Lily's eyes shifted toward the small package on the table. "Miss Thalia, look at this. Did you get a new phone?"
"I didn't," Thalia replied, stepping closer. "It's packaged nicely, though."
She loosened the ribbon and opened the box. Inside was a phone identical to her old one. She unfolded the tiny note and read it in her mind.
"Come on, what does it say?" Lily pressed.
"It says… 'I got this for you. Hope you like it. Looks exactly like your old one. Take care.'"
"My love," Lily added dramatically. "You forgot the 'my love' part!"
"Oh, you silly girl," Thalia said, rolling her eyes. "We better go now. Come on, let's go. My hands are still aching."
At their mafia hideout, Vicious sat with Mario, Fernandez, and Martinez. His tone was ice-cold as he spoke.
"How has business been going? I need all financial records now. Martinez, keep me updated. Mario, assemble the others. Fernandez, plant some spies in the other mafia gang and brief me on everything—plans, movement, all of it."
"Calm down, bro. You just got back," Martinez said.
Mario smirked. "We thought falling in love would make you soft, but you're still as tough as ever."
"Get your ass up. Now." Vicious barked, his voice booming enough to send them scattering.
Later that night, Thalia stepped out in her pajamas to get a glass of water. She drank slowly, then walked back toward her room—only to see Vicious in the hallway. She spun around instantly and rushed into her room, slamming the door shut.
Vicious sighed, tossed himself onto the couch for a moment, then eventually went to his own room. After showering, he walked back to Thalia's door and knocked.
No response.
"Open up. It's me." "I'm asleep. Go away," came her voice.
"You're not. Open up." What do you want?"
"I want to see you." "Sorry. No. Can't." she said
He paused. "Alright. I'm hungry. Could you make something for me?"
"Please tell another maid. Or Samaria—she'll be glad to do it. I'm done for the day."
"Fine," he said dramatically. "If anything happens to me, it's your fault."
A second later, something crashed loudly as vicious pretended to fall on the floor
Thalia's heart jumped. She flung the door open Vicious was lying on the floor with his eyes closed.
"Sir! Victor! Please wake up!" she cried, kneeling beside him. "Oh goodness—what have you done? You're the maid, you were meant to cook for him—oh water, water—"
She sprinted to the kitchen, grabbed water, and sprinkled it on him. Vicious coughed lightly and sat up.
"Why am I on the ground?" he asked weakly.
"It's not important. What do you want to eat? I'll prepare it now."
"Anything you prepare… my love."
"Okay," she sighed. "Come on, I'll help you up. Should I accompany you to your room first?"
"No. I'll stay with you in the kitchen."
They walked to the kitchen together, Vicious staying close behind her.
"Sir, please sit," she said. "I'll make you noodles. You'll love it."
"I don't—" He stopped mid-sentence.
"What? You don't like noodles?"
"No, I mean… I don't mind," he muttered.
She chopped ingredients quickly.
"Why didn't you eat before leaving today? Don't do that again. What have you even taken today?"
"Coffee," Vicious replied.
"Just coffee? Are you serious? Health first, Victor. I'm going to monitor that."
He raised a brow. "Are you scolding me?"
"Yes. You deserve even more."
"That means you care about me, baby."
"Wrong. I'm a good employee," she said sharply, going back to cooking.
"It's ready," she announced.
Vicious frowned slightly. "Forgive me, but I think I lost my appetite. I'll just go to sleep."
"No, sir. You are eating this. No buts. If you disobey me, I will fight you."
She lifted her fists like a tiny boxer.
"That's your threat?" Vicious laughed. "Alright, alright. I surrender. I'll eat."
They stayed in the kitchen. Thalia handed him a fork.
"Where's yours?" he asked. "I made it for you. "she said
"Please join me. It's much."
She hesitated, then nodded.
"I know you wanted to say it's unhealthy," she said. "So I added veggies—tomatoes, carrots, greens. And I made it spicier."
She lifted a bite toward her mouth, but Vicious leaned forward and took it himself.
"A new trick, huh?" he teased.
"How is it?" "This is the best noodles I've ever tasted. Truly."
He held the fork out to her. "Feed me some more?"
"You have hands," she replied.
"I enjoy when you do it," he said gently.
She sighed. "Fine. Only because you're not well and you fed me the other day."
So she fed him small bites, and in between, he used her spoon to give her some too.