Chapter 62

Alexander set down his spoon and fixed Evelyn with an intense gaze. "Do I look like a helpless child who needs to be spoon-fed? Should I wait for staff to wipe my mouth too?"

Evelyn nearly choked on her soup, the mental image striking her as absurd. "Honestly!"

While his comparison was exaggerated, it wasn't entirely off-base. "At the very least, someone of your standing shouldn't be cooking," she mused, curiosity sparking. His lifestyle clearly defied her expectations.

"Given the choice? I wouldn't," Alexander admitted without hesitation. With his position as heir to Celestia Group and the Kensington family, mundane tasks were beneath him.

"Then why insist on cooking tonight?" Evelyn pressed. Was it a secret passion? Why else would he shove her out of his state-of-the-art kitchen?

Alexander's lips quirked as he wiped his hands. "I spent years abroad for training."

"And?" Evelyn tilted her head, not following. Even overseas, the Kensingtons could've easily provided staff. Unless...he disliked having servants invade his privacy?

He sipped his wine before answering. "As future CEO, my education extended beyond boardrooms. Cooking was...a necessary skill. Consider it stress relief." His tone darkened slightly, hinting at unspoken struggles during those years—years he'd spent away from her.

"So you took over because you doubted my cooking?" Evelyn challenged, though she couldn't deny his soup was exceptional.

"The ventilation was inadequate," he stated flatly. Then, softer: "You'll never need to cook again."

Evelyn's breath caught.

Inadequate ventilation? His kitchen had industrial-grade exhaust systems. Compared to her old apartment's tiny stove, this space was a chef's dream.

Then she remembered his words from weeks prior: "A woman belongs everywhere—especially my Evelyn." She'd swelled with pride, imagining him relying on her domestic skills. Back then, Alexander only ate pre-prepared meals, never lifting a finger.

Yet tonight, he'd barred her from cooking over ventilation?

The realization struck like lightning: a man who truly cherished his woman wouldn't relegate her to chores. He'd shield her from hardship, just as Alexander had—protecting her hands, her comfort, her very presence in his world.