Chapter 398
Chapter 398:
His expression carried a hint of smugness as he went on, “Gabriela, looks like you owe me again p>
Her lips curved into a faint, grateful smile. “Thank you,” she said softly, her tone sincere. “And… I’m sorry about the other night p>
Just a few days earlier, she had hurled sharp words at him, yet here he was — no grudges, no hesitation, saving her once more.
Brenden brushed it off with a casual wave. “Don’t mention it p>
As he turned back to the kitchen, he picked up the pot of pasta he had just cooked. Grabbing it barehanded, he yelped when the heat bit into his skin.
The sight made Gabriela stifle a laugh.
She caught his wrist, tugging him toward the sink to run cool water over the burn, then deftly picked up the pot herself with gloves.
Brenden didn’t even bother tending to his hand. Instead, he leaned close with a playful grin. “You’re in luck — you just became the first person ever to taste something I’ve cooked in my life p>
𝗥e𝘢𝘥 𝖿𝘳𝘦e n𝘰𝗏e𝗅ѕ o𝗻
He wore a self-satisfied smirk, obviously fishing for compliments.
Gabriela humored him with a light smile. “Then I guess I’m about to taste something special. Thank you p>
When she lifted the lid, a sharp burnt odor rushed out.
The pasta was a gloopy disaster, but the real nightmare was waiting underneath — a solid, charcoal-like sheet of what used to be sauce.
Brenden’s grin froze on his face. Rubbing the back of his head, he muttered sheepishly, “I swear I stood right there the whole time. How did it still burn p>
Gabriela bit back a laugh, shaking her head at his logic.
She emptied the ruined pasta, rinsed the pot clean, and glanced at him with a teasing smile. “Any pasta left? I’ll cook something for myself p>
“Yeah, of course,” Brenden responded right away. “Why not rest a bit more? Don’t trouble yourself with cooking. I’ll order food delivery for you p>
Gabriela smiled. “Don’t worry about me. I’m okay, really p>
For the first time, she found Brenden entertaining. If he didn’t spend his time chasing after every pretty face, he might actually be a decent man.
Then she moved to the stove, pulling out ingredients to make pasta.
Brenden lingered nearby like a restless shadow, watching her every move. “I’m starving too,” he said with a hopeful grin. “Mind making enough for me as well p>
“Sure thing p>
Gabriela quickly whipped up two steaming plates of pasta. The fragrance filled the kitchen.
When she set Brenden’s plate down, her hand almost moved on instinct to pluck out the greens, but she caught herself — Brenden wasn’t Wesley, and he never fussed over such details.
While she hesitated, Brenden was already there, balancing both plates and carrying them to the table with a careless grin.
He dug in immediately, savoring the rich aroma as his gaze kept straying across the table.
Her skin looked luminous under the light, the pale fabric of her dress making her appear even more delicate, her eyes bright and unguarded, her long dark hair slipping down over her shoulders.
Even sitting quietly with her fork poised, she stirred something restless in him.
Trying to mask the way his pulse quickened, Brenden leaned back and said with an easy smile, “You know, this really is the first time I’ve cooked anything, Gabriela. Don’t laugh at me for it p>