CHAPTER 207: I DON’T MIND EATING IT NOW

After taking photos of the sunset, Daniel and Anna strolled along the beach, occasionally snapping pictures of each other. By now, both their phones were filled with dozens of memories — laughing, posing, teasing.

But there was still one thing Anna wasn’t satisfied with:the roadside fast food.

"Let’s have fast food for dinner," she declared.

And without a single complaint, Daniel bought every item she pointed at.

Since the area was getting crowded, Daniel suggested they eat inside the car where no one could see them. Anna agreed instantly.

Once they settled in the backseat, she blinked at the heap of bags Daniel had placed between them.

"How are these supposed to fit in here?" she murmured, overwhelmed by the mountain of food.

Daniel simply pressed a button beside the seat. A hidden table folded out from the back of the front seat.

"Happy?" he asked.

Anna nodded eagerly, like a child whose dream had just come true.

In minutes, she arranged the food neatly and was about to take the first bite when she suddenly paused.

Daniel frowned. "What happened? Why aren’t you eating?"

Anna looked at him with worry.

"Daniel... what about you? You never eat takeout from street stalls."

Daniel’s brows lifted.Her words caught him completely off guard.

He didn’t remember ever telling Anna that. He had always avoided fast food, not once touching it, even as a child. Yet he had never mentioned this to her.

So when Anna said it so casually... so confidently... his expression shifted.

"How do you know I never eat takeout?" Daniel asked slowly. "Did Mariam tell you that too?"

He remembered her asking Mariam about him before curious, innocent questions that he found oddly endearing.

But this...this felt different.

Anna froze, realization flashing in her eyes. Because she had spoken from memory, from the past she lived once before.

She remembered how, back then, she had been up to date with every detail of Daniel’s likes and dislikes. And that was when she first discovered his avoidance of fast food, not because it was unhygienic or unhealthy, but simply because most of it was too spicy for him.

"Hm," she said softly, nodding once before looking away.

Daniel didn’t push further. Her small reaction was enough — it confirmed his suspicion. She did know more about him than she let on.

"But I don’t mind eating it now," he said, brushing it off so she wouldn’t worry. "I can handle a little spice these days."

Anna snapped her head toward him, surprised.

Daniel smirked. "Compared to the food you cook, I’m sure this won’t be as spicy."

Anna’s muscles twitched in irritation. "So you’re saying my food is—"

"Okay, okay," he cut her off quickly, raising his hands in surrender. "Don’t be mad. Let’s eat. There’s one more place I want to take you."

"One more?!" Anna gaped, almost choking on air.

Ever since they’d left the house, he’d dragged her from one place to another —the amusement park, the seaside, dinner...And now he still had another plan?

Just how long is his wishlist? she wondered, exhausted but curious.

Despite her skepticism, Anna finally dug into the food. And to her surprise, Daniel wasn’t pretending —he really could handle the spice.

What she didn’t know was that he could only manage it because she had quietly asked the vendor to reduce the spice levels.

It didn’t take them long to finish everything. Daniel ate to his heart’s content, actually enjoying the street food his wife had chosen for them.

"So," Anna asked as she wiped her fingers, "where to now?"

Daniel only gave her a mysterious smirk —the same one he’d been using all day to torment her curiosity.

"Hehe... why do I even ask," Anna muttered, finally giving up and mentally preparing herself for whatever "surprise" Daniel had planned next.

But before the driver could start the car, her phone buzzed in her pocket.

She pulled it out—and froze.

Daniel leaned closer, his eyes narrowing.

"Why is Ethan calling you?"

Just like that, a dark storm passed through the car. His relaxed expression vanished, replaced by a deep scowl as he stared at Ethan’s name glowing on the screen.

Anna fidgeted, forcing a shaky smile. "Hehe... well, to know that, I need to... answer the call."

Daniel hated it. Hated that Ethan was calling Anna. Hated that the man even had her number. And hated even more that Anna looked nervous about it.

But he didn’t say a word, couldn’t force her, not when she’d already pressed the screen.

"Hello, Ethan," Anna said cheerfully.

She gave Daniel a quick glance from the corner of her eye while his expression had turned pitch black, the air around him chilling.

But then— the moment Ethan’s voice reached her ears, Anna’s smile dropped instantly because whatever he said made her switch her plan.

***

Meanwhile at the hospital, Kathrine fumed as Ethan walked back into the room after finishing his call with Anna.

"Why would you call Anna here?" she snapped the moment he stepped in.

"She wasn’t supposed to know anything about the accident!" Her voice was low but sharp, clearly displeased that Ethan had involved her family in her private matters.

Ethan raised a brow, utterly unbothered. "And how exactly were you planning to go home with that swollen leg?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

But then something seemed to click for him. "Or..." he drawled slowly, lips curving, "did you want me to carry you home?"

Kathrine’s lips twitched in annoyance. "Why would I ever want you to carry me?" she hissed.

"When you’re the one who said you didn’t want anything to do with me? Remember your words from yesterday?" she reminded.

Ethan’s smirk faded a little.

"We weren’t supposed to let anyone know we even knew each other," she continued, her voice trembling just slightly—not with fear, but anxiety.

She had expected Ethan to follow that rule strictly. But he didn’t. And now, with Anna rushing over because of her... Kathrine’s anxiety only grew.

She didn’t want to drag Anna into anything. Not into her secrets. Not into her problems. Not into the danger she suspected she was walking into.

But Ethan had already crossed that line and Kathrine had no idea how to undo it now.

While Kathrine anxiously worried about Anna finding out, Ethan was simply relieved that nothing major had happened to her. The car had only brushed past her, but in the process, Kathrine had twisted her ankle badly and lost consciousness when she hit the ground.

Ethan exhaled a tired sigh when the door to Kathrine’s room suddenly flew open and Anna rushed inside.

"That was fast," he muttered, surprised at how quickly she’d reached the hospital. But Anna didn’t even glance his way and went straight to Kathrine.

"How did it happen?" she asked, her eyes sweeping over her sister in one sharp, assessing scan.

Kathrine looked perfectly normal, except for the support wrapped around her right ankle.

Kathrine on the other hand blinked, equally surprised by her sister’s speed... and even more so by the alarm in her eyes.

Finally... she can see the care in her eyes, Kathrine thought, the corner of her lips lifting into a soft smile.

"It’s nothing. I just sprained my ankle," Kathrine said lightly, trying to dissolve the tension. But Anna was far sharper than she gave her credit for.

"Ethan said you had an accident. So obviously you’re not ’fine.’" She shot Ethan a knowing look, silently demanding the truth.

Ethan didn’t hesitate.

"A car almost hit her," he said calmly. "She managed to jump back in time. But in the process she twisted her ankle and fell hard. She was unconscious for almost an hour."

Anna’s eyes widened in shock.

Ethan hadn’t planned on hiding anything from her and seeing her believe him and seeing her worry instantly shift to protectiveness filled him with immense relief.

"Ann, it’s nothing. I’m perfectly fine," Kathrine said gently as she reached out, taking Anna’s hand and giving it a small reassuring squeeze, her smile soft and steady.

Anna shouldn’t have bothered with Kathrine, not after everything that happened in their past or after all the hurt Kathrine caused her.

But she couldn’t ignore her either. Not when she clearly needed her.

Meanwhile, Ethan watched the two sisters quietly. He knew Anna was a kind soul — too kind, sometimes. And Kathrine... he couldn’t understand why she insisted on hiding her accident from her family.

But he didn’t dwell on it. He had his own responsibilities to handle.

"I’ll ask my driver to bring your car to your house," Ethan said suddenly, drawing both their attention. He pulled out his phone and instructed his driver to retrieve it and take it to Kathrine’s place.

Since Anna had arrived so quickly, he assumed she had driven her own car.

"O-okay..." Anna said softly. She stepped forward to thank Ethan before he turned to leave.

When the door finally closed behind him, Anna blinked... then her eyes widened.

"I don’t have a car," she whispered, horrified.

"..."