Lena's POV
"I can't wear that, Raymond. It's too slutty."
"Well, you are my slut," he replied. "But fine. Let's eat."
We went downstairs, and I reheated the food, adding a side dish.
I made roasted chicken, rice, mashed potatoes with gravy, salad, and vegetables.
We ate in silence. Raymond stayed on his phone the entire time, never looking up. I was
disappointed—I wanted him to tell me the food was good.
Afterward, I cleaned the table and washed the dishes alone. Raymond was on a call, sounding angry, but I didn't care.
When I finished, I went to bed without checking on him.
Not long after, Raymond came in, lifted the duvet, and lay beside me. He pulled me close and inhaled deeply.
"Thank you for the meal," he said softly. "I really enjoyed it. Maybe someday you'll tell me who taught you how to cook this well."
"My mom," I blurted out.
"She's a good woman for teaching my kitten how to cook like that."
"She was," I replied.
