Jayson rolled his eyes at her and lay back down on the bed. Sidney still couldn't grab the blanket, so she got out of bed, changed her clothes, and walked to the bedside. Seeing Jayson tossing and turning, she awkwardly asked, "Can I turn on the light?"
Jayson opened his eyes and glared at her. "What do you need the light on for?"
"I can't sleep with the lights off."
"What a weird habit! You have to sleep with the lights off!"
"Oh, fine. Then go ahead and sleep!" Sidney threw on a knitted jacket, left the room, and went downstairs. She glanced into the guest room, where the bed wasn't made, and since she didn't know where things were kept, she ended up lying on the sofa, using a cushion to cover her stomach.
As dawn broke, the housekeeper came out from the servant's room. Seeing someone lying on the sofa, she was first startled, then walked over to pat Sidney, asking why she was sleeping there without waking her.
"We're both keeping each other up, and I don't want to bother you."
The housekeeper took out new sheets and pillowcases from the cupboard, made up the bed for Sidney, and told her to sleep a bit more. Sidney was so exhausted that she lay down without a word and fell into a deep sleep.
No one hurried her to wake up, so she slept all the way until she woke up naturally, but it was the smell of breakfast from the kitchen that roused her.
She got up, washed her face briefly in the guest room, then went downstairs for breakfast, and planned to bake another cake for the housekeeper's daughter.
Standing in the kitchen, she quickly finished a plate of scrambled eggs with corn and a glass of milk, then took out the baking materials and got busy, explaining to the housekeeper how the cake had disappeared last night.
The housekeeper's expression shifted slightly as she listened to Sidney's words. Sidney had grown up in difficult circumstances, so she was especially sensitive and quickly noticed.
"Perhaps you could try again according to Jayson's request," the housekeeper suggested.
"Me? Why? If he doesn't want it, then forget it!" Sidney pretended to be indifferent, but she had been dwelling on Jayson's picky remarks. She admitted that her attitude when making the cake before wasn't serious, using mostly pre-made ingredients, and the taste was indeed pretty ordinary. For someone like him, who was used to delicacies, it wasn't very tasty.
This time, the housekeeper helped her prepare the whipped cream, and Sidney recited the steps from the recipe book. The two of them quickly made the cake together. She peeled and cooked some pears for jam, even though there was leftover jam in the fridge from yesterday. The housekeeper noticed but didn't comment. After the cake was baked and the jam and cream were spread on it, Sidney decorated it with cute designs for the housekeeper's daughter, then asked the housekeeper to find a box to pack it up.
"Isn't your hometown nearby? I'll handle lunch, so you should take it fresh over to your daughter now!" She smiled sweetly.
"Madam, I need to finish my work before I can go."
"I'll allow you to go! It's fine, I'll cook lunch myself." Sidney insisted on sending the housekeeper off to deliver the cake to her daughter, pushed her out the door, and returned to the kitchen to work on the other cake. She actually made two cakes that morning. Sitting in the kitchen, she carefully spread cream on the other cake. Since it was for herself, she didn't care about decoration. She spread it evenly and put it in the fridge. It was almost noon when Jayson finally changed into casual clothes and went downstairs for breakfast.
Sidney was so focused on her task that she nearly forgot there was someone else in the house.
Jayson glanced at the breakfast on the table, which had long since gone cold, and then called for the butler. Sidney peeked out from the kitchen and told him, "The butler's not here. Is there something you need?"
Jayson looked at Sidney with a confused expression. "Where is she?"
"I sent her back to her hometown. She'll be back later."
"Who gave you the right to send her back? I'm the one paying her salary."
"I made another cake for her to take back while it's still fresh!"
It was then that Jayson realized the cake from last night had been made for the butler. He didn't care about her reasons for doing it; he only cared about himself.
"The food's cold."
Sidney responded with a quick "Oh," then brought in the scrambled eggs with corn and bacon, heated them briefly, and took them back out.
"..." He sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and ate. Then he glanced at the clock. It would be noon in an hour. He turned to Sidney and said, "I'll be having lunch at home. I want something more traditional." He purposefully shot her a contemptuous glance, thinking to himself, She was the one who meddled and sent the butler away; now she must be panicking, right?
Since their marriage, he had never stayed at the house for this long. Sidney hadn't expected him to request lunch at home today. After a moment of silent contemplation, she asked Jayson, "What would you like to eat?"
"I'm in the mood for something traditional. What can you make?"
Sidney felt a hint of provocation in his words; it was clear he was looking down on her.
Sidney opened the fridge to see what ingredients were left, then went to the study to flip through the cookbook. After looking at a few simple home-cooked dishes, she started washing and chopping vegetables. After finishing his breakfast, Jayson threw his dishes onto the table and disappeared. Sidney continued her battle in the kitchen.
After lunch, Sidney made a simple yet hearty meal—sautéed greens with garlic, a dish of pork belly with garlic sauce, and a pot of clam chowder. Once she finished cleaning up the kitchen, she went upstairs to find Jayson. She discovered him in the study, focused on the computer screen.
Sidney knocked on the open door and called out, "Time to eat."
As she said those words, she suddenly felt like she had a home.
Jayson didn't look up at her, only responding casually while still focusing on the screen. Sidney, picking up on his indifference, went back to the dining room, took her own bowl and chopsticks, and prepared to eat. Shortly after, Jayson arrived.
When she saw him arrive, she automatically grabbed a bowl and utensils for him, handing them over.
Jayson glanced at the dishes; they were simple home-cooked meals, but they looked presentable enough, so he didn't say anything more to mock her.
The two of them stopped arguing and quietly ate together. He picked up a piece of three-layered meat, dipped it in the sauce, and took a bite. Sidney nervously observed his expression. He chewed the meat as if deep in thought, then took another bite of rice and continued eating the meat.
Sidney felt a little relieved, thinking that he had accepted her dish by the look on his face.
When Jayson took his first sip of the soup, he furrowed his brows and looked at Sidney thoughtfully.
Sidney already had little appetite eating with him, but his gaze made her feel even more pressured.
"What's wrong?"
