?


    Christine abruptly ended the call, deeming the conversation too mature for younger ears.


    She wandered into the kitchen, curiosity piqued. "What''s cooking?"


    ...


    At Elmwood Vis.


    Jane leaned into the man beside her. "What''s the deal with Dailey?"


    Gregory spilled the beans, honest to the core.


    Jane frowned slightly. "His heart might be in the right ce, but the approach... Christine''s always been easy-going, not one to fuss, but I think Dailey''s going about it all wrong."


    "It doesn''t matter."


    Gregory captured her hand, pressing a kiss to it. "Worry about me, will you?"


    ...


    Merritt had prepared a feast of four dishes and a soup, all favorites of Christine''s.


    Christine couldn''t wait to dig in, grabbing a rib and giving it a taste. Thumbs up. "Delicious."


    Merrittdled some soup for her.


    Tasting it, Christine was impressed. "When did you learn to cook like this?"


    The culinary skills were genuinely impressive.


    Merritt nodded. "Worked in a diner for a bit."


    Considering his family''s situation, Christine proposed, "How about I hire you as a cook? I''ll provide the ingredients, and we''ll settle on a fair wage for yourbor."


    Merritt looked down, a bit dejected. "Pitying me?"


    "Why would I pity you?"


    Christine enjoyed a meatball in tomato sauce, "You should bepensated for your work. That''s the value ofbor."


    Merritt smiled, a bit shy. "Sis, I should be doing this for you. I mean, you said I''m your boyfriend, right?"


    Oh, Christine had almost forgotten about that.


    "I''m using you, you see that, right?"


    Merritt nodded.


    Christine felt a tad guilty. If he hadn''t wronged her first, she''d feel downright awful.


    "I''ll be honest, even though Dailey and I broke up, and his actions hurt me today, I''m not over him yet."


    "I get it, but sis, he''s not worth your heart."


    Christine chuckled. "Because of Nelly?"


    Merritt nodded. "What if something


    like this happens again? Dailey''s upbringing, the kind that


    matches of status, it''s bo repeat." Content belongs


    to


    "Sis, I can''t stand to see you hurt, that''s why I did what I did."


    "Nelly has a soft spot for Dailey, and I was afraid she''d hurt you, and Dailey wouldn''t protect you."


    "But I don''t have the means to do much either. I went to extremes and ended up hurting you. I''m really sorry."


    Christine had her reservations about Nelly, but she understood.


    The pain of unrequited love can lead to drastic actions.


    She wasn''tpletely calm about everything, asionally tempted to confront Dailey and dere in front of the rkson family that they''d never part.


    But those moments of bravado quickly faded.


    All her courage had been spent facing Madge.


    "Falling in love is... hard to exin."


    Christine grabbed a tissue. "That''s why I hardly ever fall."


    et


    Merritt began to peel a crab for Christine "Sis, use me however you want. don''t mind at all, no need to feel guilty. I''ve made my mistakes and hurt you too."


    ...Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    At 10 p.m., Primo came to update Dailey, though somewhat reluctantly.


    The moonlight that filtered through the window wrapped Dailey in a cool glow, his gaze sharp as he looked up from hisputer.


    Primo quickly said, "Merritt''s staying at Ms. Jackson''s ce."


    Dailey''s grip on the pen whitened.


    Nelly peeked out from under the covers, stirring the pot. "Keep this up, and you''ll lose her forever."


    Dailey didn''t even nce her way, simply instructing Primo, "Keep watch. Until midnight."