Broken Memories, Intertwined Hearts

Chapter 96

"How's that? Still hurting?" Ethan lifted his head, looking at her with concern.

Ines felt a sting in her nose and shook her head at him.

Ethan fetched another band-aid from the medicine cabinet, patched her up, and shooed her out of the kitchen, refusing to let her lift a finger.

Ines leaned against the doorway, her eyes glued to the man bustling about in the kitchen. She suddenly moved forward, hugging him from behind and breathing in a faint minty scent that was refreshing and pleasant, causing her lips to curve into a smile.

She never quite understood why Ethan always liked to hug her from behind, but having experienced it herself now, she realized it was a rather nice feeling—warm and secure.

Caught off guard by her initiative, Ethan stiffened for a moment. Recovering, he leaned back against her, pressing his face into hers and rubbing it gently. "What's up?"

Ines felt a ticklish sensation and involuntarily shrunk her neck. "Ethan," she began thoughtfully, "I feel like I'm good for nothing. I can't even manage something as simple as cooking, and I'm always causing trouble for you."

"You're doubting yourself?"

Ines nodded honestly, "A little." She couldn't help feeling outclassed around a person like Ethan, male or female.

Ethan ruffled her hair, teasing, "Who said you're worthless? You're pretty good at messing with your blind date prospects! That's not something everyone can do, you know. I certainly can't."

"Seriously, why do you always bring that up? I explained it to you already," Ines regretted that incident more than ever. Had she known that messing with her blind date would become a dark spot in her history, she would've never done it.

"Because that's the most attractive thing about you," Ethan said quietly.

At his words, Ines laughed and pretended to swing a punch at him, "Anyway, you're stuck with me now. "There's no backing out, and there's certainly no room for disliking me." Ethan ensnared her petite fist within his larger palm, her hand nestling into his seamlessly. His smile dissolved into a serious expression as he chastised, "Why this propensity to overthink everything? You're not a professional chef; it's irrelevant if you can't cook. Also, refrain from suggesting that I could grow to dislike you—it's utterly improbable. You must cultivate confidence in yourself, and in me too. Understand?"

Ines replied sweetly, "You're so naggy. I just feel like I'm in a soap opera, it all doesn't feel real." ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

In her mind, men like Ethan only existed in TV shows—men born into enviable circumstances, men with extraordinary abilities, the true definition of a domineering CEO, yet doting and considerate towards their wives.

He was too good to her, so much so it felt like a dream. She was afraid that when she woke up, it would all be gone.

"Silly girl, are you so easily moved?"

Ines denied it, "Of course not. I'm just skeptical about what you said earlier, about never having pursued a girl. How's that possible?"

Calling him a Casanova wouldn't be an exaggeration, for he seemed to win her over effortlessly with the simplest of gestures.

"Izzy, are you saying you've fallen for me?"

"Not so easy." Ines let go of his hand, pushing him slightly, "Get back to cooking, I'm starving."

Ines prepped the ingredients, Ethan cooked, they were a seamless team. As Ethan was cooking the last dish, Ines sneaked out of the kitchen. When Ethan brought out the last dish, he noticed the main light in the dining room was off, only a dim wall light was left on. Besides the abundant dishes on the table, there was also a birthday cake. The cream on the cake was unevenly spread, it looked a little ugly, obviously her handiwork.

Ethan looked up to see Ines' gentle smile. Her back against the light, enshrouded in a soft halo, she looked even more tender. She opened her mouth slightly and whispered, "Happy birthday, Ethan."

At that moment, Ethan's heart pounded. The sorrow he had been harboring seemed to have evaporated, dissolved in her soft laughter. He hadn't celebrated his birthday in years. His birthday was close to his older brother Beasley's. Neither of them were keen on birthdays so their family and friends would celebrate their birthdays together. This went on for many years, and then he had a woman. But after Beasley passed and he lost his lover, birthdays lost their meaning.

Afterwards, his family and friends still prepared birthday celebrations for him, but he never attended, scared of the memories it would bring. Over time, he stopped celebrating his birthday. If it weren't for Ines' preparations, he would've even forgotten that today was his birthday.

"Ethan, what's wrong?"

It wasn't until his hand was grasped by a cold, small hand that Ethan came back to his senses. He saw his wife looking at him worriedly, he forced a smile, "I'm fine."

"You don't look happy." Ines pointed at his face gloomily. If she knew this would make him so unhappy, she would never have done it.

"Izzy, I'm really fine, I'm not upset."

"Are you upset because I planned a birthday celebration for you without asking? If you don't like it, I'll clean it up right away." Ines looked at the cake on the table. Ethan put down the plate in his hand, walked over to her, pulled her to sit down, and calmly explained, "Actually, I haven't celebrated my birthday for many years. Every time this day comes, I would be reminded of some unhappy past, and I've been running from it. But when I see you standing not far from me, I feel... I feel that I want to celebrate my birthday. Seeing you smiling and wishing me a happy birthday, I realized it's not as painful as I thought."

Celebrating her birthday was not a big deal to Ines either, but she didn't want Ethan to live in the sorrow of losing his brother. His brother was no longer alive, and he shouldn't run from it. However, her approach seemed a bit rash.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault." Ines admitted her error.

Ethan was a bit helpless, "Silly girl, why didn't you understand what I said? What I meant was that I've let go of the past."

"Really?" Ines asked uncertainly.

"I hope that every birthday in the future, Mrs. Meyer will be with me." Ethan hugged her, smiling, "Thank you, Mrs. Meyer, for remembering my birthday."