Vespera paused, holding the half-wrapped bandage in confusion. “I’m almost done. Was I too rough?”

Dominic’s expression was unreadable, a mix of seriousness and something else she couldn’t place. Without answering, he pushed her hands away. “Enough. I’ll handle the rest myself.”

His voice was cold, his breathing uneven. Vespera froze, a flicker of irritation rising in her chest. She had been as careful as possible, changing his bandages with precision. She thought, “Why isn’t he satisfied? This guy is impossible to please!”

Being his assistant was so much harder than she ever imagined. Dominic seemed to realize his reaction was too harsh. He turned away, his voice softening slightly. “Go to the kitchen and make me something to eat.”

Vespera thought to herself that she was done with this, but just as the words were on the tip of her tongue, she forced herself to hold them back. She got off the bed. After kneeling for so long, her legs were numb. As soon as her feet touched the ground, they buckled, and she uncontrollably dropped to her knees.

Dominic was startled, his sharp gaze lowering to her. She was on her knees, hands braced against the bed for support, looking utterly pitiful. “Why are you kneeling to me? Trying to negotiate a raise?” he teased.

Vespera shot him a glare. “My legs are numb!”

She huffed, sitting on the carpet to rub her knees. Once the tingling subsided, she stood up and walked off. Dominic sat in silence for a moment. Then, slowly, the corners of his lips curled into a smile.

In the kitchen, Vespera opened the fridge with frustration. The entire “berole savior” image she had of him was completely shattered. She knew that no matter how much effort she put into making a full meal, Dominic would find something to nitpick.

She spotted some fresh spaghetti and decided to quickly make him a simple bowl of spaghetti bolognese. She grabbed some tomatoes, onions, and garlic, casually tossing them together to create a light, simple dish. When she carried the plate to the dining room, she saw that Dominic had already left his room and was sitting in the living room.

“Are you eating here?” she asked.

Dominic stood. “I’ll eat in the dining room.”

Vespera thought, “Then why were you sitting here?” Holding back her annoyance, she carried the plate over to the dining table and set it down.

Dominic sat down, staring at the spaghetti bolognese. After a few seconds of silence, he finally said, “Not bad.”

Vespera gave him a polite smile. “As long as you like it, Mr. Berid.” Vespera forced a smile, but inside, she was rolling her eyes. “So sarcastic. Fine. Whatever. Eat it or don’t, I don’t care,” she thought.

Dominic spoke up, “I can’t finish it on my own. Get a bowl, and I’ll give you some.”

“I’m not hungry,” Vespera replied curtly, refusing without hesitation. She didn’t want to share a bowl of pasta with him at all. She had come over sincerely to check on him, only to be met with sarcasm. She had carefully helped him with his bandages, but he complained that she was too rough. Now she had made him a simple meal, and once again, he found a way to mock her. She thought, “Does he thank me? Doesn’t he have any pride?”

He stared at her for a while before speaking. “I’m sorry.” The frustration she had been holding back was clear on her face. Dominic noticed it.

Vespera blinked in surprise. She questioned whether she had misheard his apology. Her irritation started to fade. “If you can’t finish it, just leave the rest,” she said.

“I was talking about earlier,” Dominic added.

“Earlier?” Vespera raised an eyebrow. She had no idea what he was referring to. But he didn’t explain. Instead, he lowered his gaze and started eating.

Vespera watched as he slowly finished the entire bowl, quietly and methodically. When he was done, he wiped his mouth and looked up. “It was good,” he said.

She inwardly replied, “Finally.” Vespera wasn’t in the mood to dwell on his thoughts anymore. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go now.”

She waited for him to nod and let her go. Instead, Dominic stared at her for a long moment, making her wonder if something was on her face. Before she could ask if he needed anything else, he spoke, “In the future, it doesn’t matter where I am or who I’m with. You don’t need to avoid me.”

“If you want to come in, just come. And… whatever happens between us, I won’t let it become gossip.” His expression was serious, his eyes intense, as though he wanted to swallow her whole.