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The salty aroma of ribs wafted over.
Nathan was cooking in the kitchen.
Besides yesterday,the last time he cooked for me was before Vanessa returned.
I craved ribs then,but they didn’t have what I wanted to eat anywhere local.
He traveled to my hometown,learning from my favorite diner.
Later,Vanessa said she hated salty flavors.
He never cooked them again.
I asked him why.
He claimed he was busy.
The next day,news showed him baking a cake for Vanessa.
How bitter I was back then.
I confronted them,hoping for his guilt.
Instead,he snapped,"Your jealousy makes you a shrew!Nothing’s going on between Vanessa and I —no need for us to explain!"
Freshly cooked ribs hit the table,pulling me back to the present.
Nathan's eyes sparkled like when he courted me,as if I were his whole world.
"Sar..."He paused,then said,"Sarah,I made these.Try them."
I gave a wry smile."My dear brother-in-law,weren't you starving me?For the sake of all those years you watched out for me,I'll play along—no food till Emily shows.How's that?"
His pupils shrank,pain flashing across his eyes.
"I was wrong.I'm sorry.I shouldn't have said or done that.Just eat a bite,please?You've gone a day and night without food."
He knelt before me,offering a piece to my lips,like what he did five years ago.
I pushed his hand away."You're crossing a line here,my dear brother-in-law."
"Don't call me that!"
I nodded."Right,Emily's gone,your marriage's over.You're no longer my brother-in-law."
"That's not what I mean!I just...don't want us drifting apart."He was frantic.
I didn't mock further,instead I said most earnestly,"That night two years ago,I gave up on you."
His face paled.I ignored him,answering a call.
It was James Carter.
He asked,"Ready to come with me this time?"
I chuckled."James,you're so relentless.Same question for almost two years."
He chuckled too."So,will you say yes this time?"
Before I could reply,Nathan snatched the phone away,yelling like a lunatic."No one's taking her!Get lost!"
Tears streamed silently down his face.
I'd never seen him so pathetic before.
He picked up the plate,insisting on feeding me.
I slid my prepared resignation letter across.
He ignored it,rambling,"No greens,that's why you won't eat.You need greens.Wait a few minutes—I'll make you some."
Within a minute,his phone rang.
He ignored it outright.
The caller persisted.
He kept hanging up.
I smirked.
Annoyed?Block them then.
Like how he blocked me.
I checked online—predictably,Vanessa was hospitalized again.
Her tweets were weak denials of guilt.
Her agent's interview claimed public pressure triggered her heart condition,severe.
Her last heart episode was before my crash.
Back then,she'd flare up every month,and coincidentally,always when Nathan visited me.
He'd leave instantly,gone for weeks.
Now,his irritated shout echoed."Sick?Go to the hospital!Slandered?Call the cops!Don't bother me!"
He was insufferable like this.
He brought out more dishes,vibrant in colour and fragrant in smell.
I thoughtI can’t punish Sarah's stomach.
I ate a few bites.
He grinned like an idiot,vowing,"Every meal from now on,I'll cook for you myself."
