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Novel Catalog
Chapter 90: Ainsley’s Finger Is Hurt
Ainsley washed her hands again and turned the heat up to full. She placed the meat she had bought from the supermarket into the pot. White foam floated on the surface, and the rising heat greeted her. Sweat began to form on her forehead, and just as she was about to wipe it away, Manuel handed her a tissue and gently wiped it for her.
“Thank you,” Ainsley said softly.
Manuel tossed the tissue into the trash, wiped his own hands, and began preparing the food. His hands were fair and slender. The kitchen knife seemed like an extension of him, moving with precision and grace, making his already fair hands appear even paler against the fresh green vegetables.
Ainsley watched him, her mind still lingering on the way he had wiped the sweat from her face. Her cheeks flushed involuntarily.
“Go wash the peppers,” Ainsley said, trying to distract herself as she scooped the meat out of the pot.
“Alright,” Manuel replied, immediately putting down the knife to wash the peppers.
Ainsley picked up the kitchen knife and began chopping the food, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Before she knew it, she had cut her finger.
“Ah!” she gasped.
“What’s wrong?” Manuel quickly put down the peppers and rushed to her side.
Ainsley clutched her hand, blood dripping between her fingers. She had been distracted and cut herself.
“I… I cut my finger,” she explained, wincing slightly from the pain.
Manuel hurried to wash his hands, then handed her a tissue. “Where’s the herbal tea kit?”
“It’s under the TV cabinet,” Ainsley replied.
Manuel turned off the stove and went to retrieve the kit. Ainsley stepped out of the kitchen, still holding her finger. Though it wasn’t a serious injury, the pain was enough to make her wince.
He gently guided her to the sofa and knelt in front of her. He took out the disinfectant from the herbal tea kit and carefully cleaned her cut with a cotton swab.
“Why are you so careless?” Manuel asked, his voice tinged with concern.
“I was distracted,” Ainsley admitted, flinching as the disinfectant stung her cut. She instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Manuel gently held her in place.
“What were you thinking about?” he asked, his voice smooth and teasing.
Ainsley hesitated, unsure whether to admit she had been thinking about him. But she stayed silent, feeling a little embarrassed.
After disinfecting the cut, Manuel carefully applied a waterproof band-aid. He placed the herbal tea kit back under the TV cabinet and stood up.
“Sit here. I’ll cook,” he said.
Ainsley’s heart raced as he walked away, leaving her staring at the band-aid on her finger. She leaned against the kitchen door and watched him cook, her mind swirling with thoughts.
How would others react if they knew Manuel was cooking for her?
She imagined Serina’s surprise at the supermarket, completely unaware of what had happened between her and Manuel. Ainsley was grateful Serina hadn’t come over. She wasn’t sure how her friend would have reacted to seeing the blood.
Manuel moved around the kitchen with focused intent, his movements fluid and confident. Ainsley couldn’t help but wonder how he worked in the office.
Suddenly, Manuel turned and flashed her a smile. “Do you enjoy watching me cook so much?”
“No,” Ainsley replied, trying to sound casual. “I was just worried you might not know how.”
“Alright,” he teased. “Then you should focus on the food. Otherwise, I’m afraid you might fall in love with me.”
Ainsley couldn’t help but laugh, though her mind briefly wandered to the memory of the feeling of his neck in her arms that day. She watched the sweat sliding down his face, admiring the sharpness of his jawline and the elegance of his neck.
“Do other people know you’re so narcissistic?” she asked playfully.
“No, only you,” he answered with a smirk.
Meanwhile, Cason sat in his car in the parking lot, still deep in thought. He hadn’t intended to stay so long, but after seeing Manuel earlier, a sense of discomfort lingered inside him. Why did he feel this way? He didn’t even like Ainsley. Yet, something about Manuel had unsettled him.
He lit a cigarette and let the smoke drift from his lips, pondering over his strange emotions. Maybe he had lost his mind.
After a moment, he crushed the cigarette and picked up a box of desserts he had bought. He needed to go home.
At home, Kaliyah had been waiting for him. When she saw the dessert bag, her eyes lit up with excitement.
“You bought dessert? I’ve heard of this shop, but I’ve never tried it. Did you get it for me?” she asked eagerly.
Cason, feeling a little embarrassed, nodded. “If you like it, I’ll take you there next time.”
Kaliyah’s smile widened as she set the box down. But when she opened it, she found not only the desserts but also a tube of scald ointment. She stared at it in confusion, her grip tightening around the ointment as memories of Ainsley’s burn from the Psychology Quiz Show came rushing back.
It was the ointment, and it wasn’t for her—it was for Ainsley. She realized that Cason had brought it home because he hadn’t given it to Ainsley yet. Anger and jealousy stirred in her, and in a fit of frustration, she tossed the dessert and ointment into the trash.
Kaliyah quickly composed herself and brought a cup of tea to Cason.
Later, after dinner, Ainsley stood up to clean the dishes but was stopped by Manuel.
“Let me do it,” he said softly, pointing to her injured hand.
Ainsley met his gentle gaze, her heart fluttering. She didn’t argue. She sat back on the sofa, the TV on, but she wasn’t paying attention to it. Her thoughts were entirely focused on Manuel.
She felt their relationship shifting, growing closer, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that things were becoming more complicated. She had once thought that Manuel only cared for her as Serina’s psychologist. But his actions—caring for her, cooking for her, making her herbal tea—made her wonder if he felt more than that.
Despite her best efforts to convince herself that their differences were too great, Ainsley couldn’t deny the emotions stirring within her. And she couldn’t shake the thought that maybe Manuel felt the same way.
Manuel returned to her side, gently pushing a cup of herbal tea into her hand.
“Does anyone know you’re so good at making herbal tea?” Ainsley asked, sipping the bitter drink.
Manuel smiled warmly. “Who else could make me do it, if not you?”
