Chapter 8 Are You Jealous?

• Alexa quickly neutralized her expression. She tried to act casual even though she was starting to get nervous. "Don't be presumptuous! How would you know anything about our relationship?" the girl challenged, raising one eyebrow perfectly.
• Maybe Darren was just talking nonsense. Both Eric and Alice had asked Alexa to keep their mouths shut about the deal they offered, from anyone.
• But, the possibility that Darren knew who she was was also possible because the man was Alice's biological son. Even if her guess was right, Alexa wasn't afraid at all.
• Here, Alexa was the one who was needed, by both Eric and Alice. Even if Darren knew and dared to open his mouth, the man would only lose. What he would face was his own brother and mother.
• "The marriage you have isn't based on love and affection. Even if you pretend to be affectionate in front of everyone, I won't be fooled," Darren replied, smiling smugly.
• Alexa maintained her calm demeanor. So far, nothing has shown that Darren knows who she is or about her contract marriage with Eric.
• Alexa folded her hands in front of her chest. "Pretend? How do you know we're just pretending?" The girl laughed softly. "Eric's attitude is indeed cold and stiff in front of everyone, but you don't know what he's like when he's alone with me, do you?"
• The sentence full of lies flowed smoothly from her lips. In fact, Eric's attitude was even more annoying when he was alone with her. Just let that fact be known only to Alexa and Eric.
• It would be very embarrassing if someone knew about their dysfunctional domestic drama. Whatever happened between her and Eric didn't need to be known by others.
• Darren snorted softly. "Don't be hypocritical! Everyone knows that you and Eric got married because of an arranged marriage. To strengthen the business relationship between the Walter and Addison companies."
• Alexa breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. Apparently, that's all Darren knew. Feeling satisfied after getting an answer to her curiosity, the girl immediately got up from her position. Darren's arrival made Alexa reluctant to stay there for too long. After all, what the man was saying wasn't important.
• Alexa nodded slowly. "Oh, about that arranged marriage. Relationships that start with an arranged marriage don't always end badly. I'll go in first, excuse me." Without waiting for Darren's response, she immediately left.
• Alexa couldn't really believe Darren's words. Maybe right now the man really didn't know anything or maybe Darren just wanted to test her. Making her reveal the secret that she was supposed to keep well.
• From the first time she met Darren, Alexa realized there was something strange about his behavior. The man's gaze did radiate warmth, but it was as if something was being hidden.
• Moreover, Darren was a reckless person, clearly seen from how daring he was to approach her. So, it was better if she didn't need to be too close to Eric's stepbrother.
• All the members of the Walter family had strange attitudes. Alexa didn't know who she should trust, let alone befriend. Rather than getting involved in something detrimental, it would be better for her to just act as needed to anyone. Work professionally according to her contract.
• When she entered the house, Alexa found Alice standing near the large window that connected to the garden earlier. It seemed the middle-aged woman had just been peeking at what she and Darren were doing.
• "Can I help you with something?" Alexa asked politely. Secretly, the girl smirked when Alice flinched.
• Alice cleared her throat softly, then looked away. "No, I just wanted to see my son."
• Alexa nodded briefly. "Excuse me, Ma." She continued her steps that had been interrupted.
• Again, Alexa spent a whole day with no meaningful activity. It turned out that the life of a daughter-in-law of a conglomerate family was quite boring. It would be much better if she had to do something than die of boredom.
• Unfortunately, Eleanor was just a girl who had just graduated from college, then immediately married one of the heirs of a giant company in this country. There was no need to struggle to make a living. That was the role Alexa was playing now.
• Not only was she trapped in boredom all day long, Alexa also felt like she was living alone in this luxurious house. The owners of the house went away all day long and only left her with a few servants.
• Even until almost midnight, Eric didn't come back. Alexa guessed that the man was back spending time with naughty women at the nightclub.
• Her growling stomach forced Alexa to get out of the room. Even though she had already had dinner a few hours ago, which was of course alone too. However, suddenly the feeling of hunger returned.
• Her long legs walked casually down the stairs. After almost a whole day Alexa spent exploring every corner of this house, she was sure there would be no more drama getting lost.
• Alexa stopped when she reached the kitchen. Her eyes lit up as she weighed what she should eat to satisfy her hunger.
• A gasp of admiration escaped her lips when she saw how complete the ingredients and cooking utensils were there. Her hands immediately took all the tools and ingredients she needed. Without caring if anyone would catch her here.
• "What are you doing here? Are you cooking?"
• The baritone voice that flowed into her ears made Alexa startled so badly that she almost threw a small pan in her hand. Luckily, she still managed to hold back. When she turned around, her eyes met Eric's deep black eyes that looked at her questioningly.
• The man who was still wearing his formal shirt was leaning against the kitchen door with his hands folded in front of his chest. His face looked pale and tired, but it did not diminish the handsomeness that the man possessed.
• Alexa snorted softly and turned back. "I thought you'd be staying at a hotel with your slutty women," she sneered.
• Alexa returned to her work with the ingredients available in front of her. Her hands quickly washed and peeled some vegetables with skilled movements.
• The girl planned to make mushroom soup to fill her stomach and warm her body. A simple menu that is very easy to make.
• One of Eric's eyebrows rose perfectly. "I didn't know a spoiled girl like you knew about the kitchen," Eric taunted. "Are you sure that food can be eaten? If not, you'd better wake up one of the servants to make you food."
• Alexa growled inwardly. Eric always managed to make her emotions rise to the top of her head. Rather than having to deal with the man, she chose to remain silent, pretending not to hear the useless chatter from Eric's mouth.
• Never mind Eric's mockery. After all, the one who would eat this food was herself. No matter how bad it tasted, only she would feel it, not anyone else. Defending herself was also useless because Eric would still find a way to mock her.
• "Make me a cup of coffee, you must be able to do that, right?" asked Eric, who was now standing right behind Alexa.
• Without being able to prevent it, Alexa's whole body suddenly tensed when she realized how close their distance was at that moment. The man's baritone voice made her shiver.
• The girl ignored Eric's request again, but she still couldn't reduce the strange feeling that arose within her. Trying to stay focused on her activities, even though it wasn't successful.
• When Alexa turned around, her hazel eyes met Eric's deep black eyes that were staring at her so intensely. Their gazes locked for a few moments, until a high-pitched shriek escaped the girl's mouth.