Julissa took a bite of Flynn's cooking and was genuinely taken aback by how amazing it tasted. She smiled at the man across the table. "This is seriously good. Are you sure this is your first time cooking? Doesn't taste like it at all."
Flynn picked up the serving tongs, dropping some pulled pork into Kori's bowl and then Abel's, before his gaze returned to Julissa. "Cooking's easy if you've got hands, right? What's so hard about it?" His confidence was impossible to miss.
Julissa let out an awkward chuckle, thinking that cooking definitely wasn't that simple. She remembered the countless times she'd failed before finally getting something right. Even now, she could only manage basic dishes. The braised ribs Flynn had made were totally out of her league. She felt a wave of gratitude for her capable husband. Sure, he could be cold at times—maybe it was just his nature—but he still seemed caring enough. With a quiet smile, she kept eating, noticing that even the plain bread rolls had an oddly sweet taste today.
Abel, beside her, looked like he was starving, wolfing down his food without a single complaint. Kori, on the other hand, had stopped mid-bite, tiny spoon in hand, just watching her brother eat without taking a bite herself.
Flynn noticed and snapped, his patience running thin, "What are you staring at? Eat what's in your bowl."
Kori ignored him completely, still fixated on Abel, spoon not moving an inch.
Julissa quickly stepped in to coax her. "Kori, finish your food and then we can go outside and play, okay?"
"It's gross. I don't wanna eat it," Kori shot back defiantly, dropping the spoon and sliding off her chair to cling to Abel. "Abel, let's play hide and seek," she whispered.
Abel set his fork down and gently took his sister's hand. "But we gotta eat first. Eating good food helps you grow big and strong."
Seeing Flynn's irritated expression, Julissa quickly scooped Kori up and settled her on her lap, trying again. "Come on, Kori. Let me help you eat."
"But it tastes yucky," Kori whined.
Kori was notoriously picky, and even though Flynn's cooking was perfectly seasoned, it just didn't appeal to her. It was a direct hit to Flynn's usually unshakable confidence, his brow creasing in frustration.
Julissa glanced at him and shifted Kori on her lap, keeping her voice bright. "It really is yummy, just give it a try."
Abel, sweet as always, grabbed another piece of pulled pork and put on a show, acting like it was the best thing ever. "This is soooo good, Kori! I've never had a meal this amazing. Better try some before I eat it all up."
Motivated by her brother, Kori reluctantly took a tiny bite, but she still wasn't impressed. She ate just a little before hopping off Julissa's lap to wander around the room.
Julissa trailed after her, plate in hand, sneaking in a bite every time Kori paused. Kori's picky eating was clearly getting on Flynn's nerves, and he said coolly, "If she won't eat, leave her be. When she gets hungry enough, she'll eat."
But Julissa felt Kori was just too little, and being finicky was normal. She kept at it patiently, eventually managing to get half a plate into her by the time dinner ended, even though the food had gone cold.
As Julissa started clearing the table, Flynn took the dishes right out of her hands. "Sit down. I'll handle the cleanup."
Guilt washed over her, and she protested, "I should do it. You cooked, so I'll do the dishes. It's only fair."
"Your job here is to look after the kids. You don't need to worry about anything else," Flynn stated firmly, already heading to the kitchen with the dishes in hand. He hated the time-consuming chores, but he'd rather do them himself than add to her load while she had her hands full with Kori.
Julissa watched him go, a fluttering, unexpected joy blooming in her chest. Taking his advice, she returned to the living room to spend time with the kids.
Just as Flynn finished wiping down the kitchen, his phone buzzed. It was Dalton. "Boss, I looked into it. The woman at the hospital really is Ms. Greene's aunt. After Ms. Greene's parents died in that crash a year ago, their house got sold to cover debts, and the siblings have been living with her since."
"Her aunt's a real piece of work. She showed up at the hospital demanding Ms. Greene come back home because of some thirty-thousand-dollar dowry. When I blew her off, she started haggling over the cash. Should we just pay her?" Dalton asked.
Flynn hadn't expected the hospital scene to be legit. His jaw tightened. "Pay up, of course. But why the hell should her aunt get a dime?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'll hand the money over to Julissa. She can decide what to do with it. As for her aunt? There's no need to cater to her demands."
Ending the call, Flynn stood on the balcony, gazing at Julissa as she played with the kids on the sofa. Their laughter filled the room, a warmth he couldn't deny. Yet, the cynic in him warned against being fooled by appearances. Sometimes the most innocent faces hid the biggest agendas. Why else would someone so young rush into marriage if not for a safety net?
He'd wait. Her true colors would show themselves sooner or later.
Julissa, catching Flynn's eye, picked up Kori. "They didn't really get proper baths at the hospital. I'm gonna give them a good wash now."
Flynn nodded, settling onto the small living room sofa in the cozy space. Despite the modest surroundings, his presence felt larger than life, almost out of place.
Julissa's heart brimmed with contentment as she herded the kids to the bathroom. Two hours passed before they were done, and it was nearly ten p.m.
Abel darted over to Flynn, eager to sneak a peek at his phone. Julissa quickly called out, "Abel, bedtime. You've got school tomorrow, early."
Abel obediently slid off the sofa, following her but stopping to ask, "Sis, there are only two beds. Where am I sleeping?"
Julissa decided quickly, "You'll sleep with Flynn, and I'll take Kori."
Abel glanced back at Flynn, who sat there stony-faced, glued to his phone. Unnerved by his stern look, Abel shook his head firmly. "No way. I wanna sleep with Kori. You sleep with your husband."
His words brought a rush of heat to Julissa's cheeks. Her gaze darted to Flynn instinctively, and he looked up at that exact moment, their eyes locking. His stunningly handsome face sent her heart racing.
Caught in his direct stare, Julissa quickly averted her eyes and insisted to Abel, "Abel, be a good boy. Sleep over here."
"Nope. I like sleeping with Kori. You go sleep with Flynn," Abel replied, waving his hands before pulling Kori close and whispering, "We'll sleep together, okay? Let them share a bed, and maybe they'll make us a little sibling to play with. How about that?"
