HEIRESS REBORN: MARRYING HER EX-FIANCÉ-Chapter 79: A Sweet December to Remember (4)

’’Thanks, but do you have hot cocoa?’’

Nevertheless, Ayana deliberately went for another hot beverage. Drinking hot cocoa with marshmallows was very nice in the cold and also in the festive season.

Much better than tea.

Besides that, she had eaten her dinner at the restaurant. The hot cocoa was more of a polite gesture to pass the time with her fiancé and distract herself from the lingering awkwardness between them.

’’There should be some.’’ Axel turned his back on her. He stretched his arm up to open one of the cabinets, and brought out cocoa powder with a few other ingredients for the hot cocoa.

Rather than just standing idly, Ayana moved to the island and sat on one of the stools, folding her hands neatly in front of her. She watched as he busied himself effortlessly around the kitchen.

’’Do you cook?’’ She asked after a beat, propping her elbows on the smooth countertop and resting her temple on her knuckles.

"Just the basics." Axel replied curtly, pulling out a small saucepan. He began stirring together the cocoa powder, sugar, and a pinch of salt.

His rolled up sleeves attracted her eyes every now and then.

As he turned to retrieve a carton of milk from the refrigerator, his eyes glanced in her way. ’’How about you?’’

Ayana’s face slightly changed when Axel directed the question to her. Luckily enough, his back was thoroughly facing her as he poured the milk into the saucepan and stirred the mixture.

’’...I guess I do.’’ She answered a moment later and straightened her posture in thoughts.

Axel sensed the subtle change in her voice and put aside the wooden spatula. He set the heat to a medium and placed the saucepan on the flame to warm up before turning around to face Ayana.

’’Did I say something wrong?’’ Axel could more or less understand his fiancée over the years they had communicated and gradually close the gap between them.

Ayana was like a mystery box to him. Like a challenge that he must solve to know the real her.

There were sometimes; both on calls and physical meetups, that the atmosphere would be light between them until he said something that might be a trigger.

Ayana would react in a way obvious to him that something was indeed wrong, that he did not understand, just like now.

When he asks if he said or did something wrong....

’’No, you did not.’’

She would only deny him with a faint smile that did not reach her eyes, and try to move on as if nothing had happened.

’’I actually do cook, though it’s been a while.’’

Just like now.

Axel held the edge of the island and held her gaze for a moment. He has noticed something during the times he spent his fiancée.

Her hazel eyes and smile were his favorites about her.

Especially when her eyes lit up and curve at the sight of him. They always reveal how she felt around him.

However...those eyes often showed guilt and regrets, which he never liked. To be more honest, his dislike seemed to be more of a resentment.

Towards the person she always sees through him and had never forgotten all these years.

Axel could be patient as much as he wanted to, but his patience also had its limits. If he couldn’t take Ayana’s long secrecy one day, he might as well be vocal about it and solve the mystery once and for all.

He had always loved a good challenge, but not when it concerned someone who he cared for as his partner.

’’Axel?’’ Ayana became a bit conscious under his intense gaze. Almost as if he could through her deepest mind and thoughts.

’’How many dishes have you cooked before?’’ Axel did not press further and continued the conversation like nothing happened. The atmosphere was already infused with the faint scent of warm chocolate, warm and inviting. He had to stir the hot cocoa and serve the beverage in two coffee mugs.

’’...Not much. It’s been a long while, so I can’t really remember.’’ Ayana replied and tightened her fist on the countertop. Her words were practically lies. She could remember the amount of dishes she had cooked by herself.

Though she hadn’t cooked them with these soft hands of hers, but her former hands.

All for the love of a selfish and greedy man.

As a young miss born with a diamond spoon from birth, Ayana had never done a single house chore in her life. However, the appearance of Liam had changed her overly-pampered life.

The way to a man’s heart was through his stomach.

She had believed that idiom so much that she learned how to cook on her own through online cooking videos. She had even paid for cooking classes, and her perfectly soft hands had cuts and scars.

Ayana even burnt and scalded her skin, but she felt that all these injuries were worth it if Liam had tasted her food.

But...that man had never taken a bite.

As a popular actor, Liam had always been busy with acting projects and other workloads. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner had always been prepared for him.

Nevertheless, Ayana still tried her best to cook home-made food for him. If he could see her sincerity through her meals, then their love would grow even more stronger....or so she believed.

On the dining table, she would wait for Liam, feeling all anticipated and jittery. She would have set up the atmosphere to be more of a romantic vibe, like a date. Candlelight, expensive red wine....even she would have done her make-up to be perfect and her dress would be brand new.

But...despite all these preparations, she wouldn’t find a sight of Liam in their apartment. The food and hard-earned effort would all go to waste.

However, Ayana did not give up.

She continued for days and persisted, reminding Liam that he should make it their apartment for home-made dinner. Still, she never saw him.

All she received in return were his apologies, his excuses....and she foolishly believed him, thinking that she was making it hard to concentrate at work.

Ayana had even taken it upon herself to bring him home-cooked meal to the company.

Until she found the real reason why he hardly came to their apartment anymore.

It was all because of a third-party.

That hateful woman.

*Pak*

Ayana blinked at the sound, snapping out of her memories of the past. She looked down to see a steamy mug of hot cocoa, and then at Axel drinking from his coffee mug opposite her.

’’Are you back now?’’ He asked after a moment of silence.

’’...’’

Ayana noticed the slight difference. Normally, Axel would have asked if he had said or done something wrong. Now, it was different.

His words were indirectly letting her know that he was frankly aware of her inner struggles.

Ayana silently lowered her gaze and pulled the hot coca towards her. She left her fingers around the mug, seeking the warmth.

’’I’m here for you, Ayana.’’ Axel said a beat after, and she raised her gaze to him.

’’....I know, Axel.’’ She could only accept his words with a faint smile. He has proven to her over and over again that he was here for her, just like he had promised to her.

’’Believe me, I truly know.’’

Ayana silently sipped her hot cocoa as some of her past life resurfaced in her head. The word ’cooking’ had triggered one of her most hated memories.

In the end, the problems still lied within her.

It wasn’t that easy to let go, after all.