Chapter 32 The Farmers‘ Market
Tess hesitated, but remembering she also needed to cook, she nodded. “Alright.”
She smiled and gently teased La, who was quietly drinking her milk.
Before long, the two of them were walking through the farmers‘ market.
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The vendors‘ shouts mixed with theforting scent of fresh bread and pastries wafting from nearby stalls, filling the air with a cozy, homey charm.
La stared wide–eyed, her mouth slightly open in wonder.
Tess hadn’t expected such a lively street in what seemed like a remote suburb.
Charles noticed the surprise in her eyes and chuckled. “This area’s near the university district. A lot of students rent here. And even though it’s out of the way, the transport’s great. Plenty of young professionals from Aetheris settle here and take the subway into work.”
Tess nodded, now understanding.
They stopped by a vegetable stall.
“Do you like tomatoes, Tess?”
Charles picked up two and yfully waved them in front of her.
Her eyes lit up, and she nodded.
She was a picky eater–no spinach, no bell peppers, no garlic, no onions, no celery.
Back when she lived with her grandmother, the old woman would tug her ear and scold her with augh for being such a picky little thing.
She’d storm off in a huff, and minutester, her grandma would walk out of the kitchen with a te made from fresh tomatoes–sweet and tangy–and she’d clean the whole te.
But during that year and a half in prison, she learned to swallow whatever was given, without a word.
Picky eating belonged to the pampered Tess–not the convicted woman she’d be.
Staring at the two plump, red tomatoes in Charles’s hands, her eyes suddenly went red.
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Chapter 32 The Farmers‘ Market
Charles froze for a second, then fumbled to find a tissue, silently panicking–<i>Did </i><i>I </i><i>say </i><i>something </i>wrong<i>? </i>
“I’m fine.”
Tess sniffled and forced a dry smile.
He paused mid–search, a little stiff. “Really?”
His dumbstruck expression made Tess let out a softugh.
Only then did Charles finally rx, patting his chest. “You scared me.”
“My grandma used to make all kinds of tomato dishes,” Tess suddenly said, eyes fixed somewhere in the air, as if her grandmother stood right in front of her.
Her voice was soft and dazed–like it could vanish with the wind.
<i>So </i><i>she’s </i><i>remembering </i><i>her </i><i>grandma</i>.
Charles slowed his movements, quietly watching her from the corner of his eye.
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She had her head slightly lowered. A breeze from passing pedestrians lifted a few strands of hair from her forehead, revealing long, flutteringshes that blinked gently–enough to stir something in him.
He remembered her as Tess thewyer–undeniably beautiful. Objectively so.
But after a year apart, everything had changed–her looks, her temperament.
Her once glowingplexion had turned pale, almost bloodless. The eyes that used to brim with hope were now calm, like still water.
Most striking was the scar on her face–something that should’ve marred her beauty but didn’t. If anything, it gave her depth. A story. It blended with her newfound maternal softness in a way that was oddly captivating.
Charles blinked hard, trying to shake the unfamiliar tightness in his chest.
Then, clearly ovepensating, he turned away. “Missing your grandma, huh? What did she usually cook? I’m not too bad in the kitchen, so maybe I can try to recreate it.”
Hearing that, Tess felt a warmth bloom in her chest, but she still shook her head with a smile.
<i>No </i><i>one </i><i>could </i><i>ever </i><i>replicate </i><i>Grandma’s </i><i>cooking</i>.
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Chapter 32 The Farmers‘ Market
“What else do we need?”
After picking out a few more vegetables, she shifted her gaze back to the produce and changed the subject, tilting her head toward Charles.
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He quickly gathered himself, rubbing his chin. “Cucumbers? Maybe some fish too. I heard it’s great for postpartum recovery.”
They chatted back and forth as they walked. From behind, they looked just like a young couple enjoying a quiet morning shopping together–warm, peaceful, like a cozy little family of three.
As long as one didn’t notice the faint pink creeping up Charles’s ears.
Up in a nearby apartment, a pair of eyes locked onto their backs, practically burning holes through them.
Finn’s stare was ice–cold.<fn1760> This text is hosted at FindN()vel</fn1760>
Behind his eyes, a storm brewed, dark and twisted, barely restrained, like a restless caged beast, ready to rip through its bars and drag Tess away.
She was supposed to be his wife.
His gaze slowly shifted,nding on Charles’s youthful frame. Danger flickered there.
Down below, Tess rubbed her arm, suddenly feeling a chill.
Up ahead, Charles was carefully picking through the vegetables. Only when both hands were full–bags of fish and produce–did he finally stop.
“Baby rattle! Five bucks each!”
Just as they were about to leave, a vendor called out, waving a pink baby rattle in the air.
La giggled and reached out, trying to grab it.
The vendor’s eyes lit up, and he turned to Tess with a grin. “Your baby loves it! Come on, buy her one!”
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