Extra Characters:(1) Trinette Dubios Li - grandmother of LJ
(2) Francine Tan - chosen wife by Grandma Li
(3) w.a.n.g Yiren - Li Hong"s wife
(4) Tiffany Li - daughter of Li Hong and w.a.n.g Yiren / LJ"s half-sister
(5) Vivian Li - LJ"s cousin / bride of Tang Qi
(6) Anthony Chen - LJ"s cousin
(7) Julia Chen - wife of Anthony Chen
(8) Karlie Chen - LJ"s cousin
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July 11, 20xx
Kotor, Montenegro
The beep prompted him to grab his phone with his right hand while the left maneuvered the car on the empty highway. They are returning to the isolated beach property which was more than 5 kilometers from the city center.
Before he could click the message, the phone was wrestled from his hand and a reprimanding voice said "Concentrate on driving."
And hid the phone inside the compartment.
It was dark and the lamppost barely illuminates the road. She"s worried of getting into an accident.
"Okay, I"ll listen to my wife." smiling, he said.
Later, when he parked the car, he took his phone and checked it.
The corners of his mouth turned promptly and replied "Okay. You can stay."
This compelled Yan s.h.i.+ to glance back, noticing that sly smile on his face.
"Want to see something nice?"
Without waiting for her answer, he lifted and showed a picture of two people kissing. Instantly recognizing who they were, she blushed.
"Delete it." she mouthed.
"No." he said in finality and pocketed it. She eyed were he placed them in an attempt to take it.
Her hand froze mid-air when the man"s chuckle was heard along with his teasing "I can undress if you want to see it."
Instantly, her face became redder.
*****
The two quietly carried the grocery bags inside, taking the wide stone stairway and bal.u.s.trade leading to the main door. Yan s.h.i.+ didn"t want to speak to him.
Other than the television in the living room with the sound of Chinese conversation being played on, the house seemed dead, unlike how it was this morning.
Li Jie had been used to this. His grandparents are usually in bed before 9. Not unless, they are attending functions.
Julia Chen noticed them and waved her hand but never withdrew her eyes that was glued on the show.
*
Wooden cupboards where the dishwares are tucked away, rack with pots and pans dangling from it and high end kitchen appliances were the things that caught her attention upon entering.
Her eyes followed Li Jie as he segregated everything they needed for tonight and pack the fruits and greens in the fridge. While having dinner outside, he mentioned that tomorrow is his grandmother"s birthday so he accompanied her to search but after an hour of checking shops inside the mall, there seemed nothing appropriate.
The annoyance on her face was noticeable so he suggested on making his grandma"s favorite desert.
Though she"s not confident with her kitchen skills, she"ll try. Her purpose was not to please the woman but to make something for her birthday.
While putting the ap.r.o.n on her, he hugged her at the same time.
"What are you doing again?" she elbowed him in response. He moved away laughing and stood on the opposite side of the wide marble kitchen island.
Yan s.h.i.+ sighed.
"This man liked to take advantage of every situation to hug her. If not kiss her."
Recalling the conversation at the restaurant this evening, a dark expression flashed her eyes.
"Let"s take out 1 day to the validity of contract." she announced as she was forcing herself to finish the black risotto (a) on the table. Just looking at the color made her lose her appet.i.te.
The man"s questioning eyes gawked at her.
"Why? because you kissed me twice even if your family members were not around." she informed with annoyance in her voice.
"No" he refused shortly.
"Why no?" she asked in raised brows.
"The contract states, kissing and hugging is possible everyday."
The line on her forehead grew wider.
He took his phone and showed him a photo.
On the first part of the contract, it states : Kissing and hugging everyday.
"What in the world?" she herself.
Realizing he must have added the word everyday when she was not looking, she felt being duped.
In anger, she deleted it.
Seeing her action, he teased her more. "Even if you delete it, the original is still in the yacht."
Thinking of it now, the contract seemed to be nothing already. It"s valueless. It won"t protect her at all from this pervert.
She heaved a sigh. She thought falling in love is great.
These are the times she wished she didn"t.
***
She listened and followed his instructions with preciseness on how to make the Croatian dessert his grandmother liked. From making and mixing the dough to melting the b.u.t.ter and chocolate.
Thirty minutes later, she added the last layer of dough on the two she flattened.
Yan s.h.i.+ used the back of her hand to hide the yawn that was about to escape her mouth for the nth time. But all of these didn"t slip past his eyes. This stirred his heart and decided to take it from there.
After tempering the chocolate with the consistency required, he poured the glaze over the three layered dough on the square baking pan before tapping it gently to even out the surface and release air bubbles.
He covered and put the bajadera (b) inside the fridge.
*
"Let"s go."
Then, suddenly carried her out of the kitchen.
"But---" she complained while her eyes were directed to their mess.
There was a part of him that wanted to clean it up first, but the notion that his wife was tired won over.
"Never mind."
Heaving a deep sigh, she tilted her head on his chest and closed her heavy eyelids.
Everything that happened in the kitchen fell to Julia"s eyes. She was getting distracted by view of the sweet couple. Because of this, she couldn"t help missing her husband.
*********
July 12, 20xx
Kotor, Montenegro
It was almost 11 when she strutted down the circular stairs, trying to conceal the embarra.s.sment. When she woke up 15 minutes ago, she cursed the man for turning off her alarm.
Although, she didn"t really want to leave a bad impression on them, there is nothing she can do. It happened already.
Putting on the practiced smile, she followed where the voices were coming from.
The closer she got outside, the voice became more familiar every second.
Karlie Chen immediately stood up at the sight of her entering the outdoor seating area, which gives the view of a wide expanse of blue sea.
Li Jie"s attempt to hug his wife was halted because Karlie was already on her arms. She squealed "Blythe" which Yan s.h.i.+ surmised, it hurt her eardrums.
"I miss you girl." she cried and clung to her.
Although it was quick, but Li Jie noticed her wincing expression. Hence, he glared at Karlie and his cousin moved away with her laugh ringing to everyone"s ears.
She looked at the redhead and the connection sank.
Karlie Chen. Anthony Chen.
Unexpectedly, the person she met in Delhi is his cousin. No wonder, the likeness between Vivian Li and Karlie Chen is uncanny
*
Li Jie held his wife"s hand and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Morning lazy head."
Being reminded of waking up late because of him triggered her anger and was about to pinch his side. However, she realized all eyes on them so instead, she snaked her arm around his waist and walked to the unoccupied sofa.
In addition to the people she met the day before, there was Anthony Chen who waved his hand.
"This is yours." he said and handed her a gla.s.s.
"Thanks" she muttered and batted her eyelashes giving that dreamy look.
"Gosh, you are getting better at this." Yan s.h.i.+ applauded herself.
The envy on their eyes can"t be hidden.
To Francine, Nick"s devotion to his wife is something she desired. Since yesterday, she saw with her own eyes how he took care of her.
To w.a.n.g Yiren, she wished her husband would do the same thing as his son.
But to the Li grandchildren, there was happiness in them. Especially Karlie who couldn"t stop her mouth from saying "You guys should be thankful of me. Because of me, you met."
Trinette"s forehead puckered due to this statement and probed suspiciously "What do you mean?"
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Tidbit of Info:
(a) black risotto - traditional dish in Croatia and some parts of Montenegro and Albania. The recipe is the same with the Italian risotto except for the cuttlefish being added. This makes the color dark.
(A/N: It tastes great but I hated the color.)
(b) Bajadera - is a Croatian layered nougat with almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts. It is often served during Christmas.