Jenna rubbed her forehead. “Ouch, be gentle.”
She rolled her eyes. “Can’t a sister show some concern for her elder sister?”
“You’re just worrying for nothing,” Sylvia glanced at her and continued drinking water.
She squinted her beautiful almond-shaped eyes and couldn’t help but rub her slightly sore waist again.
That man, acting like he hadn’t eaten in centuries, couldn’t he be a bit gentler?
*
The bright moon silently climbed up the treetops, its light streaming into the room through the transparent glass. The woman’s eyelash-like wings fluttered slightly as she slowly opened her watery eyes, frowning slightly as she looked around.
It seemed she had picked up Jaime from school and then fallen asleep after returning home.
Had she slept until now?
She checked the time; it was almost seven o’clock.
Damn!
She remembered falling asleep on the sofa, so how did she end up in the bedroom?
She got out of bed and went straight to the kitchen. It was so late; who knew how hungry the little guy was by now.
Opening the fridge, she saw an array of ingredients. She was momentarily stunned; she didn’t remember buying any groceries!
As she wondered about this, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her slender waist from behind, pulling her into a solid embrace. The man nuzzled her neck, his warm breath tickling her sensitive ear, sending a shiver down her spine.
Unable to break free from the man’s grip, Evie could only let him hold her tightly.
“Jasper, let me go. The child must be hungry. Let me make something to eat.” Evie blushed as she caught the man’s clean scent, gripping his sleeve and instinctively pushing against his arm.
“You silly girl, you didn’t even look at the dining room after waking up.” Jasper looked at the person in his arms with both love and pity, unable to resist wanting to kiss her.
Earlier, he had seen a drowsy Evie walk past the dining room and head straight for the kitchen.
He kissed the corner of her lips as he finished speaking.
Evie quickly turned around and looked at the dining room. She was stunned.
On the dining table was a cutting board with flour on it, a rolling pin, and a bowl with a lump of dough inside.
This…
She was dumbfounded.
Looking at Jasper in confusion, she asked, “What’s all this for?”
Jaime had flour on his nose and was holding a mini rolling pin, diligently rolling out dumpling skins.
Hearing Evie’s voice, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Mom, let’s have dumplings tonight. Dad and I don’t know how to make the filling; we’re waiting for you!”
Evie was shocked to see the dough. “So… you made this dough? You know how to make dough?”
Jasper nodded, smiling at her. “I watched a video to learn. I was about to look up another video on making dumpling filling when you woke up.”
Evie raised her head to meet his gaze, biting her lip to suppress her shyness. She lifted her head and kissed him on the lips. “You’re amazing. I’ll go make the filling now.”
Jasper smiled and whispered in her ear, “I’d rather you praise me in bed.”
Evie blushed and pushed him away. “The child is still here!”
Jasper glanced at Jaime, who was focused on rolling out dumpling skins, and bit Evie’s red lips. “He’s not paying any attention to us.”
Evie glared at him angrily. “We need to set an example! Go roll out the skins; I’ll make the filling.”
She pushed him out of the kitchen and opened the fridge to find celery, pork, green onions, and ginger.
She minced the pork into ground meat and chopped the other ingredients finely before adding some seasoning and sesame oil.
She quickly brought out the dumpling filling. When she saw the dumpling skins they had rolled out, she was shocked.
The oddly shaped skins included triangles, hearts, and unidentifiable shapes… but no circles…
Most were oval-shaped.
They had really tried their best.
But Evie didn’t laugh at them. Instead, she picked up a dumpling skin and began teaching Jaime how to wrap dumplings.
Jasper listened attentively too. The family of three happily made dumplings together.
By the time they finished wrapping the dumplings, it was already past eight o’clock in the evening.
“Alright, I’ll cook the dumplings now. You two can rest on the sofa for a while.” Evie picked up the tray of dumplings. “We’re having dinner quite late tonight. Jaime, are you hungry?”
Jaime’s flour-covered face lit up with a bright smile. “I can’t wait to eat the dumplings we made ourselves.”
“Haha.” Evie laughed, glancing at Jaime’s oddly shaped dumplings that matched his misshapen skins.
The water quickly boiled. Jaime and Jasper had already washed their hands, and Jasper had made a sour soup.
“Sour soup dumplings are the best.”
Jaime quickly held up his small bowl. “Give me some too.”
In their previous home, everything was prepared by servants and maids.
He had never experienced cooking with adults like this before. He liked this feeling and atmosphere.
Eating the dumplings they made themselves tasted especially good.
“They’re delicious.”
“Really tasty.” Jaime smiled as he put another dumpling into his mouth.
“How about we make steamed buns after school tomorrow?” Evie widened her eyes. “I’ll buy some yeast powder from the supermarket. We still have preserved meat at home; we can make preserved meat buns-they’re delicious.”
Jaime’s eyes lit up with anticipation. “Okay!”
In his little heart, he thought this might be what home feels like.
It was like a light piercing through the darkness of dawn, shining before him.
His heart, filled with hatred, found a moment of warmth.
After dinner, Jasper washed the dishes and bathed Jaime before putting him to bed. Only then did he return to their room.
Evie had just come out of the bathroom. “Is the child asleep?”
Jasper nodded and pounced on her, pulling her tightly into his arms and nuzzling her pert little nose. Her faint fragrance filled his senses.
He couldn’t help but take a deep breath, looking at her blushing face. “Honey, let’s do what we should be doing.”
He kissed her as he spoke, entwining with her until she clung weakly to his neck.
The passionate kiss stopped just before they were out of breath. She leaned weakly against his chest, panting softly.
Her soft voice floated out of her mouth, making him involuntarily tighten his arms around her. His lips left tender kisses on her forehead, eyebrows, and nose.
She bit her swollen lip and glared at him. “We should sleep now; we have to take the child to school early tomorrow morning. If you continue, I won’t be able to get up.”
Last night he had been insatiable, leaving her exhausted. She had fallen asleep as soon as she picked up their child in the evening.
His grip on her waist loosened.
“Hehe.” His deep magnetic laughter instantly ignited Evie’s embarrassment and anger.
She glared at him continuously laughing softly. “You… you better close your eyes and sleep.”
Little did she know that she looked like an angry kitten with no real threat. Her eyes inadvertently showed a hint of charm, and her tone carried a touch of coquettishness that made Jasper want to hold her tightly and kiss her all over.
His eyes were filled with endless tenderness and affection. “Comfortable?”
Jasper thought about how busy she had been in the kitchen during dinner and how they had shared that warm family feeling together.
A warm current flowed through his heart, softening his usually stern features with joy.
Thinking about her freshly bathed figure with its alluring curves made him want to cherish her even more.
His long fingers gently slid over her smooth skin, making Evie shiver sensitively. The tingling sensation made her glare at him again. “You… stop saying things like that.”
It was too embarrassing.
Jasper held her tightly in his arms, his lips lingering on her neck…
“Honey, be good…”
Early in the morning, Mollie sighed as she looked at the snow outside the window. “It’s snowing again.”
Today was her prenatal checkup day. When she found out she was pregnant last time, she was one month along; now it was time for another checkup.
Another month had passed without realizing it; she was now two months pregnant.
Sylvia and Jenna had also been in the transplant chamber for almost two months.
“Mom, when will Sylvia and Jenna be out of the chamber? I read online that some people recover quickly and can come out in a month.” Mollie couldn’t help but ask Queena during breakfast.
“Soon. Probably in a few days.” Queena took a sip of soup. “Coming out of the chamber is just the first step in treatment; there will be many more anti-rejection treatments and other therapies afterward. They might still need to stay in the hospital.”
“Hopefully they can be discharged soon.” Clare checked the time. “Honey, it’s time for your checkup.” He glanced at the snow outside; large flakes were falling steadily. “Let’s go while there’s still little snow on the ground.”
“Remember to talk to Sylvia while you’re at the hospital,” Queena instructed as she handed over a gift box of peace apples prepared by a servant. “Tomorrow is Christmas Eve; take these to Sylvia and also give some to the doctors and nurses.”
“Mom, you’re so thoughtful.” Clare nodded. “I’ll have them disinfected before giving them out.”
“Alright then, off you go.”
At the hospital, Sylvia was surprised when she received peace apples from a nurse. “Time flies!”
“Dr. Sylvia, Merry Christmas Eve,” said the nurse with a smile. “Your family prepared these for everyone. These are for you and Jenna. We’re all grateful to you two!”