Chapter 129 Cooking
Olivia's gaze swept around the living room, finally landing on the wilted pothos plant on the balcony.
She had planted it herself back then. She couldn't believe that after all these years, he still hadn't thrown it away.
"You live here alone. Doesn't Windy mind?" She couldn't hold back the question, her voice a bit dry.
As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt they were unnecessary. Whether Windy minded or not, what did it have to do with her? They had been divorced for ages. She was just a passerby now.
Luca, who was bending down to change his shoes, paused at her words. When he straightened up, his brow arched slightly, and his eyes carried an unreadable expression. "Why would she mind?"
"I thought... you two were already together," Olivia said, avoiding his gaze and looking at the dusty plant in the corner.
The news was full of stories about Luca accompanying Windy to events or buying her limited-edition jewelry. Everyone in their circle had long assumed Windy would be the future Mrs. Vettel.
Luca let out a short, mocking laugh, not loud but dripping with sarcasm. "We've never had that kind of relationship. I told you before—she's just like a sister to me. You're the one who didn't believe it."
Olivia's heart skipped a beat.
"The news said you did it for her..." She stopped mid-sentence, swallowing the rest of her words.
What was the point of saying this now? It was all in the past.
"The news?" Luca cut her off, stepping closer to her. "Those reporters have no real evidence. They just make guesses and write whatever. You believe that stuff? She saved my life, so I look after her. That's only right. But it has nothing to do with love." His voice was heavy, carrying a seriousness that left no room for doubt.
Olivia looked up and met his eyes.
His gaze was deep, like it held a lot of unspoken words, but she didn't dare to dig deeper.
She knew Luca too well. His words were always a mix of truth and lies. Back then, she was naive and couldn't tell the difference. Now, she didn't want to fool herself anymore.
"Whatever you say," she replied, her tone flat as she looked away. "I was just asking casually."
A grumbling sound came from her stomach, reminding her that she'd only had a cup of coffee since morning.
"I'll check the fridge and make something for you," she said, heading to the kitchen to end this awkward conversation.
When she opened the fridge door, she froze.
It was practically empty. Apart from a few bottles of mineral water and a carton of expired milk, there wasn't even a single vegetable leaf.
"You don't cook at home?" she asked, turning back to him.
Luca leaned against the kitchen doorframe, hands in his pockets, looking relaxed. "I usually eat at the office or during business dinners. I hardly ever cook at home."
"Fine, I'll go to the supermarket to grab some stuff," Olivia said, closing the fridge door and picking up her bag from the sofa.
"I'll go with you," Luca said, immediately following her.
"No need. Your arm is injured. Just wait here," Olivia refused. In his current state, he'd only be a burden if he came along.
"It's fine. This small injury doesn't stop me from walking," Luca said, already grabbing the keys and heading to the door. "I could use the movement. Staying home all the time is boring."
Olivia sighed and had no choice but to follow.
The supermarket in the villa community was right by the entrance, just a few minutes' walk away.
They walked side by side on the sidewalk, the leaves rustling in the wind. Neither spoke, and the atmosphere felt a bit heavy.
As they neared the supermarket entrance, they bumped into a middle-aged couple—Harold and Mabel, their former neighbors.
"Luca? It's been ages!" Harold's voice boomed from a distance as he waved. His eyes darted between the two of them with a knowing look. "And this is... Olivia, right? Are you two... back together?"
Olivia's cheeks instantly heated up, and she instinctively wanted to explain, but Luca spoke first. "Harold, Mabel, long time no see." He neither confirmed nor denied it, just smiled and said, "We're just out to buy some stuff."
"That's great, really great!" Mabel beamed, grabbing Olivia's hand and not letting go. "After you left, Luca was alone at home, drinking himself silly every day. Sometimes he'd just stare out the window in a daze. We were so worried. Now that you're back, it's good. He's stubborn, but deep down, he's always missed you."
Olivia's hand felt hot in Mabel's grip, and her heart was a mess of emotions.
She hadn't expected Luca to be like that after she left.
But then again, she thought, it was his own doing. Even if he was struggling now, it had nothing to do with her.
"Mabel, we just ran into each other by chance," she said, pulling her hand back, her tone a bit awkward.
"Doesn't matter. Seeing you two out together again is a good thing," Harold said with a smile. "We'll let you get on with your shopping. Come visit us sometime!"
After saying goodbye to Harold and Mabel, they entered the supermarket.
Olivia pushed the cart straight to the fresh produce section. She picked out a fresh steak, some broccoli, carrots, a box of eggs, and a bottle of fresh milk.
"What do you want to eat?" she asked, turning to Luca, only to find him standing in the snack aisle, holding a pack of teddy bear cookies with a distant look in his eyes.
That was the brand kids loved most. After all these years, did Luca have a child now? Olivia's heart tightened, and she quickly looked away.
Luca snapped out of it and tossed the cookies into the cart. "Anything's fine. I love whatever you make."
Olivia didn't respond and pushed the cart toward the checkout.
After paying, Luca insisted on carrying the shopping bags. He held them with his left hand while his injured right arm hung naturally. His movements were a bit clumsy, but he refused to let her help.
Back at the villa, Olivia tied on an apron and went into the kitchen. Luca leaned against the doorframe, watching her in silence.
Sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, falling on her hair and making it glow faintly golden. Her movements were skilled—washing, chopping, frying, stir-frying—every step smooth and practiced.
Luca watched, a bit lost in thought.
Back when they lived here together, she often busied herself in the kitchen like this. He was always caught up with work and rarely paid attention to her.
Only now did he realize how nice she looked when she was focused on cooking.
"Go wait outside. You're not helping by standing here," Olivia said, feeling uneasy under his gaze.
"It's fine. I want to watch you cook," Luca said, pulling a chair over to sit by the kitchen door. "I never really watched properly before."
Olivia ignored him and kept working.
The steak smelled amazing as it sizzled, the broccoli and carrots were stir-fried to a perfect crisp, and she also made a creamy mushroom soup.
When the food was served, Luca's eyes lit up.
"Still, nothing beats your cooking," he said, picking up his knife and fork. He cut a piece of steak, popped it into his mouth, and chewed with a satisfied look on his face.
Over the years, he'd eaten all kinds of fancy dishes, but none ever felt as comforting as this meal today.
Olivia didn't say anything, just ate quietly with her head down.
The only sound in the air was the faint clink of cutlery against plates.
"These past five years, did you often cook like this for Jason?" Luca suddenly asked, his voice a bit low.
Olivia looked up and met his eyes, catching a flicker of displeasure in them.
She let out a cold laugh in her mind.
He was still the same selfish guy—fine with having others around him, but couldn't stand seeing her close to someone else.