Chapter 4

My wedding with Ethan started at noon and lasted until late at night.

The wedding of a Sterling heir was more than just a ceremony; it was a massive networking event for the elite.

As the new daughter-in-law, I couldn't afford a single slip-up, which meant I barely ate a thing during the banquet.

As the eldest son, Ethan had even more to handle. I was sent back to his private villa first to rest.

Starving, I changed into comfortable loungewear and headed downstairs to the kitchen, but found nothing.

Only half a pack of dry pasta and a few raw ingredients.

Although I was neglected in the Vance house, they never actually starved me to keep up appearances.

Only on the rare occasions when Victoria took Chloe to galas and "accidentally" forgot to bring me along—and "accidentally" forgot to leave food—was I forced to cook.

But my attempts at cooking were always an absolute disaster.

Staring at the dry pasta, I sighed, pulled out my phone, and resignedly searched for a tutorial.

As I was fully concentrated, a male voice echoed from behind:

"Are you cooking downstairs? Can I have a bowl too?"

The sudden voice startled me, and a droplet of water hit the hot pan, sending hot oil splattering everywhere.

Ethan was quick. He instantly pulled me into his chest, shielding me from the hot oil.

Breathing in the faint scent of alcohol on him, I froze. My body went completely stiff, and I totally forgot about the pan until a burnt smell wafted through the kitchen.

"Oh no!"

I gently pushed Ethan away, only to find my precious pasta was already a burnt, sticky mess.

"Looks like I won't be getting any," Ethan said, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed, a soft smirk playing on his lips.

"My bad. I forgot you’ve been busy all day without eating. To make it up to you, let me cook."

"But there's no more pasta..."

"Oh?"

Ethan reached into the top cabinet and pulled out a brand-new pack of spaghetti, looking at me with amusement. I felt my face turn bright red, an intense wave of embarrassment washing over me.

"It's fine. It's normal to be unfamiliar with the kitchen since you just moved in."

Sensing my embarrassment, Ethan comforted me, the gentle smile never leaving his face.

Feeling a bit stubborn, I grabbed my phone and turned away, pretending to ignore him.

Watching me pout at the dining table, Ethan’s smile widened.

After a moment, I heard the sound of water boiling and couldn't help but peek over my phone.

It was actually quite funny. I, the neglected daughter, was a disaster in the kitchen, while the pampered, golden heir of the Sterling family was incredibly skilled at cooking.

Maybe it was the warmth of the kitchen, or maybe I was just exhausted from the long day, but as I stared at his back, my eyes grew heavy, and I drifted off to sleep.

I don’t know how much time passed, but a light tap on my forehead woke me up. I opened my eyes to see Ethan setting down two plates of pasta.

I rubbed my forehead, looking at him defensively.

"You..."

"Sorry. You looked so cute sleeping, I couldn't resist waking you up like that."

He apologized immediately, leaving me with nothing to complain about.

Even though he was smiling, why did he feel so teasingly mischievous?

I ignored him and picked up my fork, focusing on my food.

"I actually thought your sister would be the one marrying me," he said, breaking the silence.

My heart skipped a beat, though my face remained expressionless.

Could he be reborn too?