He had insisted Stee pick up the parts in person, even though he could have easily sent an assistant. He had been looking for an excuse to see her even then.


    Hearing Leonard''s words, Ste lowered her gaze, hiding the thoughts in her eyes. She picked up the basket. "Let''s go back. These ingredients are most effective when they''re fresh."


    Leonard took the basket from her. "I''ll carry it."


    Ste nced at him but didn''t protest.


    Not long after they returned to the house, a servant delivered the herbs Ste had requested. Making the medicinal tonic was different from making regr soup; it required constant supervision and careful control of the heat, making it an exhausting process.


    Leonard came downstairs several times and saw Ste tending to the pot. "Let a servant watch it," he couldn''t help but say. "Go get some rest."


    "No," Ste refused. "If even one step is done wrong, the medicinal effects of this broth will be greatly diminished, or even lost entirely."


    Leonard watched Ste''s cheeks flush from the steam and found her incredibly alluring. His gaze fixed on her lips, and his throat tightened as his eyes darkened.


    When Ste casually looked up, she met Leonard''s deep, intense stare. Her hand, which was stirring the broth, trembled, and she identally touched the hot y pot. A sharp pain shot through the back of her hand, leaving a red mark.


    Leonard''s expression changed. He strode over, grabbed her hand, and examined it closely.


    Ste instinctively tried to pull away, but Leonard frowned. "Don''t move. Let me see."


    Forcing down her difort, she said, "It''s just a little red. It''s not serious. I''ll just put some ointment on it."


    "Then go put some on now," Leonard said.


    Ste took the opportunity to pull her hand from his grasp. "Alright."


    She called a servant over to watch the broth temporarily and went upstairs. The burn wasn''t serious enough to need a doctor. Leonard had stocked the house thoroughly with all sorts of supplies, including a wide array of medical items, leaving no excuse for a trip off the ind.


    Leonard found a tube of burn cream and tried to apply it for her, but Ste moved her hand away.


    "I can do it myself."


    He didn''t insist, silently handing her the tube of ointment. After applying the cream, Ste immediately stood up and left the first-aid room, as if she couldn''t bear to spend another second with him.


    "I''m going to check on the broth."


    Leonard watched her leave without trying to stop her. It wasn''t until she was back in the kitchen, with the


    servant still watching the pot, that Ste finally let her guard down Remembering the look in Leonard''s eyes her heart pounded with fear. It was the a man gives a woman


    when he wants her. Although sh?


    knew the servants wouldn''t stop him if he decided to do something,


    having other people around was


    better than beingpletely alone with him.


    She had to move her n forward.


    ***


    In the following days, Ste continued to prepare the medicinal tonic for Leonard every day. At the same time, she secretly collected herbs with certain properties. She didn''t dare take too much at once, afraid the inds doctor mig notice. She could only set aside a small amount each time she prepared Leonard''s broth. It took her a full week to gather a sufficient dose.