Chapter 245 - Words of advice (1/2)

Leaving Lia to watch television, Giselle accompanied Edwin to the kitchen.

**

Upon entering the space, Giselle got struck in awe from the view that displayed to her sight.

A very tidy kitchen that sparkled clean and shone beneath the sunlight. There wasn't much that occupied the countertop except for cookie jar that Edwin used recently. Even as such, the cookie jar showcased peculiar stacks of baked treats arranged zigzag that made them appear naturally elegant to stare. The center faucet will catch anyone's eye with its positioning. The white marble countertop matched the wine red cabinets that displayed Edwin's favorite utensils and kitchen accessories hanging below on the walls for ease and comfort handling gave ideas to Giselle.

Giselle, herself, is a tidy person. She keeps her kitchen clean all times, but visualizing this level of neatness and grace display, Giselle got dumbstruck with that thought that this kitchen can very well be modeled in the showroom for viewers to see and get admired and inspired.

Overflowed with admiration and impressed at great lengths, Giselle let out a casual remark to appreciate the sight she beholds for several seconds after entering.

”Thank you,” Edwin returned with a proud, pleasing tone that he uses to anyone who praises his maintenance of the kitchen.

Having passed a few minutes into conversing about the space and sharing the tricks and techniques to utilize the place and handle things, Giselle and Edwin immersed themselves deep in discussion.

When their chat reached its end, Edwin popped a question to Giselle of giving her the right to choose the menu for lunch. For the guest, Edwin wished to cook anything Giselle desired. However, the guest politely refused and informed that she is never picky about food and that the host will please them with his choice.

Her response bought a frown to Edwin's good mood and made her sulk quietly. Giselle felt sorry for having turned down his request. She thought for a while to think of a way to cheer him up to his usual self.

”Mr. Edwin-” she began, but instantly Edwin clashed with his response to address him the way he told her.

Giselle corrected herself.

”Edwin, Lia likes spaghetti noodles. Maybe, if you can-” Giselle dragged her words slow and steady to lure in the host.

”Definitely, I can do that,” Edwin cheered up instant to Giselle's relief.

..

”You see, I love to cook, and I like to do it for people and see them enjoy my meals,” Edwin explained himself for his demeanor.

”I know,” Giselle said to his startle.

”You know?” he asked eagerly.

Giselle then realizes that she said it loud casually, yielding to the flow of the conversation.

”Yes, Lillian told me that you are a great cook,” Giselle said.

Edwin agrees.

”I guess she bragged of me in her school days!” Edwin remarked as he requested Giselle to grab a few ingredients from the pantry.

”She did,” Giselle replied.

Edwin studied Giselle for every response she gave him and noticed how much of calm she held when talking about his daughter.

”That's nice. Do you know that myself and Donna- Ah, Diego's mother, do you remember Diego?” Edwin asked as he said.

At the mention of the very name Giselle feared, she exhibited slight fright and got recalled of the dark times she shared with this said person.

Giselle nodded instead of answering.

Edwin definitely saw the shift of sight and the sudden fright she displayed at minimal. However, he snubbed it to continue his talk.

He shared details of his and Diego's mother, Donna's cooking battles, and how the two used to gather on festive occasions to celebrate with feasts.

All while Edwin chattered, Giselle remained quiet. Her mind occupied by the previous mention of the said person. Giselle feared on her own of the effects that can result in Diego learning that Giselle came to see Lillian. Instantaneously, all of the fright pressured and made her rethink the decisions she made.

This man, whom Giselle hasn't encountered after that night, years ago, still manages to haunt Giselle, which is making her go insane.

As she froze at the spot, indulged into a panic, Edwin shook her slight to signal someone's appearance.

Giselle turned to find Lia, waiting behind her with a disheartened face.

”Lia,” Giselle immediately bent to attend her child.

Lia poked Giselle and signaled her mother for private space.

Giselle glanced at Edwin and then quickly moved a little farther from their host.

Giselle then inquired Lia, the reason for her visit.

”Mother, I don't think your friend likes me,” she said in a distressing tone. Even though Lia wanted it to be faint and low, she ended up shrieking her little voice to express her sadness that her cry reached Edwin's ears without him working much effort to listen.

Nonetheless, he waited patiently until the child can end sharing her worries.

Meanwhile, Giselle too waited till Lia could say it all at once. She seemed to hold in much and struggled to try to explain.

”I think your friend is unlike aunt Anna or uncle Jake,” Lia confessed.

Giselle felt speechless from hearing such words from her child. She prayed for the two she loved dearly to get along, but it looks like the reality is running the opposite way.

”Aunt Anna? Uncle Jake?” Edwin roared upon hearing such familiar names dropped by the little one.

His voice alerted the two who seem to think that they were isolated, away from anyone overhearing them.

Giselle turned to find a shocked Edwin, and she affirmed Lia's words by agreeing to already meet Anna and her husband, Jake, at her party.

”Why didn't you invite Lillian to the party?” Edwin asked out of impulse, though keenly wanting to take every chance he would get to confront Giselle for the sake of his daughter, who got hurt in the process of loving someone for the first time in her life.

Giselle panicked to answer, especially when it came from Edwin Grey.

Edwin stared at Giselle, waiting for her to reply, but seeing the girl stunned at such close confrontation, chose to give up. He only wanted her to know and not really cared for an answer. After all, it is for the two involved to resolve their issues, not him.

Edwin walked away, leaving the two alone. He focused on cooking.

Giselle and Lia, lost at the sudden intrusion, returned to selves after Edwin's retiring.