When Love Comes Late

Relieved, Stella expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you.

You’ve been working hard lately.

Head home early today.

”

“Of course, Mrs.

Clark.

If you need anything, just call me,” Fernando replied with his usual respect.

Stella nodded and watched him leave.

Then she stepped into the elevator.

Shortly after, the elevator reached the floor where Matthew’s office was located.

Noticing the office door slightly open, Stella gently pushed it and stepped inside.

Matthew, assuming it was Fernando, didn’t look up and asked indifferently, “What now?”Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Before he heard a response, a food container appeared before his eyes.

Startled, Matthew looked up instinctively and saw Stella’s bare face.

He paused, momentarily captivated by her beauty, before regaining his composure.

He furrowed his brow and inquired, “Why are you here?”

Ignoring his question, she opened the food container and methodically arranged the dishes before him.

Matthew watched her silently, the unfamiliar feelings within him intensifying.

Stella ladled some soup and said, “You always loved the soup I made.

I started it this afternoon.

Try it and see if it’s just as you remember.

”

She then placed the bowl of soup before Matthew.

The savory scent of the soup filled the air, gently steaming and enveloping the room in warmth.

It brought a cozy feeling that touched Matthew.

Matthew, who had gone the entire afternoon without eating, hadn’t initially felt hungry.

However, the rich aroma of the soup quickly awakened his appetite.

He glanced at Stella, feeling slightly embarrassed, and hesitated to reach for the bowl.

Noticing his hesitation, Stella didn’t show any signs of disappointment.

Instead, her eyes lit up with hope as she gently asked, “Aren’t you going to try it? Or can you judge its quality just by looking?”

Unease briefly flickered across Matthew’s face.

After a moment’s pause, he reached for the soup, offering a polite “Thank you.

”

He then started to sip the soup slowly.

The delicious flavor of the soup exploded in his mouth, the warmth of the broth spreading down his throat and warming his heart deeply.

To his own astonishment, he found himself enjoying the soup immensely.

In his memory, he had disliked soup.

Back when he first returned to the Clark household, Lucia rarely served soup.

But Stella’s cooking didn’t repel him; instead, he felt a surprising addiction to it.

Suddenly, Stella spoke up.

“Matthew.

”