How Come I've Never Seen You Before

Sienna Shaw continued, "I only started two days ago, so it makes sense you haven't seen me."

Sienna Shaw had already learned about Wes's identity from Claire Bennett, so she wasn't too curious about his question and simply explained directly.

Wes suddenly understood. So she was a designer who had just joined recently. No wonder he hadn't seen her before.

He knew Maison Verne's employees had all defected, and now Claire Bennett had to find new designers. He had no idea how capable this newly hired designer was.

The mention of designers made Wes think of Willow Lane again.

Being dumped by Willow Lane still bothered him a little. Clearly, he hadn't done anything wrong.

Even now, Wes still didn't blame Willow Lane. He felt it was because he had deceived her that she had gotten so angry. But when he had called her just now, her attitude had really hurt him.

He felt absolutely heartbroken.

At that moment, Sienna Shaw walked in on her own. She opened the container in her hands, pulled over the small table beside him, then set everything out in front of him and said, "This was just made, and it's still hot. Hurry up and eat."

A mouthwatering aroma spread through the hospital room.

Wes had already been starving from smelling the food next door, and now, seeing this meal in front of him with perfect color, aroma, and taste, his mouth kept filling with saliva. He struggled a little to sit up.

Seeing that, Sienna Shaw immediately stepped forward to help support him.

"Thank you," Wes said, a little embarrassed.

He picked up his chopsticks and started eating. The moment the first bite went into his mouth, Wes felt as if birds were singing and flowers were blooming all around him. His whole being seemed elevated.

He didn't know whether it was because he was too hungry or for some other reason. In any case, he felt this meal was exceptionally delicious.

And the taste unexpectedly matched the one in his memory exactly.

As Wes ate, his eyes turned red again, and an indescribable emotion stirred in his chest.

This taste was exactly the same as the food his mother, who had died young, used to make. It was a flavor he had always hidden away in his memory. After all these years, he had never once tasted this kind of flavor outside again.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Wes suddenly go still, Sienna Shaw almost thought she had added the wrong seasoning. She looked at him nervously.

"Nothing!"

Wes quickly shook his head, then began devouring the food.

Seeing how happily he was eating, Sienna Shaw finally relaxed. She smiled and said, "Then I'll head back first. Manager Bennett is still waiting for me at home."

"Wait!" Wes stopped his chopsticks.

Sienna Shaw, who had already been about to walk out, stopped and turned back toward Wes in confusion, waiting for what he was going to say next.

Wes asked a little awkwardly, "This food... did you make it?"

Sienna Shaw nodded. "Yeah, I made it. What's wrong? Is something not good?"

"No!" Afraid Sienna Shaw would misunderstand, Wes immediately sat up straight with an excited look on his face and said repeatedly, "It's too good. I've never had food this delicious before! Every bite is pure enjoyment."

Sienna Shaw hadn't expected her cooking to be praised like this. It was her first time hearing such high praise.

She said modestly, "Thank you, but it's just home cooking."

Something stirred in Wes's mind, and he asked sincerely, "Can I ask you a favor?"

"Mm, go ahead. I'll do my best to help."

Wes said, "The takeout near the hospital is seriously awful. Could you make a little extra food every day? I'll have a delivery runner pick it up from your place. I'll pay all the costs when the time comes, including the money for groceries. Please!"

"Um..."

Sienna Shaw hadn't expected someone would make this kind of request. She hesitated for a moment.

Although Wes was badly injured and it was hard to make out his expression clearly, the way he looked at Sienna Shaw was especially sincere, without any mixed motives or bad intentions, and it made people lower their guard around him.

Sienna Shaw felt that since Wes was someone Claire Bennett knew, he probably wasn't a bad person either.

"Okay." Sienna Shaw agreed.

Wes hurriedly nodded his thanks, his face full of gratitude. "Then can I add your contact info?"

"Of course."

The two added each other's contact information, and that counted as getting acquainted.

After they had settled that, Sienna Shaw didn't stay any longer and got up to leave directly.

...

Sienna Shaw quickly returned to the apartment.

Because she had been delayed for a bit, by the time she got back, the food was already finished and everyone was waiting for her.

"Sienna Shaw, why did you take so long to get back? I was thinking that if you didn't come back soon, we'd go look for you."

"There were a lot of people. I had to wait forever for the elevator."

The few of them quickly sat down to eat.

Even though it was just a simple meal, they all ate very happily. It wasn't until late into the night that Claire Bennett and Julian Sterling finally got up to say goodbye.

After getting home, Claire Bennett lifted her eyes to Julian Sterling and asked, "Are you showering first, or should I go first?"

Shower?

Julian Sterling's deep eyes suddenly darkened.

He couldn't help imagining some intimate, heated scenes. Claire Bennett's allure to him was simply too strong, and now her words sounded even more like an invitation.

"You go first. I'll come in a bit," Julian Sterling said lightly.

"Oh, then I'll go first."

Claire Bennett didn't notice the darkness that flashed through his eyes. She simply went back to the room to get her clothes.

Watching Claire Bennett's figure disappear from view, the corners of Julian Sterling's lips lifted slightly.

Claire Bennett went into the bathroom.

Just as she was about to lock the door, a tall figure forced his way in. Looking up and seeing Julian Sterling's handsome face, Claire Bennett asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Do you need something?"

At this moment, Claire Bennett still hadn't realized the danger and thought Julian Sterling had something to say to her.

The man reached back and closed the door.

Hearing the bathroom door lock, Claire Bennett suddenly realized what was happening.

She asked uneasily, "What are you trying to do? Didn't you just say I should shower first? Why did you lock the door?"