Chapter 8

Isaiah wasn't someone easy to impress in this house. For him to act that respectful? Just who exactly was that man in the room?

Ashley walked up to the door with breakfast in her hands.

The door was half open. No one inside.

She stepped in, placed the tray on the table, and was ready to head out.

But—

Just as she set it down, a wave of tension surged behind her like an icy wind.

"Who told you to come in?" That cold voice—it sent shivers down her spine.

Turning around, she came face to face with Edwin. Those distant, unreadable eyes made her flinch.

Edwin gave the breakfast on the table a quick glance. "Trying to butter me up?"

Ashley quickly shook her head. She tilted her face up, those wide, watery eyes staring at him innocently. She looked soft, like she was waiting for mercy.

But Edwin's face didn't soften. If anything, a mocking smirk tugged at his lips.

"Save your games for my grandmother," he said, gripping her chin with that chilly hand of his. His eyes were sharp, his voice sharper. "Step in here one more time, and I'll break your legs. Got it? Now get out."

He let go and turned away, cold and dismissive.

Ashley didn't even hesitate. She turned on her heel instantly—but paused just as she reached the door.

Isaiah was still standing guard outside, clearly waiting.

This whole breakfast delivery was Grandma Eleanor's doing. She was playing matchmaker, trying to push her and Edwin together.

If Ashley couldn't even get him to eat, Eleanor would think she wasn't worth keeping around. And if Eleanor didn't want her, Edwin definitely wouldn't.

Clenching her teeth, Ashley did the opposite of what any sane person would do—she stayed. Even shut the door behind her.

The sound made Edwin glance up again. That skittish girl who just wanted to run? She'd come back?

She grabbed a pen and note pad from the table, scribbled quickly, and handed him the note.

——[Breakfast is good for you.]

Edwin's eyes narrowed slightly. Another note was shoved under his nose.

——[Let's eat together. Food tastes better with company.]

He shot her a dull look through heavy-lidded eyes.

Their eyes locked. Ashley smiled at him—bright, cheerful, like none of his threats had gotten to her.

Without a word, Edwin snatched the note, crumpled it, and tossed it in the bin. "Out."

Ashley: "..."

He didn't spare her another glance, turning back to the documents in his hand.

The room went quiet.

But after a few moments, the smell of food began to drift through the air.

The smell of food mixed faintly with herbal notes—it was fresh, light, and surprisingly appetizing.

Ashley sat at the table, pouring her homemade herbal honey into the breakfast. She stirred it slowly with a spoon.

Noticing Edwin's stare, she deliberately scooped a big spoonful and slid it into her mouth in front of him, her face full of satisfaction.

Edwin's temple twitched, and he accidentally crumpled a corner of the file he held.

Ashley didn't push her luck for too long. Sensing she might be overdoing it, she quickly stirred up his portion as well and handed it to him, even feeding him a spoon like a little helper.

"Get lost, I'm not—" Edwin started to refuse, but Ashley was faster. She popped the spoon into his mouth before he could stop her.

He frowned, ready to spit it back out—but the moment the flavors hit his tongue, he was stunned. The mix of food and herbs was oddly good, with a hint of sweetness that lingered. It was... actually delicious?

For someone as picky as Edwin, that was saying a lot.

Even the best chefs of Kingsview Garden couldn't pull off a medicinal breakfast like this.

What on earth had this woman put in it?

Before he realized it, he'd swallowed the bite.

He glanced down at the rest that had already been mixed, hesitantly picked up a spoonful—and then went all in, finishing the bowl clean.

Ashley smiled faintly. Yup, no one could resist her secret recipe!

When Edwin put down the empty bowl, he shot a look at the clearly proud Ashley. "What did you put in this?"

Ashley held up her prized bottle of herbal honey.

Edwin opened the lid and sniffed. A mix of several herbs blended into honey...

Then, right in front of her, he casually dropped her precious bottle into his drawer.

He glanced at her still standing there.

"Want me to walk you out?"

"..."

Seriously? Eat and snatch? What a jerk!

Ashley held back her frustration and carried off the empty bowl, cheeks puffed in annoyance.

"Edwin!" Clarence climbed in through the window. "Dude, I swear I just saw a woman leaving your study just now..."

"You imagined it." Edwin shut him down without a blink.

"...Oh." Clarence rubbed the back of his head. Yeah, maybe he was seeing things.

His buddy was practically a human statue when it came to women—no way there'd be one in his place.

Clarence handed over the kraft paper envelope.

"I dug up everything on your mute little bride. She's clean. No ties to that woman you've been looking for. I even checked those villages near the cave—no family named Sullivan at all."