Chapter 143

Chapter 143 +25 BONUS The next day was Saturday, which meant neither Thalassa nor Luisa had anywhere to be.

Kris, still dealing with the ache in his shoulder, had only managed a few hours of sleep. Stretching carefully, his arm still secured in the sling, he got out of bed. His wound still hurt, but it wasn’t as bad as it had been the previous night.

In the bathroom, he brushed his teeth and washed his face before heading downstairs. Thalassa and Luisa were nowhere in sight, but the aroma of freshly brewed coffee lured him into the kitchen.

Luisa was sitting on a stool at the kitchen counter, her gaze fixed on her phone as she sipped her coffee. She glanced up when she saw him.

“Oh, hey Kris,” she greeted with a smile. “I thought you would wake up much later. How did you sleep?”

Kris hesitated, his mind drifting to his late–night encounter with Thalassa. “I’ve had better nights.”

Though sleepless nights had become a normal for him over the last three years, at least they hadn’t come with the added pain of a gunshot wound.

Luisa’s smile faded as she studied his face. “Is it your shoulder?”

“No, don’t worry about it,” he said, forcing a small smile to reassure her, though he held back what was truly on his mind.

“Good. Want some coffee?” she offered, getting up from her stool before he could even respond.

Kris nodded gratefully. Luisa poured him a mug and handed it over to him. Kris thanked her. They sat in silence for about a minute just sipping their coffees, until Kris couldn’t hold back his tongue anymore.

“Do you think Thalassa will ever forgive me?”

Luisa stiffened, slowly setting her mug down before meeting his gaze. She pressed her lips together in a thoughtful line.

“Kris, that’s not for me to decide.”

“I know.” Kris rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “I just... I’m desperate, Luisa. I need a chance to make things right. But I’m afraid I’m fighting a lost battle. Thalassa, she’s... so cold.”

“And can you really blame her?” Luisa leaned forward slightly, her voice soft but firm. “You were the person she loved the most, and yet you hurt her more than anyone else. I know you were deceived to some extent, but that doesn’t erase your mistakes.

Forgive me, but it’s not up to me to decide whether you deserve her forgiveness or not.

Kris felt a weight settle in his chest, but before he could respond, the sound of footsteps announced Thalassa’s approach.

“Good–morning,” she said, barely glancing at him as she entered the kitchen. Luisa greeted back.

“Morning,” Kris replied casually.

He watched as she pour herself a cup of coffee, her movements stiff and distant. She was clearly doing her best to act as if he wasn’t even there.

“Lassa, I was waiting for you,” Luisa began, breaking the silence. “It’s my turn to restock the groceries, and I want to get it over with. Will you handle breakfast?”

1/2 Chapter 143 +25 BONUS Thalassa nodded. “Yeah, sure. I’ll take care of it.”

Kris saw his opportunity to spend more time alone with Thalassa, leaning forward forward. “Actually, Luisa,” he said, his tone casual, “I was hoping to help out around the house while I’m here.”

Thalassa shot him a glance, her eyes flicking to his bandaged shoulder before returning to his face, her expression darkening.

“I’m not completely useless,” Kris added with a sheepish smile. “I could help with cooking or cleaning. Anything to keep busy.”

Thalassa’s eyes narrowed as she caught on to his real motive. This time, Kris was the one who tried to avoid her glare.

“That’s great then. But please don’t stress your shoulder too much. I’ll be back soon.”

With that, she left the kitchen, leaving Kris and Thalassa alone. Thalassa set her mug down with a sharp clink, crossing her arms over her chest. Her cold stare could have frozen the room.

“Your tricks won’t work, Kris. I don’t need your help with anything.”

“Tricks?” Kris raised an innocent brow. “Since when is offering to help cook the food I’m going to eat considered a trick?”

“I don’t need your help,” she ground out. “You said you’re a guest, right? Helping out isn’t part of a guest’s responsibilities.”

“Well, I’ve decided to make it my responsibility,” Kris replied, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

It was ridiculous, but he found her frustration amusing. Her efforts to keep him at arm’s length only made him want to stay closer.

“So, where do I start?” he asked, his smile widening.

Her grip on the mug tightened before she snapped. “What are you doing, Kris? What do you hope to accomplish with this?

Pretend everything’s fine?”

Kris’s smile faltered, but he didn’t back down. This time he spoke directly as he held her gaze. “No, I’m not trying to pretend like everything is fine because I know it’s not. But I’m trying my best to fix everything I broke so that everything goes back to being fine. I have to start from somewhere, don’t I?”

Their eyes locked. For a long moment, neither spoke, the air between them thick with unresolved tension. Kris could see the conflict in her eyes, the emotions she was trying so hard to suppress.

Finally, Thalassa shook her head, her expression hardening once more. “You’re only wasting your time.”

“Maybe,” Kris said quietly. “But I’m willing to waste it for you. Even if it takes a lifetime.”

Thalassa glared at him as if wishing her eyes were bullets. Finally, she let out a sigh of resignation and muttered begrudgingly, “Fine. You want to help? Start by washing the potatoes.”

11 Kris grinned like an idiot, happy that she was at least allowing him to be close to her.