It had been so ti since Daniel left, yet his words kept echoing in Anna’s ears.
"Just what in the world did he eat this morning? How can a cold-hearted man suddenly turn flirty?"
Anna muttered under her breath, still reeling from what Daniel had said—and worse, how for one fleeting mont she had actually believed he might make move on it.
"Argh... Anna, don’t you dare let your mind wander!" She slapped her cheeks lightly, as if she could beat the thought out of herself. "That devil is purposely trying to distract you with his strange behavior. Don’t get swayed."
But even as her skin flushed red, his words lingered, refusing to fade.
"No, I can’t keep going like this. I need to warm up a little," Anna grumbled, stretching her arms—only to wince when a sharp sting shot through her hand.
"Ah—what in the world..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes fell on the wound.
She had bandaged it in ti, but the pain was still there, throbbing as a constant reminder.
"Why did you have to land so hard, Anna?" she scolded herself, glaring at her palm. But as quickly as her irritation sparked, it dimd with a single thought—she had saved a life today.
Her expression softened. "I just hope he doesn’t let go of his mother’s hand again," she whispered with a sigh, slumping back against the bed.
It had been a rollercoaster of a day. From Rosiline confronting her first thing in the morning, to almost getting into an accident, to Ethan—
Her breath caught as soon as his na crossed her mind.
It was shocking enough to see him witness her saving the boy. But what unsettled her even more was how thoughtful he’d been afterward. Thoughtful in a way soone else had never managed to be.
"Never mind," Anna muttered, shaking her head. "I won’t let anyone ruin my mood."
But her mind betrayed her, drifting again—this ti back to Daniel.
The mory of him tending to her wound was confusing, almost surreal. How could Daniel Clafford, of all people, soften his heart for her? And yet... he had.
The way he had carefully cleaned her hand, his touch unexpectedly tender despite the sharpness of his words—it stirred sothing in her chest she didn’t want to na. His scolding, the mix of irritation and concern, reminded her of soone she had longed for since childhood.
Her mother.
Because for so long, Anna had lacked even the most basic kind of care.
Anna exhaled shakily, trying to brush away the heaviness in her chest.
"Why are you suddenly being nice to , Daniel?" she muttered under her breath. "You never were when I needed it. And now... now that I’ve already given up, you start acting so—obnoxious."
She shook her head, unwilling to linger on the thought.
"I really need to do sothing to clear my head. I can’t keep going like this," Anna muttered, forcing her resolve as she strode out of her room. Determination carried her straight to the kitchen.
***
Inside, Mariam and Kira were busy with preparations when Anna suddenly stord in.
"Madam, what brings you here? Do you need sothing?" Mariam asked anxiously, pausing in her work.
Anna glanced around at the dishes laid out, the scent of spices already filling the air. "Mariam, clear the way. I’ll be cooking dinner tonight."
Mariam nearly choked on her words. Beside her, Kira froze, then let out a derisive scoff. Setting her knife aside, she stepped forward with a mocking tilt of her head.
"Madam, this isn’t sothing you can do. I doubt you’ve even lifted a glass of water yourself." Her tone dripped with disdain, eyes narrowing as if Anna had completely lost her mind after last night’s drinking.
Anna folded her arms across her chest and t her glare with defiance. "Who said it’s sothing I can’t do?"
Kira’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes blazing. "Madam, we don’t want Master to be upset with us. He won’t like it if we allow you to cook."
Anna’s eyes hardened, her words cutting like a whip. "And who is he to stop ? Did he forget I’m his wife? And you—" she tilted her chin toward Kira, "—you’re the one who should obey ."
The sharpness of her tone cracked the mask of politeness from Kira’s face. Her lips twitched as her fists curled, rage simring in her eyes.
Before the tension could boil over, Mariam quickly stepped in. "Madam, if that’s what you want, then allow to help you."
Kira turned to her aunt with a sneer. This old woman—always taking her side.
Anna’s expression softened as she looked at Mariam. "Only you, Mariam. I don’t want your niece here."
Kira’s breath caught. Stunned, humiliated, her jaw clenched so tight it ached. Anna’s smirk only deepened the sting. Without another word, Kira spun on her heel and stord out of the kitchen.
Mariam sighed softly before turning back to Anna.
"Is she always that furious, or did I say sothing wrong?" Anna pouted, then quickly busied herself with the counter.
Mariam could only shake her head and step closer to assist.
Out in the garden, Kira stomped across the path, her nails digging into her palms. Rage seethed in her veins, her jaw rigid.
"How dare she talk to like that? Just because she’s the wife doesn’t make her the mistress of this house."
Fury blazed in her eyes, hotter than ever. Anna had defied her not once, but twice—and this ti, she hadn’t even bothered to hide it.
This was no longer about pride. It was about putting Anna in her place.
"You think you’re smarter, Anna," Kira hissed under her breath, her lips twitching as her eyes darkened with malice. "But I—Kira—will prove you wrong." A wicked thought sparked in her mind, and a slow, sinister smile curved her lips.
***
By the ti the sun dipped low, Daniel returned ho. The usual hush of the mansion greeted him—until sothing unusual caught his attention.
His steps slowed, halting entirely at the sight of staff crowded near the kitchen entrance, their whispers buzzing like bees.
"Woah... Madam is so cool. Look how skillfully she’s handling that knife," one maid gasped, her eyes wide.
"I never thought soone from such a high-class family would actually know how to cook," another muttered in awe.
"Damn, the aroma... it’s mouthwatering," a third sighed, her stomach growling audibly.
Daniel’s brows drew together, irritation flashing across his face. But then a word reached his ears—Madam.
Without realizing it, his legs carried him toward the commotion.
"I never thought Madam would be so thoughtful as to prepare dinner for the Master," one staff mber whispered, admiration in her voice.
Daniel froze for half a second. ’What? She’s preparing dinner for ?’
The thought made his chest stir unexpectedly, but he quickly brushed it off. ’Ridiculous. Anna can’t even boil water. Does she even know how to hold a knife? He scoffed inwardly, lengthening his stride.’
"She’s going to set the kitchen on fire," Kira’s cold voice cut through the chatter, laced with disdain.
"Ahem." Daniel’s voice thundered across the hallway. "What is happening here? Why aren’t you all at your posts?"
The staff jolted in shock, spinning to bow hurriedly.
"M-Master," Kira stamred, her composure cracking under his sharp gaze. She lowered her head quickly, but her fingers curled into tight fists at her sides.
Daniel ignored her, his attention shifting past the crowd. His eyes landed inside the kitchen—
And for the first ti in a long ti, he froze.
Anna stood at the counter, sleeves rolled up, hair tied loosely back, moving with confidence as she stirred a pan. Her hands, delicate yet sure, gripped the knife with practiced ease as she chopped vegetables with a rhythm that could rival a professional.
Daniel stared, stunned into silence.
’Don’t tell ... she’s really cooking for .’
The image hit him like a slap, leaving him speechless. Hugo had pampered his daughters beyond reason, never letting them lift so much as a glass. And yet, the sight before him told another story entirely.
’When did she... learn this?’
For once, Daniel found himself unable to look away from his wife—and the re thought of tasting the food she had prepared for him made his heart stumble in an unfamiliar rhythm.
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