Chapter 14 Home


    J spotted Ethan as soon as she entered the kitchen. He stood there awkwardly, surrounded by


    shards of broken china.


    He raised his eyes at her, looking lost and helpless. "I was washing the dishes when they... slipped


    off my hands."


    Well, he hadn''t done this sort of thing for more than ten years, so a mess was inevitable sooner or


    later.


    J walked over and began picking the broken pieces one by one.


    She wasn''t quite sure whether tough or cry. "I''m guessing you didn''t rinse any of these dishes.


    Ceramic tableware needs to be rinsed with warm water twice."


    "I see. I''ll take note of it next time." Enoch ripped off a sheet of paper towel and handed it to her.


    "Go ahead and do your thing. I''ll clean up over here."


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    He didn''t want her to get injured due to his own carelessness.


    It didn''t take long for Ethan to finish tidying things up. When he was done, he wiped his hands and


    walked out of the kitchen, only to pause at the scene that greeted him.


    The floor was absolutely spotless, and the huge windows were wide open, letting in beams of light


    and the refreshing afternoon breeze. The previously messy cabs and shelves had all


    been arranged neatly as well.


    Wild daisies and irises adorned what was once an empty and dusty vase on the dining table.


    Several potted nts popped up here and there, giving the house an artistic vibe that was edgy and


    refreshing at the same time.


    "What do you think? It feels different, doesn''t it? The house was clean enough before, but it was dull


    and a little depressing. It needed some life kicked back into it." J was standing by one of the


    windows. She had a bright smile on her face and a bottle of soda in her hand.


    Why was she so pleased, anyway, when she had to make do with such a small house?


    Nevertheless, her cheerful mood was infectious. A soft smile appeared in Ethan''s eyes. He reached


    out to the wild daisies, taking a soft white petal between his fingertips. "You''re right. It does feel


    different. Just like it did in the past."


    His mother had liked to put flowers on the table, too. Although they''d been dirt poor, she had


    managed to brighten up their lives with these tiny, trifling details.


    Ethan hadn''t had a proper home since his mother had died. For the first time in as long as he could


    remember, he finally had a ce he could call a true home.


    "Your mother must have loved life very much," J remarked, studying him out of the corner of her


    eye.


    Ethan''s expression turned much tender as he thought of his departed mother.


    "Not your mother-inw? Are you still getting used to the fact that I am your husband now?" He tried


    to sound nonchnt as he opened the fridge. He soon realized that J had taken thest bottle


    of drink they had.


    "I... I''ll be careful next time."


    It was true that she had yet to get ustomed to the fact that they were married. She hadn''t


    thought much about it when she spoke. Had she offended him, by chance?


    J was mulling her words with regret when her soda was suddenly snatched out of her hands.


    The next thing she knew, he was tipping it up against his lips.


    "No! I already drank—"


    Her words caught in her throat as she watched Ethan touch his lips to the same spot where hers


    had been. She was mesmerized at the way his Adam''s apple bobbed up and down as he drank the


    whole bottle.


    As for Ethan, he was too thirsty to care about anything else.


    It urred to him then that he had something else to do. He took out his phone and nced at the


    time, then tapped J''s forehead with the now empty bottle. "I''ll be leaving now. I have matters to


    deal with this evening. Don''t wait up for me."


    For some reason, the atmosphere had grown quiet and intimate.


    J''s hand shot up to touch the ce he had tapped, her ears hot. Even as Ethan disappeared


    through the door, she remained frozen in ce, still thinking about their indirect kiss just now.


    The next morning.


    J woke up to shrill ringing other rm clock. She got up and padded to the kitchen. On her way,


    she noticed the slight depression on the sofa. Ethan had obviously spent the night there, and it


    seemed like he had already gone out for the day.


    J sighed and thought nothing more of it. She was going to have another interview today, and


    not much time to get herself ready.


    Later, she was on the subway on her way to thepany when she received an email.


    It was from the Larson Group.


    J was quite surprised. She hurriedly opened the mail and found herself reading a formal


    apology. The email said that the notice of her failure at the interview had been withdrawn, and that


    the Larson Group was inviting for another one.