After dinner, Yasmine and Serana tidied up the dining area.

“Cleaning up” was a generous term, considering Serana was doing most of the

work.

Yasmine, who had grown up in an orphanage, may not have had the easiest

childhood, but she was never required to do chores like cooking, laundering, or

chopping wood. Once she left the orphanage, such tasks were even further from

her reality. Her hands were soft and beautiful, with slender, pale fingers.

Standing beside Serana at the sink, the most Yasmine would do was to wipe

down the already clean dishes. And she had this air about her, as if she had

done some monumental task that deserved high praise.

Enter title…

Serana wasn’t much of a talker. It seemed ever since Yasmine started dating

Boyd, Serana had become even quieter. The time they spent washing dishes

was particularly tough for her. The moment the last plate was dried, she let out a

sigh of relief and quickly said, “There’s nothing left to do now, Yasmine. You

should get on with your evening.”

Yasmine rinsed her hands under the faucet and watched Serana put away the

dishes. “I’ve always meant to say, you have a real knack for cooking and

cleaning,” she said.d2

Serana paused for a moment, then smiled at her. “I’m just curious about these

things, so I tend to pay more attention. Boyd isn’t too keen on eating out. If you

have the time, I could teach you a few of his favorite dishes.”

Yasmine chuckled and shook her head. “No time for that.”

After putting away the utensils, Serana turned and gave her a strained smile.

“They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I’m sure Boyd would

be delighted if you cooked for him.”

“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach?” Yasmine smirked, looking at

her. “Is that what you thought back then?”

Serana’s smile froze instantly. Her eyes locked with Yasmine’s for a few

seconds before she forced herself to look away, her grip tightening on the edge

of the countertop. “It seems like you’ve misunderstood something about us,”

Serana said softly.

Yasmine observed her for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. “Why so

tense? Who did I misunderstand you with?” she teased.

Serana bit her lip, replying quietly, “Nothing…”

Noticing Serana’s trembling hand on the counter, Yasmine’s eyes sharpened.

“Thank you for the meal,” she said.

Serana didn’t reply, only managing a stiff smile.

Yasmine left the kitchen, thinking Serana’s smile was more unsettling than

comforting.

Boyd was lounging on the sofa, perusing the stack of books she’d brought over,

exuding a mature, reserved charm that struck a chord with her. She approached

and held out her hand. Puzzled, he took her hand and kissed it lightly.

Yasmine looked at him with faint disgust. “I wanted you to smell it, not kiss it.”

“It smells nice,” he said.

“I just washed dishes. So you like the scent of dish soap?”

Boyd pulled her down beside him, his brow furrowing with suspicion. “You?

Washing dishes?”

Yasmine pressed her lips together tighter, withdrawing her hand. “I did half the

work.”

Boyd chuckled and reached into the drawer under the coffee table, pulling out a

tube of hand cream. He squeezed a generous amount onto Yasmine’s hands

and began to massage it in.

The faint scent of flowers filled the air. Once her hands were soft and

kissed them

that

arched an eyebrow, admiring her well-cared-for hands.

nicely, I won’t make it difficult

head as he gently tugged at her

tonight?”

him a languid look. “Not going back until

hand still

hand away. “Of course. But until

thinking about are off

frown deepened at

patted his shoulder. “No

the books on the coffee

cut him

“Five days from now.”

“No.”

“Three days.”

“No.”

the books off

and headed for the

night, no

the bed and leaned over

“Serana’s still here.

removed her hand. “She’ll leave

embrace. “Then we’ll

under the watchful eyes of a

wasn’t joking, Boyd sat up

got out of bed. “I’m going to

shower, Yasmine found that Boyd wasn’t in the bedroom. She

and stepped out, intending

was speaking with a detached tone

years before graduation. You’re thinking about

he said.

think my major is totally

a moment before conceding, “If you’ve

it’s up to you.”

sigh of relief.

beginning of their conversation, but she had

about what it entailed.

the bedroom, Serana stood up from

her for a moment. “I’ve got homework.

handed Yasmine a glass of water. “It’s

temperature.”

accepted the glass, watching Serana pick up an

it in the trash. She took

way Bryson’s wife, Aliza, would play the part

cook a table of

tidy the house until it was spotless,

she prepared the meal.

water glass, half-drunk, was handed

trash bags and

know any better, I’d say Serana

finished the water and set the glass

“Good thing you do

eyes at the doorway, her gaze briefly intense before

with a half-smile that wasn’t

it. What’s there

placing her

maid after an afternoon’s hard work—I

that amusing.”

smile was shallow, “So are you relieved

didn’t make her upset?”

a moment. “Is there a

Then why did you

his head, “Since you’ve pointed out the difference, if I were

consequences would

don’t want

and dived under the

consequences are indeed severe.”

small smile curling his lips.

just scrolling on her phone, looked up at him. “If you

or shall I go?” With that, she lifted the

the blanket.

down and covered

“I’ll take

back

Yasmine already nestled under

aside, her back

slightly, slipped under the covers, and was greeted by her

fragrant scent.

he gazed into

“I didn’t think

dodged him. “Do you

severe consequences?”

Boyd paused, “So…”

offered a faint smile, “So let’s start with that

arguments.”

left with no choice but to compromise with

Yasmine stared at the well-defined muscles on

motionless, letting him hold

Yasmine woke up the next morning, Boyd

the closet, and

clothes had pushed his to a

sight to see. She pushed her clothes

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