“Don’t worry,” Ava said, her smile warm and reassuring. It was like sunlight finally breaking through a stubborn overcast sky. “Once I save up enough star coins, I promise I’ll get you something better than this cheap nutrient fluid. I won’t make you suffer with it for long.”
Julian fell silent.
This woman had a truly remarkable talent.
She could lace her words with honey one moment and a subtle sting the next. She expertly navigated that fine line between offering comfort and administering a mild, unsettling discomfort.
Seeing him remain quiet, still clutching the bottle as if it were his last hope, Ava continued in a softer tone. “If you feel wronged by staying here with me like this, you really don’t have to endure it. You can just file for a dissolution through the system. I’d be sad, of course. But if it means you’ll find a better life, I’ll let you go. I won’t hold you back.”
Her sincerity was palpable.
Each word seemed laced with genuine concern, making it difficult for Julian to simply dismiss her intentions as false.
He took a deep, steadying breath.
Just hold on a little longer, he reminded himself. The ore is gone. I still don’t have the star coins I need. Leaving now would mean losing everything. All of it.
“Don’t say things like that,” he managed to say, forcing a smile onto his face. “Why would I leave you over something as trivial as a vial of nutrient fluid?”
To emphasize his point, he twisted the cap off the bottle.
He downed the murky liquid right in front of her, grimacing internally the entire time.
Ugh! This tastes absolutely vile. I think I might be sick.
Suppressing a powerful urge to gag, he kept the smile plastered on his face. “Ms. Sterling, I just need to step into the washroom for a moment. I’ll be right back.”
Ava, ever the picture of understanding, nodded gently. “If you’re not feeling well, you should rest. You don’t have to stay by my side all the time.”
Impossible.
I haven’t achieved my goals yet.
“I’m fine. Just wait for me,” Julian replied quickly, the urgency in his voice propelling him toward the washroom.
Werk!
As he hurried away, Ava stifled a quiet laugh.
His flustered retreat lifted her spirits considerably.
She made her way to the kitchen, her thoughts churning.
What on earth is he plotting, forcing himself to swallow something so revolting? I hope his scheming doesn’t end up ruining his own health in the process.
If only Julian would just be honest.
If he could simply admit he’s broke and wants to dissolve our match, I wouldn’t make things difficult for him. I’d agree without a second thought.
Instead, he complicates everything with his endless schemes. He’s turning a simple situation into a tangled mess.
By the time dinner was ready, Ava had prepared a steaming pot of dumplings.
Their enticing, savory aroma wafted through the small house.
It mingled perfectly with the scents of the two delectable side dishes she’d prepared.
The rich, warm fragrance filled every corner, making her own stomach growl in anticipation.
Drawn by the mouthwatering scent, Alexander arrived almost immediately.
His eyes lit up at the spread before him. “Smells incredible! You really do have a gift for this,” he remarked, his enthusiasm unmistakable.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Julian had finally managed to expel the low-grade nutrient fluid from his system.
After thoroughly rinsing his mouth, he retrieved a vial of high-tier herbal nutrient fluid from his band.
He drank it down in one go, savoring the refreshing, tart-sweet taste that spread across his tongue.
Now this, he thought, this is what an Etherian of my standing should be consuming.
Suddenly, a new and utterly captivating aroma drifted to him.
It was warm, deeply savory, and completely unfamiliar.
He sniffed at the now-empty vial in his hand.
Not that.
Curiosity thoroughly piqued, he opened the bathroom door.
He followed the tantalizing scent, which led him straight to the dining area.
There sat Ava and Alexander, already enjoying their meal.
Plump, perfectly formed dumplings floated in a fragrant, golden broth, adorned with sprigs of verdant herbs.
Julian had never encountered such a dish before, but the aroma was utterly irresistible.
And then there were the two plates of expertly prepared beast meat in front of Ava.
The bold, rich, and slightly spicy scent spoke volumes about her culinary skill.
“Ms. Sterling,” Julian exclaimed, narrowing his eyes in a look of playful accusation as he stepped forward. “What are you two doing?”
It felt like a secret feast.
It felt like they were deliberately excluding him.
So, Alexander gets to indulge in this, but I don’t?
Biased. Completely and utterly biased.
“Eating, of course,” Ava replied, her tone calm and almost innocently oblivious.
She said it as if she had absolutely nothing to hide.
“Then why didn’t you call me?” he asked, his voice now tinged with wounded grievance.
How could they sit there, enjoying something that smells so divine, and not even think to share it with me?
“I thought you preferred nutrient fluids,” Ava replied, tilting her head slightly in feigned puzzlement.
Only a complete fool would enjoy those disgusting concoctions.
Dragging a chair out from the table with a determined scrape, Julian plopped down into it. “I don’t like them. Not at all. I want real food too.”
His gaze, filled with simmering indignation, seemed to accuse her of blatant, unforgivable favoritism.
Ava continued to ignore him.
She calmly finished her last dumpling.
Then, wiping her mouth, she turned her full attention to him, her demeanor composed. “But I didn’t make a portion for you tonight.”
His eyes immediately darted to the untouched, still-steaming bowl sitting beside Alexander.
He felt his mouth water. “Then I’ll have that one.”
“No.” Ava’s hand shot out, catching his wrist before his fingers could brush the bowl. “That’s Alexander’s.”
“Why is he the only one who gets to eat?” Julian’s voice rose slightly. “Ms. Sterling, you’re playing favorites. Is it because I arrived later? Do you favor him over me?”
We’re both her matches. Who’s supposed to be nobler than the other here?
Ava met his heated glare with unwavering composure.
“The reason Alexander gets to eat is simple,” she stated plainly. “He pays me. Thirty billion star coins a month, for my cooking.”
She leaned forward slightly, her expression turning serious and businesslike.
“Since you’ve seen it, I’ll clarify the household rules here. Until there’s an official, recognized bond between us, everything between matched partners must be fair and transactional. If you want something, you pay for it. In star coins. Once we’re formally bound, then we can share everything as a family.”
Family?
Who on earth wants to be family with her?
Julian almost choked on his own rising fury.
So Alexander hands over thirty billion, and she gives me nutrient fluid worth a measly twenty star coins a vial?
She’s toying with me. She’s doing this on purpose.