Bride To Be Not Me (Janice and Simon)

Janice pursed her lips and replied, "Okay."

This was their first time grocery shopping together. "What dishes can you make?" Edward asked.

Janice thought for a moment before answering, "I can make most things."

"What cuisines do you know?"

"Not Coribean food," Janice admitted, her gaze dropping slightly.

Over the past six or seven years, she had learned a variety of cuisines to accommodate Simon's picky eating habits. At this point, she felt confident enough to pass a chef's certification exam.

Edward quickly picked up on her unspoken thoughts. Without a word, he guided her through the aisles, filling their cart with an assortment of meats, fruits, and vegetables.

At the checkout counter, he told Janice to step outside while he paid.

Meanwhile, the driver came over to help with the bags.

As Janice casually tucked her hand into her coat pocket, Edward gently took it out and held it in his own.

"You should get used to this," he said nonchalantly.

The habit of holding hands?

Indeed, it was all part of the strategy to keep up appearances in front of the Moore family's elders. They had to ensure no one noticed anything amiss.

Janice pressed her lips together and intertwined her fingers with his. "Alright."

They arrived at Edward's place ahead of time.

Once the driver unloaded the groceries, he quickly left.

"Is he your new driver?" Janice asked.

"Yeah. I could tell you were trying to keep up appearances in the car, so I thought it'd be easier with someone else around. Don't worry. He won't figure anything out."

Edward then began sorting through the ingredients.

"Where's the apron?" Janice asked.

Without answering, Edward moved the groceries into the kitchen and began to prep. After a moment, he said, "I'll cook today. You can just relax and watch."

"What? But I promised to cook for you," she protested.

Edward didn't glance back. He was focused on tying his apron and then moved on to wash the vegetables. "Having you here with me is enough."

Janice had never heard anything like that before. It made her heart skip a beat. She instinctively rubbed her earlobe. "Should I help with anything?"

He gently stopped her, his voice taking on a serious tone. "All you need to do is relax and wait for the meal. There's no rule that says a woman has to cook." Janice tried to suppress the flutter in her chest. "Are you sure you can handle it?" She couldn't help but worry with Robert and Barbara coming over. What if the meal didn't turn out well?

Edward gave her a teasing smile. "Are you doubting my cooking skills?"noveldrama

"No, of course not. Go ahead, then!" Janice responded, staying close by his side.

She was quick on her feet and skilled in the kitchen, so whatever Edward needed, she had it ready in no time.

Her seamless cooperation made the atmosphere comfortable, and Edward couldn't help but glance at her more than once.

"You should head to the living room. I'll get started here. There's bound to be some smoke."

"I'm not afraid of smoke."

To Janice's surprise, Edward gently ushered her out of the kitchen. "Spending too much time around the smoke and grease won't do your beauty any favors. There are snacks in the living room, and if you're bored, you can watch TV or use the tablet. There's also a computer in the study with no password, so feel free to use it."

His casual tone stirred something within her, an unexpected warmth she hadn't anticipated.

Janice took a breath and wandered around Edward's home. The place had the clean, minimalist look of a bachelor's pad-cool tones, sparse decor, and yet everything was meticulously arranged.

The study was separated by a glass wall, allowing her to get a glimpse of the room without stepping inside.

Her eyes naturally drifted over the space, and something on the shelf caught her attention. Drawn to it, she stepped closer, her gaze locking on the photograph.

It was from a live crochet event, with

a large screen showcasing works from the competition. In the bottom left corner of the photo, she saw

familiar figure. It was her, frome?

about four or five years ago. Could this be from her first competition? It seemed like it was taken during the voting phase.

As Janice stared at the photo, a flicker of hope appeared in her eyes.