Winifred ate her meal quietly, much like a rabbit, scooping the food with her spoon and chewing slowly from start to finish. It was a pleasure to watch her eat, and it even made one’s mouth water, to the point of wanting to snatch the cake from her hands to feed her personally.
After finishing the last piece of cake, Winifred belched softly. Normally, she never ate to the point of being stuffed because of her sensitive stomach; overeating caused her pain, so she was accustomed to eating until she was eighty percent full.
Today, however, she felt like she was under scrutiny by the man watching her, which made the meal feel like a punishment. Yet, as she continued to eat, she found the dishes to be very much to her liking. She had intended to only try one bite of the final dessert, not to finish it, but once she started, she couldn’t stop. It wasn’t very large, so she finished it in just a few bites.
She had planned to eat until she was eighty percent full, but now she felt overstuffed, her stomach slightly distended.
“I’m full now…” she announced.
Leland did not insist she finish everything.
“You’re full? Then stop eating.”
He tidied up the remaining dishes on the table. Despite having eaten her fill, Winifred still looked displeased, turning her face away to avoid seeing him, like a wild cat that had just been brought home, wary and defensive.
Leland asked, “How was the meal? Was it better than what Garrison makes?”
Winifred was surprised, her eyes widening slightly. “You made this?”
“Yes, I did.” They say the way to get the ones you love is satisfy their cravings-a sentiment Leland had believed in, but it had never worked with Winifred, despite his years of looking after her.
Now, she found this man even more incomprehensible and his intentions more inscrutable. Their unexpected meeting, his proactive contact under a threat to make her comply, and now, barging into her home without a word, not to harm her but to bring her a meal.
Winifred could hardly keep up with his logic.
“Do you like it?” Leland asked.
Winifred turned her gaze away, visibly displeased. “I don’t like it, and you’re not to bring it again.”
Leland smiled lightly. “You didn’t like it, yet you ate so much?”
A blush of annoyance spread across Winifred’s ears. How could he be so irritating? She wondered if she had wronged him in a past life to deserve such treatment. She didn’t owe him anything; why should she suffer this torment? It was utterly unfair!
“I didn’t want to eat it at all. If you hadn’t kept staring and threatening me, I wouldn’t have touched it!”
Though she had forgotten many things, her inherent stubbornness and pride remained intact. She no longer showed the fear she had before, acting recklessly bold.
“When you ate that last piece of dessert, I didn’t threaten you,” Leland pointed out, uninterested in sparing her pride.
Winifred’s face stiffened. Though reluctant to admit it, Leland’s cooking was indeed delicious, and tasty food could momentarily make one forget many troubles, causing her to lose herself in the flavors.
Moreover, she found Leland’s culinary skills strangely familiar, as if she had tasted them long ago, but she couldn’t remember when.
Her taste buds held memories, but her mind held no trace of this man.
Winifred was annoyed with herself, wishing she could hide in an inconspicuous corner.
“My cooking is at least better than Garrison’s, right?”
“No,” Winifred denied, her boldness growing as she realized Leland was unlikely to harm her, “I’ve finished the meal you brought. Can you leave now?”
“Are you kicking me out after you ate me cooking?”
“Wasn’t it you who came uninvited? What’s wrong with me sending you away?”
“Dare to talk to me like this, aren’t you afraid of me now?” Leland stood up.
Winifred still felt fear; she shuddered slightly as she realized again how dangerous her situation was.
“Sir, I don’t know you, and that night was an accident. As the victim, I will definitely not speak of what happened. Moreover, I already have a fiance who has proposed to me. We are going to get married soon. I will not be a stumbling block to you, nor will I threaten you in any way. Can you, out of your generosity, just forget what happened that night?” Winifred softened her voice, pleading, and as she spoke, her voice choked up. Her voice was naturally hoarse, which easily evoked sympathy when she begged.
But Leland was no ordinary man. Winifred had too many secrets, and he had many questions he wanted to ask-why she had plastic surgery, why her voice had changed, why she was involved with Garrison again, why she was marrying him… But now, all these questions were dispelled by Winifred’s few words.
He had been ready to overlook her earlier reference to “Garrison,” but now he felt compelled to care about it.
“He’s just your fiance. It’s hard to say if you can marry him.”
Winifred was stunned. Was he threatening her? Was he implying that he was going to ruin her wedding?
“You want me to forget that night, but I just can’t forget it,” Leland said as he approached Winifred, like a venomous snake in the jungle stalking its prey, ready to strike fatally.
“These days, I’ve been thinking about it day and night. I’m even somewhat grateful to the person who brought you to my bed that night.”
What nonsense, Winifred’s face turned sour.
Seeing the man come closer, Winifred couldn’t help but step back. She keenly sensed the man’s displeasure. Everything was fine just a moment ago, and suddenly he exploded with anger. Winifred pondered for a long time but couldn’t understand which part of her truthful words had angered him; his temper was as unpredictable as the recent weather.
Watching him approach, Winifred instinctively sensed danger. She hadn’t even reached him when she smelled his distinctive scent, taking her back to that night. Horrified, Winifred instinctively turned to run but was forcefully pulled back by the man grabbing her wrist.
Due to the inertia, she spun around and ended up in the man’s arms. The more Winifred struggled, the tighter he held her, as if she was bound by hemp rope, so tight she could barely breathe.
“Let go! Release me!” Winifred struggled desperately, her face flushing, her eyes wild with panic like those of a frightened rabbit.
“Move again, and I’ll continue what we started that night right here.”
His words made Winifred freeze instantly, her intuition telling her that if she didn’t obey, he would certainly do as he said.
Winifred stiffened like a wooden figure, only able to move her eyes. Her beautiful eyes were misty, pitiful, making someone even more inclined to act.