Chapter 91
The black apron hugged his lean waist, paired with sleek black dress pants that showed off his long legs. His tie was gone, and the collar of his thiri vie casually undone.
With a plate in one hand and a bottle of milk in the other, he moved with effortless ease, like he belonged in this cozy, domnestic scene
Zinnia pressed her lips together, her gaze lingering on him. ‘He looks so good in an apron, she thought. It was a completely different side of hims much more down–to–earth than the polished image she had in her head.
‘What was it Maisie called this? Oh, right—husband vibes. Yeah, that’s it. He’s got that perfect husband energy, she mused, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“Zinnia, I don’t have any snacks here, just some fruit. Let’s have some fruit to tide us over. Make yourself at home–look around, do whatever you like?”
Yannis walked into the living room and immediately noticed Zinnia sitting quietly, not moving at all.
He walked over, set down a fruit platter filled with strawberries, grapes, and neatly sliced kiwi, and placed a glass of milk beside it.
“Okay,” Zinnia nodded softly.
“What do you feel like eating?” Yannis asked, curious about her preferences.
“Anything’s fine,” Zinnia replied. After all, when you’re eating at someone else’s house, you can’t be picky.
“Alright, then I’ll make some meat for you. I remember seeing you enjoy it last time,” Yannis said, glancing at her. He knew they weren’t close yet–not like her and Jackson. Zinnia probably wouldn’t open up to him so easily.
Zinnia’s gaze shifted slightly, a hint of surprise flashing across her face. “Okay,” she murmured.
But when she heard he was going to cook, she looked up at him in surprise: ‘Wait, he’s cooking? Seriously? A guy like him, raised in luxury, actually knows his way around a kitchen?‘ she thought.
She thought he’d just order takeout or have someone deliver food. The fact that he was going to cook himself was unexpected.
“Alright, Zinnia, just relax for a bit. I’ll cook something up quickly. Or, if you want, you can start on your homework while you wait,” Yannis said with a
smile.
He glanced at the clock. It was already close to six. Zinnia had been out of school since five–thirty, and after a full day of classes, she was probably starving. At her age, eating on time was important for her growth.
As he left, Zinnia couldn’t help but remind herself of a harsh reality: homework still existed. Her fondness for the handsome and charming Yannis took a slight hit.
Zinnia thought, ‘Homework. The ultimate charm killer. Even someone as good–looking as him isn’t immune.‘
Zinnia skewered a strawberry with a toothpick and popped it into her mouth. Grabbing her backpack, she slid off the sofa and sat cross–legged on the floor. She adjusted her skirt and draped a rug over her legs for warmth.
She pulled out a stack of senior year test papers from her bag. ‘Endless tests,‘ she thought with a sigh. ‘Big ones, small ones, weekly ones… They just kept coming.‘
One person was busy cooking in the kitchen, while the other quietly worked on homework in the living room. There wasn’t much conversation, but the atmosphere felt inexplicably calm and harmonious.
Yannis glanced out of the kitchen, his eyes softening as he caught sight of the small figure sitting on the floor, completely absorbed in her work. A warmth he didn’t even notice crept into his gaze.
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Chapter 91
The quiet was only broken by the faint sizzle of oil from the kitchen and the soft rustling of test papers being turned.
“Zinnia, take a break from your homework. Go wash
your hands–dinner’s ready,” Yannis called out warmly after setting the dishes on the table or
