Cooking

The city skyline glowed like a constellation of golden embers against the dark velvet sky, the hum of the moving car blending with the distant whispers of the world outside. Eve sat quietly, her fingers tracing idle patterns on the cool glass of the window, her gaze fixed on something unseen. The streets were bustling, but to her, everything felt distant like watching the world move through a veil.

Her mind was tangled in thoughts, contemplative, hesitant.

She sighed and reached for her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she hesitated before finally dialing the number. The screen illuminated her face, casting a soft glow that reflected the uncertainty in her eyes. It rang once. Then twice.

Then, a voice, warm, familiar, wrapped in nostalgia.

"Eve, my child… you finally remembered your old mother."

The words, spoken with gentle affection, made Eve choke. It had been a half a decade since she had last heard that voice. A flood of emotions, happiness, gratitude, longing swelled within her.

She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply before speaking, her voice lighter, almost childlike. "Mom… I've missed you."

Her mother's voice softened, filled with relief. "Oh, sweetheart, I've missed you too."

Eve swallowed the lump in her throat, gripping the phone tighter. "I want to come home this Saturday morning."

Her mother gasped, a delighted, unrestrained sound. "You do? Eve, that would make me the happiest woman in the world!. I haven't seen you for a month now."

Eve chuckled, the warmth of the conversation melting some of the stiffness she had carried for years. "Then I'll see you soon mom."

The call ended, but the warmth lingered. As her car pulled up to the entrance of the villa, she stepped out, exhaling as she took in the sight of her home. The towering white columns, the grand archway, the warm glow of the outdoor lights, it was familiar yet felt distant, as if she was seeing it with new eyes.

She had forgotten what it felt like to return to a place that felt like home. The very fact that this empty house in her past life was still a home to her right now filled her with a rare sense of contentment and gratitude.

Walking inside, she was greeted by Mr. Song, who had been with the family for as long as she could remember. His kind, wrinkled face held the same warmth she had grown up with.

"Miss, welcome home," he said with a gentle smile.

She gave him a soft smile. "Thank you, Uncle Song. It's good to be back."

Something about tonight made her feel lighter. Maybe it was the call. Maybe it was just being home. Either way, she felt an unusual burst of happiness.

"I think I'll cook something today," she announced suddenly, slipping off her blazer and tossing it onto the sofa.

Mr. Song raised an amused brow. "Oh? And what might you be making?"

Eve thought for a moment before grinning. "Adrian is joining for dinner, so I'll cook both Adrian's and my favorite dishes."

The kitchen was warm and inviting, the scent of spices and fresh ingredients filling the air. She rolled up her sleeves, tying an apron around her waist, and began preparing the ingredients. It had been ages since she had last cooked not just for herself, but for anyone. Yet, the familiar rhythm of chopping, stirring, and seasoning came back to her effortlessly. She hummed softly as she worked, the simple act filling her with a sense of nostalgia.

Just as she was slicing the vegetables, a familiar voice rang through the air.

"You're cooking tonight"

She turned to see Adrian standing at the entrance of the kitchen, his face almost unexpressive but his eyes were glowing.

"Hey," she greeted him with a bright smile. "Dinner's almost ready. Just give me another half an hour."

Seeing her humming, he felt this urge to join her, so he rolled up his sleeves and walked to her side. "I'll help you then."

Together, they fell into an easy rhythm, the conversation flowing as naturally as the simmering of the pot. They reminisced about the past, how Eve's first attempt at cooking had been a disaster, how her mother and grandfather had banned her from the kitchen, and how Adrian had been the one to convince them to let her try again. From that day forward, he had always stood beside her, watching and eventually joining her in cooking.

She laughed as Adrian reminded her of the time she had nearly set the oven on fire, and how the entire house had smelled of burnt cookies for weeks.

"I swear, I thought I had followed the recipe," Eve defended.

"You put in two tablespoons of baking soda instead of two teaspoons. We were lucky the cookies didn't explode."

She swatted at his arm playfully. "Shut up."

The warmth of familiarity lingered between them as they plated the food and set the table. The flavors were familiar and comforting.

As they ate, Eve glanced at Adrian. "So, any weekend plans?"

Adrian sighed, resting his fork against the plate . "Just work, as usual."

Eve titled her head slightly. "You should take a break. I'm planning to go back home, why don't you come along?"

He glanced at her and said. "I'll check my schedule."

She held his gaze a moment longer but chose not to push. Instead, the conversation shifted to other topics, and soon, they found themselves in the living room, picking a movie. As they settled into the couch, Eve turned to him.

"Have you thought about investing in AI technology?"

Adrian glanced at her, confused. "Why?"

Without answering, Eve gestured to the maid. "Can you bring my bag?"

When the maid returned, Eve retrieved a file from her bag and handed it to him. "Read this proposal. See if it interests you. If you're interested, let me know."

Adrian took the file, flipping to the first page. His expression changed ever so slightly at the sight of the name Lucas Thornton printed on the document.

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Closing the file, he set it on the table. "I'll look into it."

Eve nodded, sensing the weight behind his silence but deciding to let it be.

They watched the movie in comfortable quiet, the night stretching on. By the time the credits rolled, the clock was nearing midnight.

Adrian stretched and stood. "I should get going."

Eve, now drowsy, rubbed her eyes. "Alright."

He gave her a lingering look before leaving, his presence fading into the night.

With a sleepy sigh, Eve climbed the stairs to her bedroom, before that, she called a known number, once the heard the greetings from the other side Eve spoke "I will text you a name, I want all the information on this person before the dawn tomorrow. Once you have located the person, call Gwen, she knows what to do further." Even before the other party could speak she put her phone aside and texted the name.

She barely had the energy to change before collapsing into bed, the warmth of the evening still lingering in her heart.

Tomorrow would bring another day. But for now, wrapped in the comfort of her home, she allowed herself to rest.