Day by day, week by week passed without any hurdles. Darwin had every reason to be grateful; Veronica hadn’t complained about anything strange up to this moment. Even when her pregnancy had entered the latter half of the final trimester, Veronica approached it with ease and enjoyment. There was no longer a sense of boredom, weariness, or monotony, even though she spent most of her time at home.
Darwin felt the same way. He no longer complained of feeling tired, dizzy, or nauseous due to strong smells. His only desire was to taste some specific dishes, and with each passing day, that desire grew, like it did this morning.
“Darling, what are you cooking? I find it quite intriguing. Renata is here, you know. Why don’t you ask her to cook instead?” Veronica wondered, currently seated in the dining room. Darwin had just finished his cooking ritual and was now serving the freshly prepared meal.
Yes, Darwin had cooked it himself. Lately, he had been acting strangely, often preparing meals either heavy or snacks for him to enjoy with Veronica. It had its advantages; Veronica got to savor new dishes Darwin served, like this morning.
“I just made chicken porridge with chicken broth, Ve. A pretty ordinary dish, really. It’s just that I wanted to make it and season it myself. I couldn’t sleep all night because I kept thinking about preparing this meal.”
Veronica shook her head in disbelief. Her husband’s recent behavior was quite peculiar. He couldn’t stop thinking about cooking. Was it really that important?
“Well, couldn’t you have cooked it a little later? You might end up running late for work.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t have a packed schedule today. So, I can go to the office a bit late,” Darwin replied, offering a spoon for Veronica to taste the meal he had prepared.
“But as a manager, you should set a good example too. You tell your employees to arrive on time, but if the boss himself is often late, your employees might protest.”
“It’s not like this every day, dear. Besides, I won’t be too late today,” he defended himself. “Anyway, give the dish a try first. I’m sure it’s just as delicious as my other dishes.”
Veronica nodded, accepting the spoon Darwin offered and immediately scooped up the porridge in front of her into her mouth. She began to chew, savoring the flavors that emerged, and nodded with delight. It seemed that what her husband had cooked was indeed up to her expectations.
“It’s delicious,” she praised honestly. “You should consider a career change and become a chef. Let your hidden talent shine.”
Darwin laughed. But what Veronica said was true. Cooking was actually something he enjoyed. Moreover, in the Walters family, all the grandchildren were taught to have cooking skills. Additionally, when he used to live in Korea, Darwin had become accustomed to living independently, which further honed his culinary skills. When he returned to Indonesia, his busy schedule left no time for him to indulge in his hobby.
“Don’t get me wrong, Kennedy and I actually had plans to open a restaurant together.”
“Oh, really?” Veronica was surprised. She hadn’t expected her husband to have seriously considered realizing his hidden passion. “Can Kennedy cook too?” she asked, curious.
“Not just Kennedy. Almost all of the Walters descendants are required to have cooking skills. It’s considered a basic skill alongside running the family business. And among all of us, do you want to know who’s the best?”
“Who?” Veronica inquired.
“Randy is the best,” Darwin revealed, making Veronica incredulous.
“Seriously?”
Darwin nodded.
“Yes, dear. Among us, Randy excels in several areas. I admit he can be annoying, but he has many talents,” he explained, leaving Veronica impressed.
“Yeah, I remember when we were in college, a lot of people looked up to Randy because besides being academically gifted, he was also talented in various activities.”
“Not just that,” Darwin interjected with a serious expression. “Believe me, among us, he’s the one with a unique talent that can’t be imitated.”
“What talent?” Veronica asked, curious.
“The talent for being a ladies’ man. That’s why he has so many girlfriends and changes them frequently. He’s really good at charming other people’s daughters.”
Veronica burst into laughter. She had been listening attentively, but her husband’s statement had taken an unexpected turn.
“I was listening seriously too! But, by the way, if you have above-average cooking skills, why not open a real restaurant?”
“Aunt Liliana doesn’t agree. She says that if Kennedy changes her career and becomes a chef, then who will manage Palma Palace? Kennedy has been groomed to be a leader from birth.”
“That’s such a shame, isn’t it? But if you want to open a restaurant, I support you. I can help you find a location for your business and start this new venture.”
Darwin smiled. He was pleased to see his wife being supportive and enthusiastic about what he had just shared.
“We’ll think about it carefully. Starting a business isn’t something to be taken lightly. We need to plan it out thoroughly to avoid any missteps.”
Veronica agreed. As a businesswoman, everything needed careful consideration. Decisions couldn’t be made hastily, as they could lead to failure down the road.
“Are you going out with Luna today?” Darwin asked during their meal. He knew that Kennedy’s wife wanted to take Veronica out for a day.
“Yes,” Veronica nodded. “I want to buy some baby items and supplies that I didn’t get last time.”
“Do you want me to drop you off?”
Veronica shook her head. Besides not wanting to inconvenience her husband and disrupt his work schedule, she also wanted to spend some quality time without the presence of men.
“No need, dear. Luna will pick me up here. Don’t worry. I won’t be out too late. I promise I’ll be home before you finish work.”
Darwin nodded in agreement. After finishing breakfast, he prepared to head to work, while Veronica got ready as well.