After Mr. Kane left, Kayden didn’t bother making things difficult for Annie and her daughter any further. To him, they weren’t even worth the effort. They were the type of people who envied others’ success and took advantage wherever they could. But such people rarely got far in life, and Kayden saw no need to waste his energy on them.
By now, they had likely realized that Felicity was not someone they could afford to provoke. With that lesson learned, they wouldn’t dare to cause trouble again.
Once everyone had left, only Kayden and Felicity’s family remained.
The once-bustling noodle shop fell into silence.
Suddenly, Felicity’s mother dropped to her knees before Kayden with a thud, tears streaming down her face.
“Thank you, young man! Thank you for being so kind to our Felicity. Thank you, thank you!” she cried.
“Madam, please get up,” Kayden said, reaching out to support her.
Felicity’s mother shook her head, refusing his help. “Our Felicity has had such a hard life. My greatest regret is that I couldn’t give her a normal face. Wherever she goes, people mock her, and she’s lived her life in constant shame. I’ve always worried about what would happen to her after I’m gone. What if someone bullies her? What if she has no one to protect her?”
Her voice broke as she continued. “You’re such a good person. You didn’t just save me-you gave Felicity a new life. Thank you. This is the least I can do.”
“Madam, no one will bully Felicity now. No one will look down on her or reject her anymore. Please, stand up,” Kayden said gently as he helped her to her feet.
Felicity’s story was indeed one of misfortune. Her unusual face had made her a target for ridicule wherever she went. Only those who had endured such humiliation could understand the pain of living under constant judgment.
Every glance felt like a dagger. Every stare was a reminder of her difference.
Felicity’s mother understood better than anyone what this transformation meant for her daughter. To Felicity, this wasn’t just a new face-it was a new beginning. A chance to start over.
Without the scar, Felicity could finally live with confidence and joy.
After she expressed her gratitude to Kayden, Felicity’s mother insisted on cooking a good meal to thank him.
Kayden had become their family’s greatest benefactor. First, he had saved Felicity’s mother at Vernon Hospital. And now, he had given Felicity a second chance at life. So, when Felicity’s mother offered to cook, Kayden didn’t refuse. He wasn’t in any rush to leave.
Once she left to buy groceries, only Kayden and Felicity remained in the noodle shop.
Felicity looked at him, her eyes brimming with emotion. “Thank you, Kayden. Thank you!”
She struggled to find the words to express her gratitude. She had thought Kayden’s promise to remove her scar was nothing more than a joke. She had never imagined it would become a reality.
For Felicity, this was the most wonderful thing that had ever happened.
Not even in her wildest dreams had she dared to hope for this day.
Her new face was nothing short of a miracle-a rebirth.
Kayden reached out and playfully tapped Felicity’s nose. “Didn’t I promise you? If I say I’ll do something, you can be sure I’ll make it happen.”
Felicity bit her lip, lowering her head even further. Her voice trembled as she whispered, “You’re so good to me.”
Kayden smiled but said nothing. Instead, he walked over to the stove and began preparing noodles with the ingredients already in the shop.
When Felicity saw him in the kitchen, she exclaimed in surprise, “What are you doing? Let me, let me!”
“I’m teaching you how to make noodles,” he replied.
Evening
At the dinner table, three people sat together-a man and two women.
The older woman kept piling food onto Kayden’s plate, her hospitality evident in every gesture.
Kayden hadn’t experienced this kind of warmth in a long time. Sitting with Felicity and her mother, he felt a sense of peace. The scene resembled a family meal, full of quiet comfort and heartfelt connection.
Though Felicity’s life had been filled with hardship, she was fortunate to have a mother who had never abandoned her. Her mother’s unconditional love had been her anchor. Without it, Felicity might not have survived.
In that sense, Felicity was enviable. At least she had a mother who truly cared for her.
“This is so delicious!” Felicity suddenly exclaimed, looking at Kayden in amazement. “I can’t believe you can make noodles this good. Compared to yours, the bowl I made for you earlier must have been awful!”
Indeed, there was no comparison. Felicity’s noodles were edible, but Kayden’s were a masterpiece.
“They were fine,” Kayden replied casually.
His response made Felicity laugh in embarrassment. The difference in their cooking skills was obvious.
“Teach me how to make noodles like this! I could sell them, you know? If I sold noodles this good, business would be booming. I’ve never tasted anything so amazing!”
“Of course,” Kayden said with a nod.
“That’s great! I’ll sell these noodles, and if business does well, I’ll give you half the profits!” Felicity said excitedly.
“There’s no need for that,” Kayden replied.
“But you taught me! It’s only fair to share the profits with you.”
Felicity’s newfound confidence shone through as she spoke. Though she still had a habit of covering her face, she quickly remembered that she no longer needed to. With a smile, she dropped her hand.
“Mom, don’t you think it’s fair to give Kayden half the profits?” Felicity asked.
Her mother, delighted to see her daughter so happy, laughed and replied, “Of course it’s fair. How could it not be?”
As the two women chatted, Felicity’s mother suddenly changed the subject. “By the way,” she said, turning to Kayden, “are you from Vernon?”
Kayden hesitated, then shook his head. “No,” he said.
In truth, he was from Vernon. As the heir of the Scott family, he carried their bloodline. But ever since that incident fifteen years ago, he no longer considered himself one of them.
“You don’t look like someone from the countryside,” Felicity’s mother observed. “What do you do for a living? Are you a doctor?”
Kayden thought for a moment before replying, “You could say that.”
Her expression softened. “Doctors are wonderful. It’s a noble profession,” she said.
“By the way, how are your parents? Are they in good health?”
Kayden shook his head. “They passed away a long time ago,” he said quietly.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to pry,” she said apologetically.
Kayden smiled gently. “It’s okay. It’s all in the past.”
“Do you have any siblings?” she asked.
“No,” Kayden replied.
“I see,” Felicity’s mother murmured, as if she were piecing together a puzzle.
After a moment, she looked at him and asked, “If you and Felicity were together, would you move to the city? Or would you stay here with us?”