Chapter 88
Emily bought some basic necessities at the supermarket. Though she hadn’t managed to move out of the Bennett villa this time, she knew she would leave eventually. She belonged here.
Before going back to the apartment, Emily figured the place would be dark and a total mess.
When Emily rescued Austin, whose clothes were soaked in blood and torn, she could tell right away the fabric was high-end-better than most suits Andrew had.
Therefore, she knew he wasn’t someone who would live in a rundown apartment like this. They were strangers whose paths crossed in a crisis, and they wouldn’t see each other again in most circumstances.
However, as soon as Emily opened the door, the scene before her was nothing like she had imagined.
The dim light was replaced by a bright one. The messy room had been cleaned up, with some broken old furniture removed. Though not finely decorated, the place was tidy and spotless.
A green tablecloth covered the old table, topped with several fresh dishes, giving the room a faint sense of warmth.
Emily was still in shock when Austin came out of the kitchen wearing a blue apron, carrying two plates. He smiled at her and said, “I’m glad you’re back. I just cooked this. Do you want to give it a try?”
His bright smile threw Emily off for a moment. She wanted to ask why Austin was still here, but somehow she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Still in a daze, Emily was gently guided by Austin to sit down at the table.
Those dishes weren’t beautifully presented, but they smelled and tasted great. They felt better than the meals the Bennett family’s chefs usually made.
Emily looked genuinely surprised. “Wow, I had no idea you could cook this well.”
Austin beamed at the compliment. “I usually just cook for myself, so I’ve practiced a lot.”
Emily didn’t press him on why he cooked for himself. Instead, she glanced at the dishes and asked, “Are you a vegetarian?”
Austin’s face fell with frustration. He said, “Emily, you only left me 60 dollars. After meds and basics, meat is just not in the budget.” He sounded kind of sad about it.
Emily froze for a second. Then she got up and pulled a box from her bag. “This is some roasted chicken from my workplace. It’s fresh. Do you want it?”
Austin’s eyes lit up, his smile growing even brighter. “Hell yeah. I want it.”
The roasted chicken was still warm. Austin took them out and placed them on the plate. Then he looked at Emily and said, “It smells amazing.”
They took their time eating. Honestly, it was the most peaceful meal Emily had had in years. However, her stomach got messed up back at St. Gabriel Reform Academy, so she couldn’t eat too much.
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Chapter 88
After dinner, Emily started unpacking the things she had brought with her. She had some basics and two sets of sheets but didn’t buy a blanket because she didn’t have enough cash.
That didn’t matter because Austin, with only a little money, managed to get two worn ones.
“I got these at Goodwill. They’re a little old, but they’re clean.” Austin sounded a little proud as he recounted the story. “By the way, people in the neighborhood thought I was coming to the city for college, so they helped me a
lot.”
Seeing his proud look, Emily couldn’t help but smile.
She laid out all her belongings, including the painting stuff she brought from the Bennett villa and a single painting.
