Chapter 52 A ce That’s Not Home

Finished

Johnathan’s home didn’t match his outward demeanor. It wasn’t warm or inviting–it was spacious but cold, nearly indistinguishable from a model home. It bwas /bbig, with only traces of his presence scattered around

It was obvious that no guests ever came here. There weren’t even extra slippers prepared. Johnathan simply handed Sierra his own and walked in barefoot.

Sierra had assumed that when he said he’d provide a meal, he’d just order takeout. But when she saw him rolling up his sleeves after taking off his suit jacket, she brealized/b–he was going to cook himself.

“You can cook?”

bJohnathan /bnced at her. “Is bthat /bsurprising?”

Sierra nodded. “Very surprising

“Go sit and rest, or check out the books in the study. You might find something you like.”

“His suggestion tempted her, but she still felt a little awkward. “I can help.”

I don’t make sick people work. Next time, you cook bwhile /bI rest”

With that, he pushed her out of the kitchen.

Sierra’s fingers twitched slightly. Next time!

She shook her head to stop herself from overthinking and went to the study.

The bookshelves were filled with books–many of them chemistry and biology texts, some of which weren’t even avable on the market. Sierra’s eyes lit upb. /b

She gotpletely lost in them, only snapping back to reality when a knock came at the door.

Johnathan leaned against the frame. “Dinner’s bready /b

“Okay!”

She carefully closed the book and followed him to the dining area.

When she saw the meal on the table–four dishes and a soup that looked like they hade straight from ba /bhigh–end restaurant–her eyes widened.

“You made ball /bbthis/bb?/b”

“Not a single dish is fake.”

Johnathan badjusted /bhis sleeves as he spoke,

The motion caught Sierra’s eye, and before she realized it, she was looking at his bforearm/b.

It bwasn’t /bbwhat /bshe had imagined. She had assumed he’d have the lean, bslightly /bbfrail /bbarms /bof ba /bschr, but his were strong, well–defined. Even though he wasn’t flexing, the power beneath his bskin /bbwas /bevident.

And hisplexion bwasn’t /bthe pale shade of someone who spent all their time bindoors/b–it was a healthy tone. The fine hairs on bhis /barms were ba /bbit thick, giving him a rugged, untamed feel,pletely at bodds /bwith his usual refined demeanor.

As he set the table, his broad shoulders and slim waist moved with easeb, /bband /bhis lower btorso /blooked particrly solid and

bstrong/bb. /b

Maybe she wasn’t fully recovered yet, but Sierra suddenly felt a little warm. She quickly looked awayb, /bfocusing on the food instead.

Chapter 52 A ce That’s Not Home

Finished

The taste was exactly like something made by a high–end restaurant. Even the knife work and presentation were on par.

Johnathan sipped his soup and said tly. “Didn’t need to.”

Sierra nced at him. Maybe he didn’t even realize it, but when he bsaid /bthat, he radiated a quiet, effortless authority–like someone who was used to havingplete control.

The more she interacted with him, the less he seemed like the person he pretended to be. But she didn’t mind.

She grinned. “Mr. Johnathan, is there anything you can’t do?”

Johnathan thought about bit /bseriously, then nodded. “There is.”

Sierra bhad /bjust been joking, but when he actually answered, she got curious. “What is it?”

Johnathan looked at her and said in all seriousness, “Giving birth.”

Sierra blinked, then burst intoughter.

she hadn’t expected him to have a sense of humor–let alone one this dry.

When bshe /bughed, it was like all the shadows in her eyes disappeared. She looked warm, brightpletely different.

Johnathan watched her for a moment, then bsaid/b, “You shouldugh more. It suits you.”

The words caught her off guard.

For some reasonb, /bshe suddenly didn’t bdare /bmeet his eyes.

The air in the dining room grew oddly warm.

Then Johnathan’s phone rang. He bgave /bher ba /bbsmall /bnod before stepping away to answer it.

Sierra let out a slow breath

She pressed a bhand /bto her chest–her heartbeat felt a little off.

Shaking off the strange feeling, she focused bon /bher food.

Johnathan returned soon afterb, /band neither of them spoke. They just quietly ate their meal.

After they had nearly finished, Johnathan finally said, “I found the person you were looking for.

He paused for a moment before adding, “Do you want to go see them?”

Daphne’s family lived in the outskirts, in a runb–/bbdown /barea bwith /bmakeshift housing.

The conditions were worse than the Coleman family’s neighborhood.

Sierra hadn’t intended to trouble Johnathan any further, but he insisted.

He wouldn’t let her bgo /bto a bce /blike that balone/b.