CHAPTER 155: EPISODE 2 - SPICY ARRABBIATA

At Ivory Towers,

Exhausted after a long day, Aveline took a shower in her apartment and went upstairs. But there was no one to open the door.

She checked the time, still half past six. She dialed his number. "Where are you?"

[Sunshine, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. 051524 is the code.]

Aveline entered the numbers and heard the door unlock. She stepped inside. "I don’t have the energy to go out for dinner," she whined, asking him to bring her dinner.

[If you aren’t craving anything specific, I’ll ask Martha to cook.]

Aveline couldn’t think of anything to eat. Instead, her eyes brightened. "Get her, now." She wanted to learn cooking.

[She’ll be there in less than five minutes.] The call ended.

Aveline stood in the open kitchen. First, she debated whether she should behave or explore, curiosity got the better of her. She began pulling open each drawer and cupboard and grinned when she spotted spaghetti. She placed it on the island, then skipped to the refrigerator and was amazed to see it completely filled with vegetables.

She had just picked tomatoes when the door opened. She peeked and saw Martha arrive. "Hello, Martha."

Martha smiled. "Ms. Laurent, could I help you if you’re looking for something?"

Aveline picked two more tomatoes and pushed the refrigerator door closed with her shoulder. "I would like you to teach me how to make pasta." She hummed thoughtfully as she reached the counter. "Maybe classic tomato and garlic pasta or spicy arrabbiata."

Martha looked at the tomatoes and nodded. "Maybe spicy arrabbiata is best during cold weather."

She reached for the tomatoes, but Aveline turned away. "I want to learn." She sounded like a teenager refusing help.

Martha chuckled. "Then wash the tomatoes. I’ll fetch the pan."

They began making the tomato puree seasoned with salt and oregano.

Alaric arrived to find Aveline standing in an apron like a little student and Martha helplessly standing aside.

The sharp lines on his face melted faster than snowflakes. It was a simple sight, yet warm enough to make his heart beat faster.

Aveline smiled, turned to him, and waved. "Go get fresh. I’m cooking for us."

That warmed corners of his heart he wasn’t even aware of. She was too exhausted to go out for dinner but had enough energy to cook.

He placed his blazer and laptop bag on the couch and headed to the kitchen. "I should learn too."

Martha: "..."

Aveline tilted her head and watched him roll up his sleeves and wash his hands thoroughly. She pointed at a drawer, and he retrieved an apron. Her smile widened when he stood before her and asked, "What are we learning?"

"Spicy arrabbiata." Aveline responded. "To make tomato puree, we need tomatoes, water, and salt." She pointed at the pot on the burner. "We’re boiling water and added a teaspoon of rock salt. Wait..."

She quickly picked up a box and showed him the rock salt. "It’s different from table salt. The taste is so rich." Having never seen rock salt before, she assumed he wouldn’t know about it either. She took a small piece and held it near his lips.

Alaric resisted smiling at her dedication to sharing what she’d learned. He opened his lips and she fed him. "Isn’t it?" she asked.

He nodded, the salt somehow tasting sweet on his tongue.

Then Aveline pointed at the tomatoes on the cutting board. "While the water comes to a boil, we have to make criss-cross cuts on the base of the tomatoes. Not at the stalk." She made small cuts on the third tomato to show him.

"You want to try?" She asked earnestly, holding the small knife.

Martha struggled to hide her smile as she watched the couple. Aveline was an obedient student who taught everything back to Alaric with dedication. And Alaric, despite knowing most basic cooking, quietly followed her lead.

All Martha could do was guide them, as it was also Alaric’s first time trying spicy arrabbiata.

After the garlic sizzled with a burst of sharp, mouthwatering aroma, Aveline stood closer to Alaric when the chili flakes began popping as they hit the oil, their spice prickling her nose.

Her phone began ringing. Aveline answered on speaker, focused on the pan, afraid of burning the garlic and red chili flakes.

"Dad..." She greeted Henry.

[Lina, didn’t you say you’d be home? Where are you? We rang the bell three times.]

Aveline wasn’t aware they were coming. She instinctively wanted to run downstairs but didn’t want to leave the cooking halfway.

She turned to Alaric, who was looking at her. He pondered for a second before nodding. "Call them here."

"Err... Dad, come upstairs."

Silence on both ends.

Aveline sniffed and cried, "Alaric, sauté..."

Alaric dimmed the flame, and Martha snapped out of her observation, rushing to the counter.

Henry responded hurriedly. [We’re coming.]

When Henry and Margaret walked in, they watched Alaric stirring tomato puree and Aveline seasoning with salt and oregano.

Margaret murmured her doubt. "Are they living together?"

"I don’t know," Henry whispered back, nodding at Alaric.

Aveline met them awkwardly and rushed back to the kitchen.

Once the sauce reached the right consistency, Martha explained, they turned off the burner so they could make it fresh at dinner time.

On Alaric’s instruction, Martha quickly began cooking side dishes in the secondary kitchen so four people could eat.

Meanwhile, Alaric went to freshen up, and Aveline sat with her parents.

Margaret slapped Aveline’s arm. "You didn’t tell me you were in a relationship."

Aveline couldn’t bring herself to deny it. "Technically, no."

Henry and Margaret: "..."

Aveline explained, "We had something to discuss, and Martha, the housekeeper, offered to help me learn cooking. It’s better I burn down the penthouse than my apartment."

Margaret almost choked. Henry chuckled instead. "Run away, we’ll clean up the mess later."

Aveline was giggling when Margaret gave them a stern look. She quickly explained why she had to de-escalate the situation with Seraphina Astor.

Alaric was on the stairs when Margaret asked Aveline, "How is Alaric’s relationship with his brother?"

"I don’t know," Aveline said truthfully. "Why?"

Margaret tried to give her opinion, but paused at the sight of Alaric.

Alaric had seen the concern on Margaret’s face. He chose to respond. "I’m his half-brother. Our relationship is anything but good."

Margaret glanced at Henry and smiled awkwardly. Aveline watched him take a seat beside her, but with enough space for another person. She wanted to grab his sleeve and tug him closer.

Alaric wanted to erase the distance as much as she did, if not more. But he wasn’t sure if he should do that in front of her parents.

As if reading his mind, she shifted closer as she spoke. "Dad and Mom were asking about Seraphina Astor. They were trying to deduce the possible reason."

Alaric resisted smiling at how smoothly she pretended to casually sit next to him. Yet he didn’t place his arm around her shoulder, resting it on the headrest instead.

Margaret and Henry understood what Aveline meant by ’technically’ not in a relationship. They smiled, not because she was finding love, but because she’d found someone with whom she could feel at home.

Alaric responded to what the Laurent couple wanted to know. "It could be because they want to remove me from the Lancaster family tree." To prevent him from inheriting anything from the Lancaster family.

That brought frowns to all three faces, not because Alaric would lose his inheritance, but because that’s not how family should treat each other.

Aveline tried to speak several times but didn’t know what to say.

Margaret voiced her thoughts instead. "We don’t have the right to speak about your family. Think of this as advice. It’s your right to fight for what you deserve. But sometimes, letting go gives you peace of mind to live your life." Her eyes landed on Aveline before she masked it with a polite smile.

They knew what worried Margaret, Aveline getting into another mess to solve.

Before Alaric could respond, Henry spoke, gently holding Margaret. "Alaric knows what to do. Don’t worry."

If Alaric could fight a battle against Damien to free Aveline, Henry was assured he would handle this situation meticulously to live a happy life with her.

Alaric swallowed the words on his tongue. He had earned that trust and intended to keep it.

He tugged at Aveline. "Let’s have food."

Aveline was quick to shift her mood to the food. She jumped up. "Dad, Mom, try our first cooking together."

They didn’t get to refuse. They watched as Aveline skipped away and handed an apron to Alaric as she put one on. However, as soon as she stood before the burner, she became very cautious and careful.

Alaric guided her on how much spaghetti would be needed for four people and the sauce they’d prepared beforehand. Watching him serve the plates so smoothly, as if they were in a restaurant, triggered her doubt. "You know how to cook?"

Alaric hummed as he added shredded cheese and a fresh basil leaf on top.

Aveline: "..."

Was she making a fool of herself?

When he finally turned to her, hearing her silence, she tossed her apron and huffed. "I’m not learning anymore. You cook for me."

Martha and the Laurent couple chuckled at her pout.