Tabitha's POV
It was late at night, and the Omega had already gone home.
The villa was left with just Derek and me, and we had nothing to do.
"Are you sleepy?" he asked.
I shook my head quickly. "No, not at all. I'll watch TV for a while."
My awkwardness was palpable. Despite being married for a long time, I still felt like a stranger to Derek. The idea of being intimate with him felt as awkward as meeting someone from an online relationship in person.
Noticing my discomfort, Derek calmly said, "Okay, I'll be here with you."
As I watched soap operas, Derek typed rapidly on his laptop.
Occasionally, I glanced at him. With his gold-framed glasses and the soft yellow light above, he looked more warm than usual, his cold features softened by the glow.
He seemed to sense my gaze and looked up.
Wearing a black silk pajama with a high-quality sheen, the satin fabric glowed softly under the lamp. He adjusted his glasses with his slender middle finger and tilted his head, his voice carrying a magnetic quality as he asked, "What's wrong?"
Though it was a casual gesture, it made my face flush slightly. "Nothing," I stammered.
Derek set aside his laptop. "Are you thirsty or hungry? You didn't eat much for dinner. Would you like some snacks?"
I blinked, staring at him. "Can you really cook?"
What the Omega said earlier seemed like an exaggeration. I feel like it was an intentional attempt to glorify Derek.
Derek rolled up his sleeves and gently patted me on the head. "Just wait for me," he said before striding into the kitchen.
Soon, the clatter of pots and pans filled the air.
I expected him to prepare something simple like spaghetti, given his limited culinary skills, but he moved around the kitchen with the precision of a five-star chef.
In the flickering flames, I saw his figure as he weighed the pot. An hour later, he called out, "You can wash your hands and get ready for the food."
I washed up, and by the time I returned, the table was set with an array of dishes.
There were spicy baked lobster, garlic-roasted scallops, and pepper-and-salt fried mantis shrimp.
I stared wide-eyed at those dishes, which were filled with spicy seasonings, rich garlic, and golden crispy exteriors. I had expected that such an elegant gentleman would prepare something more refined like filet mignon, spaghetti Bolognese, or French-baked snails.
To my surprise, he had prepared dishes with a bold, street-food flair.
Derek casually wiped his fingers with a napkin. "Time was limited, so I only made these few dishes. Give them a try."
I asked in surprise, "How did you, how did you make them?"
Derek smiled and replied, "You used to always pester me to try various unique delicacies. Since street stalls aren't very hygienic, I secretly learned to cook them myself. The ingredients I used are far better than what you'd find at a street vendor."
I noticed his fair skin, marked with blisters from hot oil. "Are you injured?"
"I'm fine. Do you want me to shell the lobsters for you?"
Though it was phrased as a question, Derek had already put on disposable gloves and started shelling the lobsters with dedication.
A serious man was truly handsome, whether when he was working or now shelling lobsters for me.
I felt warm in my heart. Even though I didn't have many relatives anymore, Derek treated me so well, and he would be someone I could rely on in the future.
"Well... Honey, thank you."
After stuttering through it all day long, I finally managed to call him that.
Derek's fingers paused in their task, and he looked up at me with intense eyes. "Say it again."
My heart skipped a beat. It seemed that he truly cared about me.
I cleared my throat, "Thank you."
He frowned slightly. "Not this."
Blushing, I tried again, "Honey..."
A smile curved on his lips. "That's nice."
My heart somehow settled, perhaps because, with him by my side, the future days didn't seem so daunting.