Chapter 787
The night was silent, and the maple forest outside was cloaked in darkness, with only a few scattered streetlights casting a faint glow on a corner of the garden. Sienna had gone to bed early in the evening but woke up at midnight, her stomach growling with hunger because she had skipped dinner.
Stepping out of her room, Sienna found the living room brightly lit.
Daniel was lounging on the couch in casual home attire, one arm resting on the back and the other holding his phone. Hearing her, he looked up.
Their eyes met, and Sienna froze, her heart inexplicably tightening. Flustered, she asked, “You… haven’t slept yet?”
Daniel smiled warmly. “No, I haven’t.”
He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Though they were only separated by a wall and had seen each other just that morning, by nightfall, he found himself yearning to see her again.
He waited quietly in the living room, not wanting to disturb her by knocking on her door.
Sienna nodded and walked toward the kitchen.
Daniel’s gaze followed her intently. He stood up and followed her into the kitchen.
Sienna opened the refrigerator and took out a sausage and celery. Then, she found a box of instant mac and cheese in the pantry.
She placed everything on the countertop and began looking around for the seasonings.
Suddenly, she felt the warmth of Daniel’s broad chest against her back as he moved close to her.
Sienna stiffened slightly, her body tensing and her heart racing with nervousness. She was unsure of how to react.
“Are you hungry?” Daniel whispered in her ear. His voice sounded deep and alluring.
Sienna pulled back a little, distancing herself from his intimate gesture. It had been too long since their breakup, and she couldn’t immediately adjust to Daniel’s sudden closeness. She responded with a hum.
“Let me cook,” Daniel said, reaching past her from behind to take the celery from the counter.
Sienna felt as if he were hugging her, and a wave of shyness washed over her. Her heart pounded, and her face flushed from her ears to her cheeks.
“Okay,” Sienna replied, moving to the side to put some distance between them.
Just being near him made her feel breathless. She let out a quiet sigh.
As Daniel skillfully washed the celery, he asked softly, “Do you want your egg fried or baked?”
“Fried,” Sienna replied, sneaking a glance at him.
Seeing his handsome profile, she couldn’t help but blush as her heart raced. She asked, “Do you want some, too?”
“I don’t eat late-night snacks,” Daniel said.
Sienna pressed her lips together and remained silent.
Daniel lit the stove to cook the mac and cheese while Sienna watched from the side.
Suddenly, memories from the past flooded her mind. She recalled how it was always Shelly who busied herself in the kitchen.
Despite having plenty of free time,
Sienna’s father never helped. He preferred lying on the couch.
watching TV rather than stepping into the kitchen. As Felix grew up, he adopted the same habits.
Although everyone in the family had jobs, when they returned home, the responsibility of cooking seemed destined to fall on Sienna and Shelly. Felix would just lie on the living room couch playing games.
Looking at Daniel again, Sienna reflected on how he was born into a wealthy family and always attended by maids. Despite working all day and having little time to rest, he was now in the kitchen cooking for her.
She wondered if she seemed too lazy. Feeling guilty, she said, “You should rest. Let me do it.”
Daniel put down the spatula, took her hand, and led her to the nearby dining table. He gently pressed her shoulders to make her sit down.
“You just sit here and wait,” he said softly. “It’ll be ready soon.”
Sienna felt uneasy. She grew increasingly restless while waiting for Daniel to prepare her late-night snack.
Maybe it was their upbringing that caused the difference in perspectives between her and Daniel.