,” Cain replied calmly.
“Did you hear what I asked?” Kalon questioned suspiciously.
“What do you mean by ‘did something’?” Cain asked in confusion.
“Did you go somewhere, touch something—or someone?
Apart from you and the cashier, did anyone else touch the bags?” Kalon asked.
Cain frowned.
“What does that have to do with this situation?”
“Oh, it has everything to do with it,” Kalon commented casually.
“Especially when it comes to Tara.”
Her voice was low, but everyone on the call heard it clearly.
“What do you mean?” Cain asked, now intrigued.
“Well, Mr.
Woods, Tara is a very possessive person when it comes to the people she loves or cares about.
The moment she notices something that threatens her place in that person’s life, she tends to withdraw herself from them.
And honestly, this situation sounds very similar to that.
Whatever happened, Tara must’ve noticed something that made her feel threatened, so now she’s distancing herself from you.
Consider this the first stage.”
Cain tried processing Kalon’s explanation but still could not figure out what he had done wrong.
“But I still don’t understand what I did wrong,” he admitted.
Kalon sighed.
“Tell me everything that happened from the moment you left the house.”
Cain recounted the entire incident in detail without omitting anything.
“Did the lady touch you or the bags?” Kalon asked afterward.
“I don’t really remember… but she did stand pretty close to me, I guess,” Cain replied thoughtfully.
“Do you have windows or CCTV cameras facing the gate where you were standing with that girl?”
At that moment, realization dawned on Cain.
There was a high chance Tara had witnessed the interaction outside.
Still, he did not want to jump to conclusions.
“I understand now that she might’ve seen us,” Cain said slowly.
“But maybe she really remembered her memories.
Isn’t that possible too?”
“Impossible,” Kalon answered immediately.
“Tara hates staying in other people’s spaces, let alone living with a man she barely knows.
Cain leaned back into the couch and sighed.
“So what should I do now?”
“For now, give her space.
Try talking to her tomorrow instead.
And make sure those pastries disappear from her sight completely.
As for food, she’ll come downstairs to eat once she calms down.
Just make sure the house is stocked with enough food.
But I repeat—do not let her see those pastries again.”
“Oh… okay then.
Thanks.”
Without wasting another second, Cain ended the call.
Deep down, he was curious about whatever was going on between Jade and Kalon, but he was far too occupied with his own problems to care.
He remained in the sitting room for a while before eventually going upstairs to freshen up.
Later, when he returned downstairs to grab something to eat, he found Tara sitting quietly in the living room, watching TV with a bowl of mixed berries resting on her lap.
The entire time Cain stayed there, Tara completely ignored him.
Eventually, after getting tired of watching television, she silently got up and returned to her room for the night.
The Next Morning…
Tara woke up around ten in the morning.
After getting ready, she headed downstairs, only to find a middle-aged woman arranging flowers in the vase on one of the side tables in the sitting room.
Tara paused, both wary and confused.
“Ah, excuse me… who are you, and what are you doing in my house?” she asked cautiously, though the politeness in her voice remained evident.
The woman immediately turned toward her respectfully.
“Hello, young miss.
My name is Harriet, and I will be the housekeeper from today onward.”
“Oh.” Tara blinked before offering a gentle smile.
“I apologize, Miss Harriet.
I didn’t know you would arrive today.
Welcome, by the way.”
“Thank you, young miss.” Harriet smiled warmly before speaking again.
“Breakfast is ready.
Would you like me to serve it for you?”
“No need.
I can do it myself.
You can continue what you were doing,” Tara replied before walking toward the kitchen.
However, Harriet quickly stepped in front of her and lowered her head apologetically.
“My apologies, young miss, but the eldest young master instructed that you are not allowed to step into the kitchen under any circumstances.”
Tara froze for a second, stunned by what she had just heard.
Before she could respond, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Harriet immediately offered.
“Don’t bother.
I’ll do it,” Tara said.
“But young miss—”
Before Harriet could finish, Tara interrupted her.
“What now?
Am I forbidden from answering the door too?”
Harriet lowered her head silently, unable to answer.
That was enough for Tara.
She walked straight to the front door and opened it—
Only to meet a pair of familiar eyes.