Marry My Ex's Sworn Enemy

Chapter 41: Setting the Rules Before the Brawl

Menu

Sonya followed Henry downstairs, all the way to the front door. Seeing Simon, apron askew, brandishing a metal spatula, her worry intensified.

Auntie Sterling, seemingly unfazed, chased after them, cradling little Mia."Simon, get back here as soon as you're done! I can't handle everything by myself!" Sonya took Mia, reassuring Auntie Sterling.

"Jay runs a trucking team," Auntie Sterling explained, "They all work the same freight yard. Sometimes there's not enough work, so they fight over jobs. It's nothing serious, usually." This only amplified Sonya's anxiety.

Auntie Sterling chuckled, "If Simon went alone, I'd be worried. But with Henry, I'm not. He knows his limits; he won't let things get out of hand."

Sonya nodded. Mia started fussing in her arms, clearly bored.

"I'll take Mia for a walk."

A

customer called for Auntie Sterling. Turning back, she asked, "Is dinner ready?"

"I'll wait for Henry to eat."

"Sounds

good."

Auntie Sterling

rushed off to attend to her customers.

Sonya strolled down the bustling alley with Mia, a vibrant mix of street vendors. At the end of the alley stood New York University. From the iron gate, she could see the university's soccer field and the distant library, with the medical school building to the west "Yay!" Mia squealed, excitedly jumping at the sight of students playing soccer.

Sonya lifted the little one higher for a better view. It was lunchtime, and many students were collecting takeout orders.

Olivorddenly, she remembered a roommate who loved the dumplings from "Lucky Duo's- Dumpling House," frequently ordering for pickup. Once, her roommate had a dinner date and asked Sonya to pick up her order and eat them.

"Their dumplings are amazing, you should try them," Sonya thought.

Sonya rarely ate takeout; Julian Jennings disliked it. She'd become a skilled cook, spending hours commuting to their apartment to prepare his meals, grabbing a bite herself. Medical school was already demanding, but she also acted as Julian Jennings's housekeeper. How she wasn't exhausted back then, she wondered.

That time, Julian Jennings was out of town, so she agreed to fetch her roommate's order. She remembered the delivery girl, a short-haired woman with a facial injury.

that?" Sonya had asked

students all

"I don't," Sonya replied.

tossed the container

delicious those dumplings were-succulent, flavorful, three-fresh pork dumplings. She later ordered them herself, but they

33.1%

Setting the Rules

are fickle. One minute Mia was jumping, the next,

plate of dumplings to a private room, then saw her sleeping son in Sonya's arms

Sterling came down to find Sonya wiping

this is dirty

do this at

"Henry doesn't?"

remembering the past, when she and

tell you," Auntie Sterling efficiently wiped the table, leaning close to Sonya,"Men need to be kept in line.

his seafood noodles; they

to work here as a

A thought

struck

Sonya, "He

made those

three-fresh dumplings,

right?"

he'd come work at the restaurant during breaks instead of going home. His dumplings were

at the coincidence. "There

Auntie Sterling's face fell.

"You know... Amy Smith?"

ordered dumplings once;

her to

to discuss Amy Smith further,

returned, along with a large, strong man.

something. Seeing

were

picked some jujubes

closer, noticing the jujubes bulging from his shirt pocket-large,

his spatula aside, laughing and pointing at Henry."You wouldn't believe this guy. He beat the hell out of them, then insisted on going home with them to pick jujubes afterwards!" Henry grinned, "Separate issues.

"Where'd