NovelEnglishChapter 66
| made an excuse and ducked out of the backyard.
Meanwhile, in the spacious kitchen, Cecilia was in a tizzy, scrambling to get the ingredients ready.
When she saw me, it was like | was her knight in shining armor. “Xaviera, what am | gonna do? My cooking skills
are so-so at best.”
took a look at the chaotic countertop, “so-so” was an understatement - it was a hot mess..
| tied on an apron and said, “Better lethandle it.”
| was no master chef, but whipping up a few of Hilary's favorite home-cooked dishes was a piece of cake for me.
Plus, I'd spent a good two years cooking for Hogan - | knew exactly when the meal was done, and whether to
hold back on the spring onions or skip the ginger. | had their preferences down
toaT
In less than half an hour, I had five dishes and a soup ready to go. The carp soup was one of Hogan's favorite
stomach-friendly brews from the ingredients we had on hand, simmering
away.
Hilary's stiff expression finally softened a bit as she looked at the spread on the table.
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She didn’t even realize it was my handiwork.
For a moment, | didn’t know whether to feel relieved or sad.
When she was hospitalized with a heart attack, | was in charge of her meals, every single day for over a month.
“Mrs. Hilary, give it a try,” Cecilia said enthusiastically, passing Hilary the utensils, “see if it's to your liking.”
“Hold on, Hogan's still on his way.”
“Hogan's coming back too?” Cecilia's eyes were brimming with anticipation.
Speak of the devil, Hogan walked in.
Seeing the three of us, he didn’t seem surprised; he must've caught wind of it beforehand.
Cecilia tiptoed over with a beaming smile, “Hogan, | cooked tonight, cand taste my culinary magic.”
Hogan took the seat of honor.
With Hilary, the elder, on his left, and Cecilia on his right, dishing up enthusiastically, she was the picture of a
considerate young wife-to-be.
| was the odd one out.
But the mother and son seemed to approve of Cecilia's “culinary skills,” tucking in with gusto.
When the carp soup was served. Cecilia ladled out a big bowl for Hogan. He took a sip and couldn’t help but
frown.
“What's up, Hogan?”
Hilary noticed the commotion and glanced at the carp soup, saying coldly. “Hogan can’t stand ginger. Don’t you
know that as his girlfriend?”
The accusatory tone, the displeased look.
Cecilia was dumbfounded, her face a picture of shock as she looked at me.
Of course, | knew Hogan couldn’t stand ginger. So | used to use lemon juice to get rid of the fishy smell when |
made this dish, but not today.
With an apologetic tone, | said, “Sorry, Mrs. Hilary, I'm the one who added the ginger.”
Hilary stared atin disbelief, “Xaviera?”
In her mind, | was probably someone who treated Hogan's preferences as gospel.
| drooped my eyelids, feigning innocence.
Out of the corner of my eye, | caught the hint of a smirk on Cecilia's lips.
Little did she know, just tonight's act wasn’t enough. At the right time, they still needed me, the faux ex, to
throw things into sharp relief.
The ginger was a deliberate move on my part.
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After dinner, Cecilia stayed behind to play the role of the good girlfriend, while | made sexcuse to high-tail it
out of there.
By the t| made it back to my place, it was dead quiet. | took off my mask of pretense and lay silently in bed.
| thought, after tonight's , Hogan should be even less inclined to castaside, right?
Out of the blue, my phone started to ring.
When | saw the caller ID, my eyebrows shot up.
Hogan's call.
At this hour, shouldn't he be with Ms. Irwin?
With a mix of confusion and nervousness, | answered the call.
“Mr. Zade.”
“Nice performance tonight,” the man’s voice was husky, “what kind of reward are you looking
Chapter 66
for?”
Caught off guard, | paused for a few seconds before replying, “It was nothing, Mr. Zade. You
decide.”
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