With the cat around, Ste found the days more bearable. Seeing how much she liked it, Leonard let her keep the kitten with her all day.


    And so, a week passed without notice. During that time, Ste fulfilled her role, cooking for him almost every day. Sometimes she made her specialty dishes, other times she made his favorites. In her free time, she would paint or y with the cat. Leonard, true to his word, hadn''t touched her and rarely even entered her room. This allowed Ste''s frayed nerves to rx slightly.


    One day, Ste was in the garden picking vegetables, the kitten weaving around her legs with its tail swishing. A tall, imposing figure appeared at the garden gate. Lost in her task of selecting vegetables, Ste didn''t notice the man''s arrival.


    The sun illuminated the woman''s delicate, fair profile, casting a soft golden glow on her that made her look ethereal, like a dream. Leonard found himself mesmerized, staring at her.


    It was the kitten who spotted him first, letting out a "meow" before darting over and leaping into his arms.


    Sensing something, Ste turned and looked in his direction, seeming a little surprised. "What are you doing here?"


    Leonard''s dark eyes deepened as he watched her carefully selecting fresh vegetables. "The servants told me you were out here picking vegetables, so I came to see."


    He walked over to her. Noticing the dirt on her hands, he said, "You can let the servants do this."


    Ste wiped the sweat from her forehead. "The servants don''t understand the medicinal properties of these nts. They can''t pick the right ingredients."


    Leonard''s gaze flickered. "Medicinal properties?"


    "You look pale," Ste said. "It''s likely due to poor health in your youth. Since taking over the family, you''ve probably been so busy with work you haven''t taken care of yourself, have you?"


    Leonard''s voice became inexplicably hoarse. "No, I haven''t."


    "I''ll prepare some restorative medicinal tonic for you while I''m here," Ste said. "I''ll


    do my best to help you get your health back on track."


    Leonard was taken aback. "You''re going to make medicinal tonic for me?"


    He had kidnapped her and brought her here. He was already content that she was willing to cook for him, he wouldn''t have dared to ask for. more le never expected she would offer to prepare medicinal meals for him.


    Ste pointed to the basket of fresh ingredients on the ground. "These are for the base. I''ve already made a list of the other herbs I need. We can just get them from the doctor on the ind."


    Leonard''s dark eyes grew


    impossibly deep. He looked down at


    her and suddenly spoke. "So many


    people would rather see me dead


    Aurora was just using me, and even Simone Lerman only wanted my protection. No one has ever


    genuinely cared about me. You''re the first."


    His childhood had been difficult; there were even times he didn''t have enough to eat. After bing the head of the family, he had everything he could ever want. But he threw himself into his work, never paying any mind to his own health or taking any steps to prove it Even when he was hospitalized, he''d dive back into work the moment he recovered from his injuries. That''s why, when he saw how diligently Ste cared for Joshua in the hospital, meticulously preparing meals to aid his recovery, Leonard had been consumed with a maddening jealousy.


    Perhaps his feelings for her had started to change long ago, back when Aurora''s


    Dawnlight was destroyed and he had offered to provide her with parts.