Chapter 28

Latisha was a hard worker. In addition to washing dishes, she would proactively clear tables after customers left. The couple watched her, impressed and a little guilty that they weren't paying her.

Contrary to what Clifford believed, Latisha didn't run back home. In fact, she loved it there. The owner and his wife were kind to her. They ate together, went shopping for supplies together, and she felt a happiness she had never known with Clifford. For a fleeting moment, she almost believed she had found a real home.

The owner's wife tried to teach her how to cook, but Latisha already knew how. Clifford was an incredibly picky eater; he could detect the slightest deviation in seasoning. After they were married, she had spent every day practicing, perfecting her cooking to match his tastes.

So when Latisha cooked for them, the owner's wife was stunned. "Latisha, have you done this before? Are you a chef?"

Latisha smiled and nodded.

"Amazing! It feels like a waste to have you washing dishes. Do you want to be our cook?"

Latisha quickly waved her hands, declining. The smell of cooking oil made her nauseous, and she was afraid she might accidentally get sick in a pan one day.

Just as the woman was about to say more, a wave of nausea hit Latisha. She rushed to the corner trash can and dry-heaved, managing only to bring up some sour liquid.

The owner's wife hurried over and patted her on the back. "What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"

Latisha straightened up, wiped her mouth, and placed a hand on her stomach. She signed to the woman that she was pregnant.

The woman's jaw dropped. "You're pregnant? Then... where's your husband?" Latisha's lips tightened as she typed a message on her phone: [He doesn't want us.] She felt it was the truth. She had been gone for days, and Clifford hadn't sent a single message. He probably hadn't even been back to the villa. He was likely relieved that she was gone. This way, he wasn't technically breaking his promise to his grandfather, and he could be with Yesenia without any guilt.

It was what she had expected, but the thought still settled like a stone in her heart.

The woman read the words and her face flushed with anger. "What kind of man is that? So irresponsible! A complete scumbag, leaving you to fend for yourself like this!"

Latisha looked down. It seemed everyone thought she couldn't survive without Clifford.

Sensing her sadness, the woman comforted her. "Don't worry. You can stay here for as long as you need. With your cooking skills, once the

baby is born, you can find a in het

as a

chofanywhere. Youll be ablet support yourself and your child."

Her words sparked a flicker of hope in Latisha's heart. She looked up, her eyes shining, and nodded with a small smile.

She was just starting to plan for her future when, two weeks later, Clifford appeared in the doorway of the little diner.

When he saw her, she was squatting

on the floor washing dishes. She was wearing a worn gray sweater and an apron, her sleeves rolled up to reveal her stender pale arms. Her back was to him, her hair tied up in a messy bun, exposing the nape of her neck.

She paused to wipe the sweat from her forehead before placing a clean dish in a

separate basin and returning her hands to the greasy, murky water.

The owner's wife came out with a plate of food and stopped short when she saw the impeccably dressed man standing at the

entrance He exuded

an aura that

didn't belong there.

"Can I help you?"

Some people, just by standing there, make it obvious they are from another world.

Clifford didn't speak. He just watched the small, busy figure.

It was Latisha who heard the woman's voice and turned her head.