Please Let Me Go, My Contracted Ex-Husband.-Chapter 263- my dream was to be a chef

James’s face grew darker as she continued laughing, and with a solemn expression, he turned and walked out. After he left, Bonnie lay in bed for a while before suddenly flipping over in frustration.

How did things end up like this? Wasn’t she supposed to be distancing herself from him? How had she ended up letting him stay and even cook for her?

She was so annoyed! She tossed and turned again, then sat up on the bed. Fine, fine, maybe she could just chalk it up to him driving her back in the rain — that was why she hadn’t kicked him out. She comforted herself with that thought as she got up and walked out.

She went to the kitchen to get herself a glass of water. She could hear the sound of sizzling from inside, so she quietly approached the door and peeked in. There he was, standing confidently in front of the stove, skillfully sautéing scallions and other ingredients.

His profile looked handsome and calm, with a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, as if cooking was something he truly enjoyed.

The last time he cooked, she hadn’t seen it firsthand, but now, seeing his tall figure in the small kitchen, she suddenly felt a warm, familiar feeling wash over her. She couldn’t help but watch him, lost in thought.

She had always seen him as the powerful man who commanded the business world, someone who made money and knew every trick to deal with her. But the man standing in the cozy kitchen, cooking with such tenderness, made her feel something she couldn’t quite resist.

Lost in her thoughts, his deep voice, laced with a smile, broke through.

"You can stare at me openly, I don’t mind."

"Cough, cough—"

Caught in the act of spying, she awkwardly cleared her throat to cover up her embarrassment. Then, she furrowed her brow and asked,

"Can I ask you something?"

He turned to glance at her, giving her a look that seemed to say, "Go ahead." She pushed the kitchen door open fully and leaned against the frame, continuing,

"You always hated kitchens, right? How come you’re so good at cooking?"

"Curious?"

He gave her a playful look, a glint of mischief in his eyes. Her curiosity was piqued, and she nodded eagerly.

"Then tell me... Are you still mad at me? If you’re not, I’ll tell you..."

He smiled slyly, like a fox, and Bonnie shot him a glare. This man was really something, using such a tactic to bargain with her!

"Hmph! Fine, don’t tell me then!"

She huffed and turned to leave. It wasn’t like she desperately wanted to know anyway. She was just a little curious.

Compared to her hasty eating, his manner was far more elegant. He ate with a smile at the corner of his lips, his eyes warm as they lingered on her. Bonnie, under the weight of his gaze, found herself feeling a little flustered, her mood softening in spite of herself.

He smiled at her, and the atmosphere between them, once tense, now relaxed somewhat because of this simple yet comforting dinner. As Bonnie was finishing her meal, he suddenly spoke up lazily,

"Actually, when I was a child, my dream was to be a chef, to make the most delicious food in the world for others to enjoy..."

Before he could finish, Bonnie quickly interrupted him,

"Wait! I’m just saying, you’re the one bringing this up, not me!"

He set his chopsticks down, a trace of helplessness crossing his warm expression. This woman was really too petty! He had shared a secret with her, something he’d never told anyone else, and she couldn’t even forgive him just once? After all, in these four years, he had only made one mistake! Was she really going to cast him into the depths of hell just for that?

But he didn’t press it. He knew he had plenty of ways to bring her back to him. Leaning back, he continued,

"Later, Diago found out about my interest, and he gave me a harsh scolding. He said a man shouldn’t love the kitchen, that a man’s focus should be on his career. He even called me useless. I was the only male in the Boston family’s generation, and I was supposed to carry the family business forward..."

Bonnie hadn’t expected him to open up like this. Knowing how proud he was, she’d figured he wouldn’t share these hidden, painful memories with anyone. But now he was telling her, wasn’t he worried she would ridicule him, now that she had plenty of opportunity to do so? She hadn’t hesitated to make fun of him in the past.

But for some reason, when she heard him talk about those things, a sudden ache tugged at her heart. The words she had intended to use to ridicule him caught in her throat, and she couldn’t bring herself to say them. Instead, she frowned and asked softly,

"Then... you just gave up?"

Everyone has dreams when they’re young, she thought. For her, her lifelong dream had been to get into the literature department and work in journalism, and she was lucky enough to have achieved it. Robin had never interfered with her choices.

But he was born into a family of such high stature, forced to compromise with reality, giving up all his dreams. Compared to him, she felt grateful that she, at least, had the freedom to pursue her own.

"Yeah."

He nodded gently, looking at her.

"Then how did you end up so good in the kitchen?"

Bonnie gave him a look. He was too obedient—just a single scolding, and he gave up his dreams so easily?

But for some reason, when she heard him talk about those things, a sudden ache tugged at her heart. The words she had intended to use to ridicule him caught in her throat, and she couldn’t bring herself to say them. Instead, she frowned and asked softly,

"Then... you just gave up?"

Everyone has dreams when they’re young, she thought. For her, her lifelong dream had been to get into the literature department and work in journalism, and she was lucky enough to have achieved it. Robin had never interfered with her choices.

But he was born into a family of such high stature, forced to compromise with reality, giving up all his dreams. Compared to him, she felt grateful that she, at least, had the freedom to pursue her own.

"Yeah."

He nodded gently, looking at her.

"Then how did you end up so good in the kitchen?"

Bonnie gave him a look. He was too obedient—just a single scolding, and he gave up his dreams so easily?