Severo raised a noncommittal eyebrow, put his palm on her back and pushed her towards the sink, where he put the kitchen knife aside and then took her hands and began to wash them.
This sequence of his actions was somewhat unexpected, and Allyce was paralysed, completely passive and swept away by him.
“What are you doing?” Didn’t this man say he wanted to eat fish and onions? What was the point of helping him wash his hands?
However, it seemed a long time since Severo had done something so intimate with her.
Without a word, Severo washed his hands and took a towel to wipe them, as if he were coddling a small child.
Allyce blushed for no apparent reason and withdrew her hand as soon as Severo wiped it away.
Severo said nothing to her gesture, washed his hands and picked up the helicopter and stood in front of her with his hands in the air.
Allyce froze for a long moment before realising that Severo was asking her to help him tie his apron.
Are you going to cook?
Allyce untied the apron she was wearing and bent down to tie it.
Severo looked at her, submissively allowing her to tie him up.
Allyce reached around his waist with both hands to buckle a live buckle behind him, and before he could withdraw his hand, he looked up to see Severo staring at her with a burning gaze.
Allyce, slightly surprised, withdrew her hands and began to feel a little strange inside.
“What’s wrong with you?” She hesitated, but asked the question anyway.
Lately he’s been grumpy, and even when there are moments of respite, it’s only after she does something to his liking that he gets a little grumpier.
He was on the phone earlier, clearly talking about having his fish and chives, and then had to take care of it as soon as he got back.
It had been a long time since I had a meal cooked by Severo and a long time since I had seen him cook.
The way he cooks is more fascinating than the way he works in earnest. The people.
What’s more, the way she cooks is just for her.
With a glance at her, Severo turned away and went back to what he hadn’t finished before, chopping the onions.
Allyce didn’t come out either, she just stood next to him and watched him cut.
She rested her two small hands on the runner and tilted her head slightly to one side, watching him chop the vegetables and glancing at his face from time to time.
Severo finished chopping the shallots and raised his head to look at her, frowning slightly: “Get out of the way.
Allyce sniffed, discontent quickly building in her eyes, and with a small grunt, she turned and walked out.
Now it was Severo’s turn to be surprised.
Really out?
Only, a few minutes later, Allyce came back in, but with one more chair in hand.
Seeing Severo looking at her sullenly, Allyce smiled harmlessly, “I’ll sit in the back, out of your way, and talk to you, bored of cooking alone …”
There was a pleasant note in his smile, and his white face seemed tinged with a light that shook his eyes.
Severo looked away and continued cooking in silence.
Victorino says he’s a bit of a psychopath now, but he still remembers Allyce’s favourite dishes and flavours.
Allyce thought Severo was a bit strange today.
Although he hadn’t paid much attention to her since he came in, she couldn’t sense that he was angry, rather she could sense his loss.
Yes, there is a strong wave of losses.
What was missing? Wasn’t it a social occasion?
In the middle of a social function, he called her to make fish and chives, only for him to return before she finished and take over to help her cook.
In this way, he reminds Allyce of the days when they were both at Cloud Cit.
Allyce sat behind him and looked at his broad back, searching for words to say, “You haven’t eaten at the restaurant?
This time, Severo finally paid attention.
“Hmm.”
It was enough to make Allyce feel happy, even if it was only a weak response.
Severo did not look at her expression again, but he could sense her happiness.
His hand movements slowed, his brow furrowed and his eyes darkened.
I don’t know if it was Allyce’s fault, but Severo’s food was particularly slow and took a long time to cook, as if he was deliberately dragging his feet.
Although Allyce was puzzled, she knew that if she asked him directly, she would not be able to ask him anything, so she simply did not ask any more questions.
Anyway, now he is not supposed to speculate with a normal heart when he does things.
Allyce watched his back, his thoughts spinning, but not forgetting to send a message to Xabat and Victorino to tell them that Severo had returned.
…
The next day, just after Allyce and Severo arrived at the office, they received a call from Victorino.
Victorino didn’t bother to pay me any compliments either and greeted me with a “I may have misjudged the gentleman’s situation a bit”.
When it comes to Severo, Allyce dares not let up.
He paused in his paper-sorting and asked her aloud, “How’s that?
He looked through the glass door in the direction of Severo’s desk; Severo had just gone to the bathroom and had not yet come out.
After making sure that Severo would not come out for a while, Allyce returned to his seat and continued to listen to Victorino.
“There is no history of mental illness in the Solares family, and this time I was wrong”. Victorino’s voice was soft and austere, not at all strange.
“What?”
Allyce should be happy and surprised to hear this news, but her doubts are stronger.
She loved Severo better than anyone, but she knew exactly what Victorino was like.
He was strict and stereotypical, and told him that Severo could have a hereditary psychotic episode, if not with ten per cent certainty, then with eighty per cent.
How can it be that after a . night, and deny it completely?
“Let’s talk about something in person.” Allyce had doubts in the back of her mind and wanted to talk to him in person.
Victorino did not refuse: “I happen to have something to do with the gentleman, and I will come at noon”.
When he finished, he hung up the phone.
From the beginning to the end of the call, Victorino behaved normally, nothing unusual, but Allyce felt strange inside.
Knock, knock!
The sound of fingers clicking on the desk interrupted Allyce’s thoughts.
When she looked up abruptly, she saw Severo standing in front of her.
“You … are out.” Allyce hurried to her feet.
Faced with Severo, she has the illusion that he sees through her, so, although she has not said anything, she vindicates herself with the phone call she has just received from Victorino.
Severo swept her lightly, his arm outstretched, his long fingers outstretched: “That file, I need it right now, order it and bring it to me now.”
“All right, right now.” Allyce nodded repeatedly.
Severo turned to leave, and suddenly turned to Allyce.
Allyce had lowered her head and was carefully sorting through the document he had just pointed out.
He stood still for a few seconds, clouds in his dark eyes. The rain fell.