Chapter 9: Not on Very Good Terms with Family

Realizing she was thinking about a scumbag, Sienna Summers quickly cut off her train of thought and then turned to stand behind Jasper Brown to tie his apron for him.

"Do you need any help?"

"Do you know how to rinse rice?"

The man's voice was magnetic and pleasant to hear, but it inexplicably made Sienna feel like he was mocking her stupidity.

Don't get angry, don't get angry!

She really was quite foolish when it came to cooking.

She needed to face up to her own shortcomings.

Sienna took a breath and said gently, "Yes, I do."

Jasper Brown paused in his meat washing, giving her a glance.

He had expected the woman to talk back to him, but instead, she was so calm.

Holding the rice, Sienna thought of the meal at noon and asked, "You haven't told me yet, how much do I owe you for the lunch ingredients?"

Jasper Brown didn't answer her question, but instead inquired, "Didn't I give you five hundred thousand? Since you can't cook, why didn't you order takeout for the kids?"

Sienna's hand, holding the rice, paused ever so slightly as she said softly, "Money needs to be spent wisely."

She was no longer the wealthy young miss.

She had children to support, and her mother's medical bills to pay.

She had to stretch every penny.

Jasper Brown looked sideways at the woman whose long eyelashes trembled lightly like two little brushes, softly brushing over his heart.

"There's no need to pay for the noon meal; it's on my boss's tab. From now on, I will give you twenty thousand a month for living expenses. Buy whatever you want and don't skimp on the children."

Sienna turned off the tap, a hint of confusion flickering through her lovely almond eyes.

This man, not only had he provided a hefty dowry of five hundred thousand, but now he was also giving her a monthly allowance of twenty thousand!

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

He was handsome, didn't mind that she had three children, and now he was giving her living expenses!

Why did she feel so uneasy?

It was as if she was being fattened up for the slaughterhouse!

"No need, I can earn money to support the children myself."

"You support the children? With your 'dark cuisine' that leaves them thin and pale, and let others say their stepfather is abusing them?"

Jasper Brown placed the washed meat on the cutting board, his tone neither light nor heavy, yet filled with sarcasm.

Sienna's face felt hot, and she wanted to escape again.

"I, I didn't mean it like that. It's just that we are not related by blood..."

"Not related by blood?"

Jasper Brown's dark eyes focused on her. "Sienna, have you forgotten that we're already legally married?"

That one statement left Sienna speechless.

That was true, but their marriage was anything but normal!

"Sienna, the living expenses are not for you, they're for the children. They are quite adorable, so just consider it a charitable deed on my part."

Sienna: "..."

Alright, although the man was a bit sharp-tongued, he seemed to have a big heart for now.

She would remember his kindness and repay him when the opportunity arose.

Sienna didn't argue anymore; she put the rinsed rice into the cooker and plugged it in.

Turning around, she saw the man skillfully slicing the meat, surprise flashing in her almond eyes.

One could often tell if a person can cook by the way they cut vegetables.

This man definitely didn't seem like someone who couldn't cook!

"There's cod in the fridge; do the children like fish? If they do, I'll make them steamed cod; it's quite nutritious."

Jasper Brown saw her in a daze and spoke indifferently.

Sienna came back to her senses and said, "The children are allergic to cod; they can't eat it."

A couple of years ago, the children had cod and broke out in red rashes.

It scared her terribly.

Jasper Brown paused, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

"They're allergic to cod, too?"

"Yep."

Sienna heard the word 'too' and asked curiously, "Who else is allergic to cod?"

"My grandfather."

"That's quite a coincidence?"

Sienna casually asked, "Aren't your grandparents and parents in Seacity?"

Jasper Brown paused in his meat cutting, and replied with a nonchalant hum.

I had no intention of chatting more.

Sienna Summers blinked her almond-shaped eyes, and she couldn't tell if it was her imagination, but the man's aura had seemed a bit cold for a moment.

Why?

Could it be that his relationship with his family wasn't that good?

The kitchen was quiet for a while as Jasper Brown skillfully soaked the sliced meat in water mixed with starch.

Sienna stood by watching, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"You know how to wash vegetables? If you do, wash them."

His tone sounded a lot like he was instructing a child who couldn't do chores.

"I'm not that dumb."

Sienna couldn't help but mutter.

The corners of Jasper Brown's lips curved up in a half-smile, half-smirk, "Wash them clean, I don't want to be fighting the kids for the bathroom at midnight."

Sienna: "..."

The kids must have told him about the unwashed greens they ate at noon!

How embarrassing!

She swore, she was definitely going to learn how to cook and impress them!

Sienna hadn't expected Jasper Brown to actually know how to cook.

Not only could he cook, but he also made dishes that were appealing to all senses.

In just half an hour, he had made six dishes and one soup.

Pan-seared steak, fish-flavored shredded pork, a mixed vegetable dish... and a tomato fish soup.

"We're a bit pressed for time, so I made a few home-cooked dishes today, let's all try them," Jasper Brown said indifferently.

"Wow, it smells so good."

"Yep, it looks so delicious."

Two little girls' eyes filled with stars.

"It's not just appealing to the eyes but not the taste, right?"

Zach Summers's little face remained cool as he quipped.

Jasper Brown's brows lifted slightly as he served him a bowl of soup.

"Why don't you try it and see?"

Zach scooped up a spoonful of soup and tasted it, his obsidian-like large eyes suddenly lit up.

The soup was sour and sweet and tasted really good!

"Are you satisfied?" Jasper Brown asked.

"It's passable, I guess."

Zach mumbled ambiguously, burying his head and taking a few more sips.

Just passable?

He had already taken several sips.

Such a tsundere little brat.

The corners of Jasper Brown's lips subtly curled up, but he didn't call out the insincerity in Zach's words.

"Yum, Uncle Caleb's soup is so tasty!"

"Yeah, yeah, Uncle Caleb's cooking skills are amazing!"

Unlike their brother, the two little sisters weren't shy about their lavish praise.

A hint of a smile flashed in Jasper Brown's eyes as he served some dishes to the two little girls before starting to eat.

The man ate gracefully, with excellent demeanor.

He didn't seem like an ordinary person but rather like someone of noble birth.

Sienna couldn't help but take another look at him.

This man was handsome, could cook, and was kind-hearted.

Aside from being a bit sharp-tongued and aloof, no other faults had been found so far.

How could such a man end up in a flash marriage with her?

It was incomprehensible, truly incomprehensible!

"Knowing I'm good-looking, you don't have to keep staring at me, do you?"

Out of the blue, the man teased her in a slow, leisurely tone.

Sienna came to her senses, only then realizing she had been staring at him.

Her face instantly flushed.

"No, I was just curious, how are you able to cook so well?"

Jasper Brown's movements paused as he began to eat, his thin lips parting slightly.

"Growing up poor, with neither my father nor my mother showing love, I learned on my own."