Chapter 47
It was 9:45 pm, and the ravioli shop was still open. As long as there were customers, the owner would keep it open late. It was a familiar stop for many coming off late shifts.
Valeria quietly ate her ravioli as she was genuinely hungry.
The shock she had just experienced, combined with the chill of a late autumn night, made the steaming ravioli all the more comforting. With each bite, the warmth slowly soothed her frayed nerves.
Valeria asked for extra vinegar and extra spice, even though she couldn’t really handle spicy
food.
A bit of warmth had started to form on her back. Surrounded by that cozy little shop, with familiar neighbors nearby and the cheerful shop owner smiling, she felt safe. Meanwhile, across from her sat that tall, aloof, yet familiar figure.
Valeria lowered her head and took a few more bites. She’d never liked ricotta cheese and egg filling before, but that night, it tasted just right.
Sebastian held his fork, frowning as he picked out the tiny shrimp.
“Dr. Grant, thank you for tonight.” Valeria broke the silence.
Sebastian hummed in response and took a bite of ravioli. As soon as he bit into a piece of shrimp, his frown deepened sharply.
His bowl was a combo special, with a bit of everything tossed in. His very first bite had been shrimp ravioli, with a strange, plastic-like shrimp roe texture. That cheap, overpowering fishy taste hit his brain instantly, making his expression turn sour.
Valeria glanced at Sebastian’s cold, distant expression. Compared to the flirty, half-mocking tone he’d used on the phone earlier, he seemed like a completely different person now.
Valeria looked at him and instinctively reminded him, “That one with a reddish tint is shrimp ravioli too. We came pretty late tonight, so these were the only ones left. I think you’ve got two shrimp ravioli on your plate.”
Sebastian never liked seafood, and Valeria had known that for a long time.
she wasn’t going to cater to him the way she once did. The way she used to love him osessive, unhe and far too self-effacing. It had taken her a long, painful journey to
become the per
“You sh
sh
s now.
laces that are too secluded at night,” Sebastian said as he picked out the et it aside.
His
gaze then shifted to Valeria. Her hair was carelessly tied up, with a few loose strands trailing against her fair neck. Her lips were red and vivid against her pale face.
Sebastian felt a tickle in his throat. He wanted to go out for a cigarette. But as he kept staring at her vivid lips, he realized it wasn’t just his throat. It was something deeper, something that
stirred in his chest.
He swallowed hard and drank some broth to steady himself.
Valeria didn’t notice anything unusual about Sebastian. She kept her head down and ate quietly.
At 10:00 pm, the ravioli shop was still fairly busy. Beatrice moved through the tables with a tray in hand and even brought Valeria two extra eggs.
After a while, Valeria headed up to pay. She was treating Sebastian to dinner to thank him for helping her out.
Beatrice didn’t charge for the two eggs, which made Valeria feel slightly uneasy.
Since Beatrice was a neighbor in the same community and often talked with Lucy, she naturally treated Valeria kindly too. Valeria frequently brought Selena along for meals, and Beatrice always added an egg or a little side dish as a gesture of goodwill.
The ravioli shop had been open for more than a decade, with plenty of loyal regulars.
Beatrice was known for her warm and generous nature. She even packed a box of fresh ravioli for Valeria to take home and cook for Selena.
Valeria thanked her.
Beatrice grabbed her arm playfully and whispered, “That man is quite good-looking. When did this start?”
Valeria blushed. “Ms. Fowler, we’re just friends.”
“Just friends? And you brought him here for meals three times?” Beatrice clearly didn’t believe her, but seeing how red Valeria’s face had turned, she decided not to tease her further.
She and Lucy were close, and she knew that Valeria had married Shane so that the gravely ill Danny could see his daughter-in-law before passing away in peace. She also knew that Valeria was raising her daughter alone.
Life as a single mother wasn’t easy, especially with Selena’s heart condition.
When Valeria returned to the table, Sebastian was gone. She sat back down by the window.
