Warren's POV
As soon as my question dropped, Elvira’s face went pale. She forced a laugh and answered, “That’s just a coincidence. All the beaches in the Maldives look alike…”
Sensing the tension, Ray jumped in right away. “Dude, Elvira’s not lying. Those beaches really do look the same. Most people wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.”
My eyes swept over the messy bedroom, then back to the wine glasses on the coffee table. Finally, they landed on Elvira’s hand.
Her ring finger was bare. The engagement ring I’d given her, which was supposed to mark our promise, was gone.
I pointed at her hand and asked, “Where’s the engagement ring I gave you?”
Her gaze flickered nervously. “I… I’ve been learning how to do chores lately. I was worried I’d lose it, so I put it away.”
Before I could respond, Ray suddenly patted his stomach. “I’m starving.”
Elvira's expression softened instantly. “I’ll cook. You two sit down, it won’t take long.”
She slipped on an apron with practiced ease and started pulling food from the fridge.
Watching her move confidently in the kitchen, I felt a strange disorientation, like they were the true owners of this villa, and I was just a guest.
She chopped vegetables quickly, heated the pan, and didn’t even flinch when the oil splattered.
A memory from the day of our engagement suddenly popped into my head.
Back then, she poutingly said, “Warren, swear to me. You’ll never make me cook or clean. I’ll never touch housework, not before the wedding, not after. You have to spoil me forever.”
I had agreed, and I’d kept that promise.
But here she was, breaking her own words without hesitation, happily cooking for her so-called junior schoolmate.
Ray, on the other hand, lounged back on the sofa, legs crossed, a smug grin tugging at his lips.
He shot me a glance, then cheerfully said, “Bro, stay and eat with us. Elvira's cooking is amazing.”
I stayed silent, but Ray kept talking.
“Her food tastes just like home. Better than any restaurant.”
I pressed my lips together, then asked quietly, “So these past few months, she’s been cooking for you?”
Ray nodded without hesitation. “Of course. She takes such good care of me, always trying out new recipes. Says it’s tough living alone, and she wants me to eat well. Honestly, I’m so touched. She’s been nothing but kind to me.”
I squeezed out a smile, but it was a bitter one.
Just then, Elvira walked out carrying a plate of food, but she froze when she heard our conversation. Her hands stiffened for a moment before she forced a smile and set the dish down.
“Warren, try this. I just learned how to make braised ribs.”
I looked at her and slowly and deliberately asked, “Didn’t you once say you hated the smell of cooking oil? And that you’d never do housework?”
Her face instantly went rigid, and her fingers tightened on the edge of the apron.
But Ray jumped in smoothly. “Dude, people change. Isn’t it a good thing that Elvira's become so domestic? Isn’t this exactly what you’d want?”
I let out a cold snort and didn’t answer.
At the dinner table, Ray kept piling food into Elvira's bowl, showering her with endless praise.
She responded here and there, but her eyes never once dared to meet mine.
The food really was good. But every bite I swallowed tasted like ash.
Ray then dropped another rib into Elvira's bowl and softly, almost intimately, said, “Elvira, you’ve lost weight lately. Eat more.”
Then he shot me a sidelong glance, a faint, mocking smile tugging at his lips.
Elvira lowered her head, her cheeks flushed. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she replied, “Thanks, Ray. You should eat more too.”
