<b>Chapter </b><b>285 </b>


    The kitchen was filled with the scent of chicken soup.


    Joshua walked in, eyebrows furrowed, and snatched the spoon right out of Xylia’s hand.


    “Didn’t I say you weren’t allowed in the kitchen?” Joshua’s voice was cold, his expression stormy with anger.


    Xylia tried to defend herself, “It’s just now and then. It’s no big deal, right?”


    She thought Joshua was making a mountain out of a molchill. She knew her way around a kitchen, and it wasn’t like she’d never set foot in here again.


    Joshua’s irritation only grew when he saw her attitude.


    “In this family, women don’t do kitchen duty. From now on, don’t you even think abouting in here,” he snapped.


    With that, he shoved Xylia out of the kitchen.


    Xylia wasn’t about to back down. “But I was just making some nourishing chicken soup for Grace. Is that really a problem?”


    “That’s what the servants are for. And if worstes to worst, if I’m home, you could’ve just asked me to do it instead,” Joshua shot back.


    “But you’re busy with work, and making the soup myself shows how much I care,” Xylia argued.


    Xylia snapped back.


    It wasn’t even about the soup, really. Xylia just couldn’t ept how Joshua was always so bossy, insisting on keeping her out of the kitchen no matter what.


    ‘No way I’m spending the rest of my life banned from the kitchen, Xylia grumbled inwardly, her defiance burning even stronger.


    “I said no,” Joshua repeated, his voice sharp with frustration.


    Joshua’s face was stormy, his words dripping with raw emotion.


    Xylia fixed her gaze on him, refusing to back down.


    An uneasy silence settled between them, with sparks of anger flickering just beneath the surface.


    They didn’t say a single word to each other all the way to the hospital where they went to see Grace.


    This was the very first fight they’d ever had since bing a couple.


    And it was nothing but a silly argument about whether Xylia was allowed in the kitchen.


    <b>6:59 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    及川野


    When they arrived at the hospital, Xylia grabbed the chicken soup from Joshua, head down and refusing to speak, her stubbornness written all over her face as she marched ahead.


    Joshua watched her walk away, his face clouded with gloom, and he kept silent too.


    It wasn’t until they stepped into Grace’s hospital room that Xylia’s smile finally returned.


    “Grace, how are you feeling today?” Xylia asked gently.


    Grace’s face lit up when she saw Xylia.


    “I’m feeling so much better! But you really didn’t have to make chicken soup and bring it all the way here—it’s such a hassle for you,” Grace said, clearly touched.


    “How could making chicken soup for you ever be a hassle?” Xylia replied with a genuine smile. “Here, give it a taste and see if you like it.”


    By the time Joshua had kicked her out of the kitchen, the soup was almost done.


    Seriously, the only thing Joshua actually did was toss some chopped scallions on top when hedled out the


    soup.


    Joshua followed Xylia into the room and greeted Grace warmly.


    Grace’s gaze drifted between the two of them. On the surface, they seemed perfectly friendly, both sporting polite smiles, but she could instantly pick up on the chilly tension hanging between them.


    Grace saw right through it. ‘Yep, these two just had a fight,‘ she thought.


    She let out a helpless little sigh and gave a wan smile. ‘Young couples–guess dramaes with the territory.


    Grace couldn’t quite figure out what could’ve gotten under Xylia’s skin. Xylia was always known for her gentle, easygoing nature–what on earth could have made her lose her temper this time?


    Grace nced at Joshua, her smile full of maternal warmth.


    “Joshua, my husband went home to grab me some fresh clothes, and if I’m not mistaken, he should be back anytime now. Could you please go downstairs and meet him for me?”


    Joshua nodded and quietly walked out of the room.


    As he left, Joshua’s gaze lingered on Xylia for a moment. Seeing herpletely ignore him, his expression sank even deeper–he could feel that familiar frustration simmering inside.


    Once Joshua was out of the room, Xylia’s shoulders finally loosened up, but she still couldn’t hide how down she felt.


    Grace took it all in, not missing a thing.


    She slowly sipped the chicken soup. “It’s been ages, Xylia. You’ve really gotten even better at this.”


    <b>6:59 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>26 </b>


    Grace’s words snapped Xylia back to reality.


    Xylia realized what Grace was saying, and forced out a smile.


    “I’m d you like it,” Xylia replied.


    <b>“</b><b>Is </b>this your handiwork, or did Joshua cook it?” Grace teased, her tone warm and yful.


    At the mention of Joshua, Xylia’s smile dropped in an instant.


    “I made it,” Xylia muttered after a pause, her tone dull. “Joshua just sprinkled a few scallions on top, that’s about it.”


    There was still a sulky edge in her voice–anyone could tell she was holding onto that grudge.


    Grace set her bowl aside and gave Xylia a knowing smile. “So, you guys had a spat?”


    Xylia stayed quiet for a couple of seconds.


    But the annoyance was already simmering inside her, and with Grace being her old teacher, she just couldn’t keep it bottled up any longer. She finally let it all pour out in a rush.


    By the time she was done, Xylia couldn’t hide how upset she was, her words turning into a string ofints.


    “Grace, do you think Joshua is just being petty? Am I seriously supposed to never step foot in a kitchen again?” she grumbled, frustration clear in her voice.


    Grace listened patiently, letting Xylia vent all her frustrations. Once she’d finished, Grace let out a soft chuckle, unable to resist poking a little fun.


    “Seriously, are you trying to throw all this lovey–dovey stuff in the face of someone my age?” Grace teased yfully.


    “Come on, Grace!” Xylia protested, her tone half sulky, half embarrassed.


    Xylia gave Grace a mock–using re.


    She knew if she told anyone else about this, people would just say she was humblebragging.


    After all, Joshua treated her like a queen–he wouldn’t even let her lift a finger in the kitchen. Where on earth could she find another man so ridiculously doting?


    But honestly, Xylia felt he was taking it a little too far.


    Back in Norhill, any time she set foot in the kitchen, Joshua would burst in and practically drag her out, all bossy urgency and no patience.


    She’d always felt a flicker of annoyance in her heart, but she’d just kept it to herself.


    Now, though, all that bottled–up frustration finally came out.


    <b>6:59 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>26


    (95)


    Be vouchers


    And seriously, if they were butting heads over something this trivial, who’s to say what other drama might pop up once they actually tie the knot?


    Xylia couldn’t help but let her thoughts run wild–getting all pessimistic in a sh, her heart twisting into knots, aching quietly inside.


    Grace reached out and held Xylia’s hand, her voice warm and tender. “Can’t you tell? Joshua just can’t bear to see you run yourself ragged.”


    Xylia nced up at Grace, eyes wide, silent.


    “All those years you were married to Connor, you spent so much time working away in the kitchen. You always said Joshua pulled you out of that exhausting life. But you should realize, while he was helping you, how much his heart ached for you every step of the way.”


    Xylia’s mind drifted back to the first time Joshua had cooked for her.


    Back then, she was still married to Connor, suffering under the Ford family’s harsh treatment.


    Joshua would stubbornly refuse to let her go near the kitchen, always saying it was no ce for women.


    At the time, Xylia had been deeply touched.


    But now, she couldn’t help but wonder–why did that sense of being moved fade away?


    But now, she was actually getting mad at Joshua for being so stubborn?


    Xylia frowned, starting to seriously question herself–how had things changed to this point?


    Grace seemed to pick up on exactly what Xylia was thinking. Her words were gentle, but each sentence struck a chord deep in Xylia’s heart.


    “You think Joshua’s being too forceful now, but maybe it’s because you feel so loved and cherished by him that you’repletely at ease–free enough to just let yourself go and even throw little fits in front of him. Really, would you have dared to do that before?”


    Xylia found herself thinking back to those days when she’d force down her pain and bite back everyint–no matter how badly she was treated, she’d just grit her teeth and <i>keep </i>quiet.


    But after getting together with Joshua, she’d loosened up a bit; now she could show her feelings whenever the mood struck, not bothering to hide anything anymore.


    ‘Is this what happens when someone loves you so much you just stop holding yourself back?‘ Xylia mused to herself.


    Her chin dropped to her chest as she slipped into a daze, lost in her swirling thoughts.


    Grace just watched Xylia quietly, not interrupting her, letting her sort through her feelings on her own.


    She understood her student all too well–she knew exactly what was going through Xylia’s head right now.


    <b>0.39 </b>


    ги<b>, </b><b>бер </b><b>20 </b>


    :..


    Years ago, when Xylia married Connor, it was because she had nowhere else to turn. That’s why she keptpromising in that marriage, putting up with everything just to survive.


    But now, she’d finally found the real deal–this was true love.


    田