The Bride He Took For Granted novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Elise’s shoes were filled with water, squelching with every step.

She no longer cared how she looked. All she wanted was a hot shower.

Her burned ankle was covered in tiny blisters. The moment the warm water touched them, pain shot through her skin like

needles.

She gritted her teeth and endured it. Afterward, she didn’t dare touch the blisters, so she loosely wrapped her ankle in plastic wrap to keep them from rubbing against anything.

She climbed into bed and stayed under the covers until the warmth finally returned to her body.

By then, it was almost one. She hadn’t eaten breakfast, and she was starving.

Luckily, she still had some of the dishes they’d boxed up at Mosaic Fusion Bistro the day before.

She took out two of them and heated them in the microwave.

Since Harold had paid for the meal, she found herself wondering if he’d eaten yet.

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With the roads flooded, food delivery wasn’t available.

On impulse, Elise stepped onto the balcony and listened for any sign that Harold was home.

She heard him talking on the phone.

“It’s one meal. You’re seriously trying to get clearance for a helicopter?”

A pause.

“And where exactly is it supposed to land? What, are you going to drop the food onto my balcony?”

Elise was still listening when Harold’s balcony door suddenly slid open.

He stepped outside, and their eyes met.

Certain he had caught her eavesdropping, Elise blurted, “Mr. Nash, if you haven’t had lunch yet, I still have some of the dishes we had boxed up yesterday.”

“There’s creamy garlic shrimp, chicken wings in red sauce, and

bone marrow rice…”

As she listed the dishes, Harold’s hunger made the decision for bin.

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“Thank you,” he said. “I’ll be right over.”

With that, he turned and went back inside.

Elise blinked.

She had only meant to ask which dishes he wanted so she could heat them up and bring them over.

But a few minutes later, Harold knocked on her door with a pair of house slippers in hand.

Only then did Elise realize he had misunderstood.

She couldn’t exactly send him back across the hall carrying his slippers and his lunch, so she invited him in and asked him to wait in the living room.

Then she went into the kitchen.

Besides the boxed-up dishes, the fridge held some yogurt, fruit, and a carton of eggs Chloe had bought.

Elise cut up the fruit and added yogurt, then quickly made two bowls of egg-drop soup. Once she had heated the other dishes, lunch was ready.

Harold remained near the living room entrance after changing 3/6

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Chapter 31

into his slippers.

He watched Elise pull her still-damp hair into a loose ponytail before disappearing into the kitchen.

She moved easily between the counter, refrigerator, and stove, clearly used to taking care of herself.

Warm light fell across her slender figure as she worked, lending the quiet apartment a strangely domestic feel.

Harold watched her a moment longer than he intended.

Then he turned his attention to the apartment.

The space was bright and inviting, furnished in light wood and soft, natural tones. It was nothing like the cool, restrained

interior of his own home.

But something struck him as odd.

The White family had made its fortune in furniture, yet none of the furniture in Elise’s apartment came from their company.

That doesn’t add up. Is she on bad terms with her family?

Harold pinched the bridge of his nose and cut the thought off.

Elige had already thrown one of his compulsive routines off 19:55

Chapter 31

balance. He didn’t need her taking up any more space in his

head.

******

The egg-drop soup was still too hot, so Elise carefully carried one bowl out first.

Harold was used to being waited on, but even he knew he should help.

He took off his suit jacket and draped it over the arm of the couch. Then he rolled up his sleeves and walked into the

kitchen.

The kitchen wasn’t small, but the moment Harold stepped inside, the space suddenly felt cramped.

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