Chapter 29: A Name from the Past

Fraser’s gaze softened for a brief moment. He reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Summer’s ear. His fingertips brushed against her skin, warm and deliberate. Summer instinctively flinched. Her ears felt like they were on fire. Desperate to cover up her flustered state, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“Why is he called Pudding?”

Fraser’s expression shifted slightly. A fleeting memory surfaced in his mind, making his usually sharp eyes turn strangely gentle.

“The person who found him… really liked pudding.” He continued, “Liked it so much that every time he waited for her at the hospital, he always had pudding ready. And every time she arrived and saw the dessert in his hands, her entire face would light up. Her dark, bright eyes would sparkle with delight, her smile soft and warm. She was so easy to please. Until one day, she never showed up again. And the pudding in his hands melted, one after another.”

Later, Fraser had bought out the entire company that produced them. It was a name chosen on a whim, but one that carried far more meaning than anyone knew.

Summer looked up at him, puzzled.

“So Pudding wasn’t originally yours? Someone else found him?”

She couldn’t help but be surprised. Fraser, Havenbrook’s Bossman, had adopted a stray?

“How long have you been taking care of him?”

“Thirteen years.”

Summer nodded slowly. “That must mean that person was really special to you.” That was the only reason he would care so much about the dog.

Fraser shifted his gaze from Pudding back to Summer, his tone uncharacteristically serious.

“Yeah. She was important to me.”

Another first love. Why did men always have a first love? Trevor had one. And now Fraser did too. Summer didn’t know why, but the thought left an unpleasant feeling in her chest. Maybe it was the trauma Peyton had left behind.

She hesitated before asking, “And where is Pudding’s original owner now?”

Fraser’s voice was light, but there was an underlying sharpness.

“She doesn’t remember him anymore.”

Summer frowned.

“What? Pudding’s so cute. How could she forget him? Who could be that heartless?”

Fraser’s lips curled slightly. Did this woman have any idea that she was insulting herself? His tone was lazy, almost amused.

“She’s just that heartless.” She had forgotten not only the dog—but also him.

Summer met his gaze. For some reason, Fraser’s eyes seemed darker than usual, like he was hiding something just beneath the surface. Before she could dwell on it, Pudding came bounding toward them again, toy ball in his mouth. This time, just as he was about to launch himself onto Summer, Fraser caught him mid-air.

Woof woof! The dog protested, clearly saying, “I want Mom to hold me!”

Fraser, unimpressed, gave him a firm pat on the head.

“You’re too heavy. You’ll crush her.”

Summer blinked, a little embarrassed. She could handle holding Pudding. Her waist might suffer a bit, but she wouldn’t break.

“Let’s go,” Fraser said.

“Where?”

“Dinner.”

“Oh.” Summer wanted to say she wasn’t hungry. Now that she had secured the Graham Group’s investment, she was more interested in heading back to the office to finalize details for the global expansion. But… leaving right after sealing the deal probably wasn’t the best move when the man footing the bill was standing right in front of her.

In the villa’s grand dining hall, Summer played with Pudding while Fraser was in the kitchen. She glanced over at the tall figure by the counter. His head was slightly lowered, his side profile sharp and well-defined. Every feature seemed meticulously sculpted—deep eyes, straight nose, a strong jawline. His rolled-up sleeves revealed toned, muscular arms. There was something captivating about the contrast between his refined presence and the effortless way he handled the knife. No wonder people said that men who could cook were the most attractive. Trevor had never once cooked for her. Yet here was Fraser, casually making dinner himself.

Summer took Pudding’s paws in both hands and swayed them playfully.

“Fraser can actually cook?”

Woof woof! Pudding barked excitedly as if agreeing.

Fraser shot a glance at them from the kitchen.

“You and that dumb dog sure have a lot to talk about.”

Summer stood up, brushing off her dress.

“I don’t like sitting around for a free meal. Do you need help?”

“You can cook?”

“Of course.” She had learned how to cook at a young age, always preparing meals for Yolanda. Later, after getting together with Trevor, she had taken cooking classes just to match his picky taste.

Fraser’s dark eyes lingered on her for a moment before he gave a simple instruction.

“Just sit and wait.”

Minutes later, he carried a few dishes to the table.