Chapter 138
She originally planned to deliver the meal at five, then head back for her own dinner.
However, things took a turn and it took two hours before she could hand it over to Stuart at seven. Now, as she watched Stuart eat, her own stomach began to grumble, reminding her she hadn’t eaten yet.
“Morwenna, are you hungry?”
“Uh, yeah… a bit,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing slightly. It was somewhat embarrassing, wanting to eat the food she had brought for someone else.
But the hunger was real, especially as she watched him eat.
Stuart pushed the bread and soup towards her and continued eating.
Without needing further explanation from Stuart, Morwenna understood his gesture. She took the bread and soup, her smile bright as she said, “Thanks, Stuart, you’re really kind!”
Stuart just stared.
After all, the meal was cooked by Morwenna and she had delivered it too.
Sharing some of it made him kind?
That was a new one for Stuart. Throughout his life, people had called him ruthless or cold–hearted, but never kind. Yet, Morwenna had praised him more than once.
Whenever Morwenna ate, she did so with such relish that it made anyone dining with her feel hungrier just by watching.
“Stuart, why aren’t you eating the fish? I’ve deboned it thoroughly; there are no bones, you can eat it without worry.”
“How long did it take you to debone it?”
“Oh, not long, not long at all. I’m pretty quick when I’m doing stuff. Try it, Stuart.”
Stuart typically avoided fish, especially if it might contain bones, regardless of who prepared it.
Due to mistrust.
As a child, locked away in a dark, forgotten place, he had been starved for what felt like an eternity.
And then, someone had mockingly brought him a delicious–looking fish.
Near starvation, he would have eaten anything, especially meat.
He had gobbled it down only to choke on a bone on his first ever bite of the fish.
The person had laughed cruelly at him.
Driven mad by hunger, he had glared at the man while continuing to eat voraciously.
The fish bones had cut his mouth, mixing blood with the fish as he swallowed.
He didn’t like fish.
He didn’t trust anyone.
But he had given Morwenna a some of his trust.
Unaware of Stuart’s inner turmoil, Morwenna looked at him with clear eyes, as if to reassure him, “Really, there are no bones. It’s delicious.”
Stuart hesitantly took a piece of fish and tasted it.
Morwenna tilted her head, her eyes crinkling with a smile as Stuart ate. She found even the way he ate attractive.
After Stuart finished half of the fish, Morwenna, hating to see good food go to waste, tucked into the other half.
After dinner, Stuart took Morwenna out.
They got out of the car and walked down the spotless streets of Rosefrost Hollow.
Morwenna was now familiar with the area, knowing this pedestrian zone was the most bustling part of town.
She rarely visited unless she had a specific reason.
The street was buzzing with young lovebirds, arm in arm, hand in hand.
Morwenna glanced at Stuart walking ahead of her..
She quickened her pace to catch up and walked alongside him, their shoulders almost touching.
As they walked, Morwenna’s hand swung in rhythm with Stuart’s, occasionally brushing his by accident, causing her to suppress a giggle.
Her heartbeat quickened as she looked sideways at Stuart and asked, “Stuart, may I hold your hand?”