Mark had never showed off his family background to his classmates.
The Wilsons were actually influential in the region.
He was the third kid and known for his wisdom.
The construction of railways and highways was under the management of his eldest brother, but he
also had shares.
In addition, he expanded his family business by tapping into cross-border shipping.
He had been talented in management since he was little and refused the invitation of elite schools
abroad several times.
In retrospect, he had tried the hardest resisting going abroad to study in his sophomore year in high
school, because that was when he set eyes on the cat-like Elaine with thick hair during an
extracurricular activity....
As a matter of fact, he had never been sure how he really felt.
Until one summer vacation, he saw Elaine wolfing down food at a street stall....
At that moment, his heart skipped a beat.
...
Then he and Elaine talked, and it felt like a dream.
His heart was hammering. Even though a beautiful woman was with him, he was thinking about that
stall.
That was when he knew what he wanted.
He wanted Elaine! He wanted to dote on her!
He would protect her from harm!
However, things didn't always go according to one's plan.
In that summer vacation, Elaine met someone else.
"Come! The food is ready! It's time to eat!"
Elaine rubbed her hands with a simper. She was wearing an apron like a housewife. She walked to
Mark and Hazel and supported Mark by his arm like he had been an old man in his eighties.
"Mark, does your back still hurt? Are you feeling better? Let's have dinner."
Mark's heart melted as his arm was held by Elaine's soft hands.
"No, it doesn't hurt much. Don't worry."
Elaine looked up at him with an innocent smile and said, "You will taste my cooking. I'm not bragging,
but I'm quite the chef back home!"
"Right. There are three people in your family, and you are the only one who is willing to cook stuff. Of
course you're the chef. Get over yourself!"
Hazel ran her down.
Elaine glared at her with her beautiful eyes.
Oliver saw Elaine holding Mark's arm in the kitchen and gritted his teeth.
Darn it! He had a craving for beating Mark up!
Oliver was eaten up by jealousy!
He shook a spoon hard and made a clink, fuming, "Are we having dinner or not? Make haste! Do we
have a king over?"
Elaine turned and rolled her eyes at Oliver, then looking at Mark with a smile.
"Mark, ignore him. He's like that, snarky. Come. Let's eat."
Mark glanced at Oliver and secretly sneered. Then he cried out and leaned to Elaine. She was so
frightened that she opened her arms and hugged his waist tightly, propping him up with her petite body.
***
"Mark! How are you? Can you walk?"
Hazel raised her eyebrows.
She caught the joy in Mark's eyes.
Men were so lame! Mark would use such a dirty trick to win a woman's heart.
Men....
Hazel remembered how Lucas threw himself at her onto bed lying about his numb legs....
'Why am I thinking about him?' Hazel shook her head to get Lucas out of her mind.
The four of them sat at the dining table, and it felt weird.
Oliver was the creepiest one of the group.
He would stare at Mark every time he took a bite, as if he was trying to prove his eyes were bigger than
Mark's.
Elaine wasn't perceptive, so she did not sense anything wrong. As the "chef "who made the food, she
naturally hoped none of it would be wasted.
Therefore, she was helping everyone with the food.
"You know what, broccoli is good. It's the most nutritious. You must taste it. Here, have some."
She put it into all of her friends' bowls.
Oliver was the first to be served, so he beamed, and his eyes shone with happiness.
'Yes! Elaine thinks of me first!' he thought to himself.
Elaine turned around and noticed there wasn't much meat in Mark's bowl, so she put two pieces of beef
into it.
"Mark, you can't just eat vegetables. The beef is nutritious. Try it. It's tender and delicious. I'm not
lying."
Mark looked up and gave her a gentle smile, replying with a nod,
"Okay, since you made it, I'll eat it."
Oliver put down his chopsticks and stared at the pair sullenly.
***
Damn it!
He should have sat beside Elaine!
But now he was seated beside Hazel!
First Come, First Served! Mark was winning!
Oliver was in hell.
Elaine was gazing at Mark's face with her head tilted. She carefully asked as he chewed on the beef,
"Mark, how is it? How does it taste?"
Mark beamed and nodded faintly. "Well, it's delicious. It tastes amazing."
Elaine put on a bright smile when she heard the praise and simpered. Then she put more food into
Mark's bowl.
"Come, Mark. Have more if you like it."
Oliver muttered in anger, "'Have more if you like it?' What's that? An advertisement?"
Then, Oliver stopped Elaine from giving Mark more food with his chopsticks and snatched it into his
own plate.
(⊙_⊙)
Elaine was surprised and hollered angrily,
"Oliver, what's wrong with you? Why did you do that when you already have food in your plate?"
"I ... I like that...."
Oliver stuttered as he ate heartily.
Mark looked at him indifferently and continued to eat slowly in silence.
Glancing at the men to and fro, Hazel burst into laughing with meat in her mouth.
How interesting it was when men got envious.
To be honest, Elaine was good at cooking, though.
Mark couldn't help but praise her,
"I am surprised you are so versatile. You are an excellent cook! I never could have guessed it."
Hazel echoed with a nod, "That's right. Anyone should consider himself lucky to marry you, Elaine. His
stomach will be filled with delicious food every day."
Elaine grew shy and blushed, muttering,
"Actually, I am not that good. These are just some common dishes. I don't know how to make
delicacies."
Mark looked at Elaine affectionately and said, "Well, this is enough. Apparently, it's a rare achievement
these days."
***
Oliver glared at Mark. Good job buttering her up!
"I wouldn't let Elaine cook. I'll hire a few maids to take care of her."
Oliver meant it.
If Elaine married him, he would cherish her and give her everything he had.
Hazel smirked.
"Master Young, I don't know if Elaine wants that...."
Elaine was embarrassed by Oliver's confession and glared at him, complaining,
"Focus on eating! You talk too much!"
Oliver felt wronged and countered, "I am not just talking the talking! I will walk the walk!"
He swore with a motion anxiously, his face turning pale.
Hazel watched as the pair fought, cracking up.
Elaine was embarrassed and angry, kicking Oliver hard under the table.
Mark smiled indifferently, as if he didn't care at all.
After dinner, Hazel searched the Internet for information.
Elaine cleaned the table and mopped the floor, trying to tidy up the villa.
Mark and Oliver sat on separate sofas looking bored and awkward.
Oliver's phone buzzed. He took it out and glanced at it quickly, turning it off.
There were seven missed calls....
It was his grandfather.
He wouldn't answer it.
Mark was in Elaine's house. If Oliver answered the phone, his grandfather would urge him to go home.
How could he let his love rival stay with Elaine without him present?
Mark saw him through and knew he was fighting for Elaine against him. Mark raised his arm and
looked at his watch. It was already nine o'clock. It was time to leave.
Thus, Mark stood up and said, "Elaine, Hazel, I should go now."
"You are leaving? It's so early." Elaine answered casually with a broom in her hand.
Hazel ran out of the study holding her hair.
"Mark, leaving so soon? I will not walk you this time."
***
A faint smile touched Oliver's lips.
Yes! He finally wore Mark down!
"I'll see you off."
Elaine volunteered.
She had been having a crush on Mark since her freshman year. Three years had passed, and he was a
god to her now.
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