Lily hesitated for a second outside the kitchen door before pushing it open gently.
The rich aroma of spices and freshly cooked food filled the air instantly, wrapping around her like a warm embrace.
She stepped in slowly.
Mrs. Baron stood by the counter, gracefully stirring something in a pot.
Lily smiled softly.
"Guess nothing stays secret forever. I could smell your cooking even outside the door."
Mrs. Baron turned at the sound of her voice. A warm, genuine smile spread across her face, her eyes lighting up.
"Come closer. You don't have to stand there like a guest."
Lily walked in, her eyes drifting over the neatly arranged ingredients, the simmering pot, the clean, organized space.
'A born chef'.
This definitely wasn't her first time in the kitchen, but she always admired it—especially when Mrs. Baron was there.
"Where's Natalie? Not back from school yet?"
"Yes… she's really stressed these days. Final year in college."
"Yeah." Lily grabbed a fruit from the counter and took a bite, nodding.
"I understand that a lot."
She glanced at Mrs. Baron again.
"You love cooking. And I must say—you're a great chef," she added, chewing.
Mrs. Baron chuckled.
"Thank you. Cooking helps me think."
"I get that…" Lily paused. "…eating helps me think too."
Her face immediately stiffened.
The words slipped out.
She groaned softly, covering her face.
"Oh God… I didn't mean—"
Mrs. Baron laughed—not loudly, but warmly.
"I really like you."
Lily peeked through her fingers, her cheeks flushed.
"Please don't."
Mrs. Baron smiled.
"Why not?"
"I tend to embarrass myself a lot."
Hearing the slight sadness in her voice, Mrs. Baron shook her head gently.
"No… you're just honest. That's rare."
Lily leaned lightly against the counter and sighed.
"I guess…" she murmured.
Mrs. Baron watched her, her expression soft.
Lily was the same age as Natalie—just a month older. Even though they hadn't spoken much before, Mrs. Baron had always liked her.
'She's an interesting child'.
Lily picked up the fruit again and continued eating.
After a moment, Mrs. Baron spoke.
"You didn't grow up in a place where people say things like that often, did you?"
Lily blinked.
"…No."
Mrs. Baron nodded, as if she already knew.
"Well," she said gently, turning off the stove and facing her,
"you're here now."
Something about the way she said it made Lily's chest tighten.
The motherly figure I never had.
"How are you?" Mrs. Baron asked suddenly.
Lily paused, surprised.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Mrs. Baron chuckled.
"I mean—you and Smith. I haven't really had the chance to talk to you. I guess this is the right time… since Natalie isn't here and you're not locked up in your room."
Lily laughed softly.
She and Natalie had grown close quickly. Natalie talked a lot—just like her—and always kept her company.
'She's good company'.
Flashback
"Mum started working for the Wellingtons a month after Dad's death," Natalie had said once. "She was six months pregnant with me then."
Lily had noticed the sadness in her voice.
"Sorry about that," Lily had said quietly.
"Nah, it's fine." Natalie had brightened, lying on Lily's bed.
"So yeah, Smith was three then. The Wellingtons—especially his mum—took us in like family. They even stopped Mum from working because she was pregnant."
She chuckled.
"Mum went back to work when I turned two. Said it was the only way to repay them. She even begged them to let her. She's stubborn like that."
She smiled softly.
"She became like a second mother to Smith."
"So you and Smith are close?" Lily had asked.
Natalie burst out laughing.
"Close? Not even a bit. He likes being alone. I know my boundaries. He's only really close to his mum—and mine, a little. He even schooled abroad."
Lily nodded slowly.
"Don't worry," Natalie had added with a grin,
"Smith has eyes only for you."
Lily had frozen.
"What? No, I didn't mean it like that—"
Natalie only giggled.
"So your mum knows about the whole thing between me and Smith?"
"If it's the arranged marriage thing?,yeah she knows about that,she supported smith's mum in the whole thing". Natalie said and laughed softly
"That's crazy". Lily said and laughed
"I trust my mum in everything,so I guess she had a reason for supporting the idea"
Lily scoffed
*Backtopresent*
Lily looked at Mrs. Baron again.
Her smile slowly faded.
"We were both forced into it," she said quietly.
Mrs. Baron let out a soft chuckle.
"And how does it feel to you?"
Lily gave a small, humorless laugh.
"Like I've been dropped into someone else's life without permission."
She sighed.
"And it's crazy. He doesn't even act like he's interested… not like I am either, but still…"
She paused, then continued,
" It's been a week, and we barely see each other. Just meal times. Don't you think that's… weird?"
Mrs. Baron watched her with quiet interest and pulled a chair closer, sitting down.
"You want to know more about him?"
"Yes—but I'm not taking any chances. He's the man, he should make the move," Lily said, hopping lightly onto the counter.
Mrs. Baron laughed.
"Teens these days."
"Don't get me wrong—no strings attached. I don't like him," Lily said quickly,
"but where there's no love, at least there should be understanding, right?"
She sighed.
"Understanding him is harder than finding a hidden location. One day he's tolerable… the next day he's cold and distant."
Mrs. Baron nodded slowly.
"You've figured all that out just from meal times?"
Lily shrugged.
"Most times, I just wish—"
She stopped, then looked at Mrs. Baron.
"You don't mind how much I talk, do you?"
Mrs. Baron smiled warmly.
"Of course not. I love how open you are."
Lily exhaled deeply.
"The whole thing is just… confusing."
"That feeling doesn't last forever," Mrs. Baron said gently.
Lily scoffed lightly.
"Marriage isn't always about how it starts," Mrs. Baron continued.
"Sometimes… it's about what you choose to make of it."
"I still think marriage only works if both people love each other," Lily replied.
"I'll give you a month."
Lily frowned.
"A month for what?"
" You'll fall in love with him."
Lily stared at her—then let out a short, amused laugh.
Her mind drifted to Smith.
His tone.
His stare.
That annoying smirk.
"Yeah right. Aside from his looks, there's nothing to love. He's difficult."
Mrs. Baron smiled knowingly.
"Yes… he can be."
Lily raised a brow.
"And…?"
Mrs. Baron laughed.
"What do you want me to say?"
"That he's impossible."
"He's misunderstood."
Lily blinked.
"That's worse."
They both laughed softly.
Lily wanted to ask about the whole thing of him being a playboy,but she kicked against the idea. It's already worst that she got married to him,she didn't wanna hear about his playboy life.
Mrs. Baron picked up a plate, served some food, and handed it to her.
"Here. Taste this."
Lily took it and had a bite.
Her eyes widened instantly.
"Oh wow…"
"This is really good."
"Of course it is," Mrs. Baron said with a smile.
" No, like… really good," Lily insisted.
Mrs. Baron chuckled. Then her expression softened again.
"You'll be alright," she said quietly.
Lily looked up at her.
For the first time since she arrived—
She almost believed it.