A Vow of Deception, A Vow of Revenge novel Chapter 149

Winona had no choice but to curl up on the living room sofa.

An old movie played on the projector screen, each scene unfolding like a carefully painted canvas, soothing her nerves and lulling her into a drowsy calm.

But before long, the aroma wafting from the kitchen snapped her awake. It wasn't anything extraordinary, just the simple smell of a home-cooked meal—warm, familiar, and comforting.

For a moment, Winona slipped into a pleasant daydream, imagining that she and Elvis had already been married for years, and this was just another ordinary evening for an old married couple.

Shaking off the thought, she got up and padded quietly to the kitchen doorway.

She eased open the door, just a crack, trying not to make a sound. Yet, even with his back to her, Elvis seemed to sense her presence.

"Winona, spying isn't exactly polite, you know," he called out.

Caught in the act, Winona decided to brazen it out. "I'm not spying. I'm observing—openly and honestly."

Elvis chuckled, glancing over his shoulder. "If you're starving, help yourself to some snacks."

Apparently, the person who had just delivered the groceries had also brought over a stash of snacks, following Elvis's instructions.

"I'm fine," Winona replied, leaning against the doorframe. "I just wanted to see what you look like when you cook."

Hardly anyone, she thought, could say they'd witnessed Mr. Rogers in the kitchen; most people probably couldn't even imagine it.

"If you're hoping for a flashy chef performance, you'll be disappointed," Elvis said with a grin. "No dramatic pan-flipping here."

"That's alright," Winona smiled. "I don't care about the process. I care about the result."

And the result was...

Well, Mr. Rogers's cooking was, at best, average.

But that didn't surprise Winona. Average wasn't bad—and it was certainly edible.

Her appetite, briefly ruined by Jude's interruption earlier, had finally returned.

She didn't eat quickly, and her manners were impeccable, but the happiness on her face was impossible to miss.

Elvis watched her intently, his eyes soft with affection.

Elvis suddenly smiled. "Remember when you thought I had a girlfriend?"

"Huh?" Winona turned to look at him, puzzled. "Of course I remember."

But why bring that up now?

"That trip I took to Seastone City—Mr. King invited me to dinner. He wanted to introduce me to his daughter," Elvis said, his tone casual.

Winona arched an eyebrow.

"He knows my uncle, so I didn't want to offend him outright. Besides, with the Rogers and Thorne families about to join forces, I told him I wasn't single."

Realization dawned on Winona. "So that's why there were rumors you were seeing someone?"

"Most likely, yes."

"But at the time, I didn't even know my arranged partner was you," Winona huffed, poking him playfully in the side with her finger.