Abandoned by All I Took It All Back novel Chapter 596

West was a little out of breath, trying his best to keep his tone calm.

Wendy did as she was told, pulling her hand from the ice water. Janina grabbed a towel and gently dried it for her.

West twisted off the cap of the ointment tube, squeezed some onto a cotton swab, and carefully spread it over the back of her hand.

His movements were gentle, as if he were tending to a child, afraid of causing her any pain.

West didn't look up. He didn't dare to. He certainly didn't ask, "Does it still hurt?"

He was afraid that if he spoke, his carefully constructed composure would crumble.

He finished applying the ointment with a facade of calmness.

He capped the tube.

He washed his hands.

"Wendy, does it hurt?" Janina asked.

"Not anymore. It feels a little cool. See? The redness and swelling look a lot better, don't they?" Wendy said, trying to sound casual.

Her three best friends looked, and it did seem like the swelling had gone down a bit.

"I'll peel your shrimp and debone your fish for you later," Melody said, pulling Wendy into the seat beside her.

"It's my left hand that's hurt. It won't affect me getting my own food," Wendy replied with a smile.

The table was laden with a lavish spread. Each dish was served in a small portion to prevent waste, but everything was so delicious it left you wanting more.

"Ooh, two plates of shrimp!" Maggie exclaimed, pulling on a pair of disposable gloves to start on the lobster.

There was a plate of freshwater shrimp and a large platter of lobster on the table.

West put on his own gloves, glancing at the plate of sautéed shrimp placed in front of Wendy.

He had prepared it specially for her, knowing how much she loved it.

West peeled a lobster and placed it in Janina's bowl, then peeled another and put it in Wendy's.

Melody saw this and shot a look at both him and Wendy. "West, I want one too."

West glanced at her. "Peel it yourself."

"Tch, you're playing favorites," Melody pouted.

West lowered his eyes.

A handsome curve touched his lips.

In his eyes, girls were to be cherished, and a man like him should handle such chores.

Perhaps it was related to how his parents interacted. In his memory, his father was the one who did most of the cooking at home.

His father loved his mother and was afraid of tiring her out, so he rarely let her in the kitchen. He did everything he could himself.

Now his parents were older, but they still acted like they did when they were young. His father would still whisper sweet nothings to make his mother happy.

And his mother would give his father a back and shoulder massage when he was tired.

*This must be what love looks like,* West thought.

A relationship between two people should be simple, warm, and happy.

Mutual appreciation.

Mutual understanding, tolerance, souls in sync, minds aligned.

And at the same time, loving yourself.

Loving the other person.

Truly placing each other in your heart.