Chapter 1916


    ric swallowed his anger just as it was about to burst out. Forget it, arguing with Hertha was pointless. Winning the argument meant she might leave, and he''d be left all alone. Losing meant he could at least enjoy the meals she cooked.


    "Why would I drive you away? I''m exhausted. I''m going to lie down for a bit. Call me when dinner''s ready," ric said, his tone now casual as he turned and walked out of the kitchen.


    Hertha rolled her eyes at his retreating back and got back to her tasks.Têxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Sitting on the couch, ric''s stomach was growling louder than a bear. Including today, it had been two whole days since hest ate. A weaker person would have caved by now. The fact that he was still holding on was nothing short of a miracle.


    Leaning back on the couch, the sounds of pots and pans clinking in the kitchen reached his ears. ric found himself ncing towards the kitchen out of habit. There was Hertha, bustling about, flipping something in a skillet one moment and washing vegetables in the sink the next.


    A smile tugged at ric''s lips. Who knew she was capable of multitasking like that?


    As he watched, he pulled a nket over himself, feeling a chill. Whether it was from hunger or the remnants of his illness, he couldn''t tell.


    The nket fluttered, bringing with it a breeze scented with the fragrance of soap. ric stiffened for a moment, then pulled the nket closer to his nose, inhaling deeply. The scent grew clearer, richer.


    It was the scent that haunted his dreams, a reminder of three years past. Whenever he felt lost, in pain, or terribly alone in the dead of night, that scent was his sce. It was uniquely Hertha''s.


    She must have used this nket, leaving her scent behind. ric greedily inhaled, basking in the fragrance that was all Hertha.


    Time seemed to blur until the kitchen door swung open and Hertha emerged with a dish in hand, calling out to him, "ric, dinner''s ready."


    Snapping back to reality, ric''s fox-like eyeszily responded, "Oh,ing."


    As Hertha turned to head back to the kitchen, she noticed ric


    Curiosity piqued, she asked, "ric, are you alright?"


    clutching the nket to his het


    "Yeah, I''m fine. What could be wrong?" His response was absent-minded, his focus still on the nket, longing for the scent that lingered.


    Hertha stood before him, yet he seemed more attached to the nket than to her presence, longing for past moments of warmth.


    "If you''re alright, thene on over, the soup''s ready. Don''t let it get cold," Hertha said, turning back towards the kitchen.


    Worried about upsetting Hertha,


    ric reluctantly set the nket


    aside and trudged over to the dining


    table. Two dishes greeted him:. stir-fried pork with herbs and a side of sautéed kale. ric couldn''t help but frown slightly.


    During the wait, Hertha brought over the soup she had been simmering, cing one bowl in front of ric and another across the table for herself, then sitting down opposite him.


    "Eat it while it''s hot," she said offhandedly.