Falling for the Goddess

Applying the Medicine

In the afternoon, Alice Miller called to inform Sara Hart that she'd be returning to the old house for the night, so Sara Hart had dinner with Ella Duvall before heading home.

As soon as she stepped inside, Sara Hart noticed a pair of shoes by the entrance - Adrian Blake's shoes. He was home?

From the kitchen came the sound of pots and pans clinking together. Sara Hart walked over just as Adrian Blake emerged, holding a bowl of oatmeal.

He had casually rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, and the white porcelain bowl in his hand stood out against the warm glow of the kitchen lights. For a brief moment, Sara Hart felt a sense of unreality, as though she were dreaming.

"You're cooking?" Sara Hart asked, surprised.

"Yeah," Adrian Blake replied, sitting down at the dining table. "Auntie Alice's not here."

He had originally planned to return home for dinner after work, but upon arriving, he found the house empty, with no one around.

"There's more oatmeal in the pot," Adrian Blake added, spooning some oatmeal into his mouth. After a pause, he said, almost reluctantly, "Help yourself."

It took a second for Sara Hart to realize what he meant, and she couldn't help but smile. "Okay."

She served herself a bowl and sat across from Adrian Blake.

She wasn't really hungry, but the chance to eat something Adrian Blake had cooked himself wasn't something she could pass up, so she didn't mention that she'd already eaten.

The oatmeal was rich and creamy, with a light fragrance. He had added sugar, giving it a subtle sweetness.

Sara Hart sipped her oatmeal and stole a glance at Adrian Blake. His left hand held the bowl, long fingers curling around the porcelain. His right hand guided the spoon with elegant precision. His movements were so graceful they were almost mesmerizing, and she found herself captivated by the slight motion of his Adam's apple as he swallowed.

Biting her lip, Sara Hart forced herself to look away, struggling to find something to say. "I went to meet a friend today - the one you saw last time, Ella Duvall."

"Mm," Adrian Blake responded, his tone indifferent.

And then came the silence again.

Sara Hart didn't press the conversation further. She was never great at small talk, and besides, she didn't want to push him.

Adrian Blake finished eating first and cleared the table, putting the dishes into the dishwasher. Sara Hart took her time, savoring the oatmeal. She hadn't served herself much, but she ate slowly, hoping to extend their time together.

When Adrian Blake left for his study, Sara Hart washed up and returned to their bedroom to work on her laptop. She was preparing for a project meeting with her professor and senior mentor, so she needed to finish her presentation slides.

By the time Adrian Blake entered the bedroom, Sara Hart was still typing. He glanced her way before heading to the walk-in closet to grab his sleepwear and disappeared into the bathroom.

When he came out, Sara Hart had already begun tidying up her workspace.

"Your phone rang earlier," Sara Hart said as Adrian Blake passed by.

She hadn't checked who was calling, but she had noticed the sound while she worked.

Adrian Blake nodded, walking over to check his phone. It was a missed call from his grandmother. He called her back immediately.