''Why did you keep onions there?''

''To ward of bad smell''

''And you want us to use that to prepare food?''

''Well, all the germs will die once they are inside the boiling pot''

''You are hopeless Natalie''

''No, I am n…'' Natalie turned at once to argue with him and lost her balance. Mikael quickly moved to hold her and his hands touched her breasts as he held her up. They both tensed up and Mikael's fingers quivered at that moment. Even though it was involuntary, it felt like he had just brushed his fingers against her breasts making them both shocked.

''Can. You. let. Go… right now?'' Natalie stuttered and he quickly let go and apologised.

''Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you would turn to fast. I didn't mean to…'' his ears turned red and he pursed his lips.

''Oh. It was a mistake'' Natalie stepped away from him and turned, she ran away from the kitchen straight into her room.

Mikael looked at his fingers and cussed, 'darn it'' he suddenly smirked and muttered, ''that didn't feel bad. You are shameless Mikael''

Alice yawned as she stood up. she looked towards the kitchen and asked, ''what smell is that? Making me hungry?''

Mikael and Nat are cooking'' Xia answered.

''You mean; Mikael is cooking, because my sister zero talent when it comes to food. She is probably setting the table''

''Food is ready, ladies'' Mikael came out to tell them.

''Yes, we can start with the grilling once we are done eating breakfast'' Alice said.

''Where is Natalie?'' Lucy asked.

''She is in her room'' Mikael said and turned back and the others followed. When they got to the dining table, they saw Natalie coming out of her room.

Mikael started serving them the food and his phone buzzed. He excused himself and Alice stood up to help while he answered the call.

''Hello, Assistant He. What did you just say?'' Mikael said making the ladies turn to look at him

''What is it?'' Nata.ie asked and Mikael ignored her and went to turn on the TV in the hall. The ladies followed him.

''What is that?'' Alice asked as soon as she saw herself on TV with Mikael. There were pictures of herself and Mikael coming out from the 'Men' that time she was drunk and Mikael was bringing her out.

There was another picture of Mikael and Natalie walking out of the mall hand in hand as Mikael led her out.

''This is from yesterday'' Natalie spoke. ''This is the work of Mimi. She is the one who saw us yesterday''

''Alice, they're saying that Mikael is in a relationship with you and big sis'' Niania said.

''Who is Mikael in a relationship with? Natalie Jun, his sister in law or Alice Jun, his co-star in LWANBIL?''

''The two ladies have the same surname; it seems Mikael Sun has a peculiar taste in women' t

''Who wrote this nonsense?'' Xia asked after she read the headlines.

''This is nonsense. How could someone even have such wild thoughts?'' Alice tussled her hair.

Mikael made another call as Natalie looked at him, ''find out who is behind this and make sure the media house that brought this up faces the consequences'' when he turned, he met with Natalie's gaze and immediately looked away.

Natalie turned and looked between Mikael and Alice. She wondered if he was unhappy because the news involved her or not.

''This is Mimi's work. She came to me a few days ago to ask about Natalie''

''That girl must be a lunatic. Messing with someone like Mikael Sun'' Lucy said as she went closer to Natalie and held her hand, ''are you alright?''

Natalie shook her head and said to them, ''let's go and eat. I'm hungry''

A few minutes later after the started eating, Alice put her cutlery down and looked at Mikael, ''do you think JSC has seen this already? I really want to mess with Mimi the more she tries to hurt my career''

''Josh follows every news about you. We must have seen this by now'' Mikael said and looked at Natalie and she turned her face away immediately.

''Oh, no. What if he thinks we really have something doing together? Will he stop sponsoring me? Will he even allow me into his bar again? What if…?'' Alice became frantic.

''Alice, he knows you are not my type''

''What? You are equally not my type''

''Serious? Is this the time to argue about each other's types? Can't you see me?'' Natalie suddenly snapped making everyone at the table shocked. She glared at both Alice and Mikael.

''He started it first''

''Josh knows you're my sister in law'' both Alice and Mikael wanted to explain but Natalie stood up and pushed her chair backwards.

''I don't care!'' she said and went towards her room.

''What is wrong with her?'' Alice asked and Xia stood up.

''Guys, let's respect the food in front of us. I will go and check on Natalie first'' Xia said to them before going after Natalie.

Xia knocked on the half opened door and peeped inside. She saw Natalie laying on her bed and she asked, ''can I come in?''

''You are already in'' Natalie muttered and Xia went to side by her side.

''Are you alright?'' Xia asked and Natalie shook her head.

''I don't know''

''You know… we haven't had a heart to heart talk since Thomas passed away. It's there anything that is bothering you? I don't mind listening to you''

''You won't judge me?'' Natalie turned to look at her.

''You know I never judge you no matter how foolish your decisions are. I am always on your side'' Xia said and smiled.

''You are right'' Natalie smiled and sat up, ''you know… I'm scared''

'What is our pretty Natalie scared about? Does it have to do with Mikael?''

''Maybe… aye, I don't know what is wrong with me. Do you think I'm being unreasonable? I just keep… Andrea told me to open up to him but since I started to do that, it's like…''

''You are curious about him and then you want to be closed enough to get to know him more, right?''

''Well, something like that but, it's wrong and then I just find myself getting angry when he doesn't mind me''

Xia smiled and held Natalie's hands saying, ''Nat, I don't want to scare you but I think you should stay away from your brother in law for a while''

''Why?''

''You become clingy when you start to care about someone. I am not saying it's a bad thing because I love that about you, but, your brother might take it the wrong way''

''You think so?''

''Yes. We should go and join them. Alice is beating herself up for messing up your mood''

''I will change into something else and be out soon. My loungewear smells''

''Sure'' Xia watched Natalie go into the closet to change and she furrowed her brows. ''Natalie, why am I the one scared in your place? I hope I'm just overthinking things. It will be bad for you if you fell for your brother in law''

When Xia went outside, she saw everyone in the hall chatting.

''People really have so much time on their hands. They are saying all kinds of nonsense on the internet'' Lucy said as she browsed the comments on the internet.

''Mimi must have hired water army to spout nonsense and hype the situation. That girl will do anything for hype'' Xia commented as she sat next to Lucy.

''She has really lost it this time. I won't forgive me''

''Alice, people are saying that your sister is like a family heirloom passed unto one brother to the oth…'' Niania said and Alice snatched the tablet from her and scolded her.

''That is not true. My sister is not an heirloom'' Alice said and turned to look at Natalie who was coming out of her room.

''I've been through worse. This doesn't even hurt me anymore'' Natalie looked around and asked, ''where is Mikael?''

''He went into the study room''

''I will go and check on him'' Natalie said and Xia gave her the side eye and she looked away. Xia shook her head and turned to Lucy.

''I'm going to see if I can get something to take away the interest of the netizens''

STUDY ROOM.

Mikael looked at the comments on the internet and banged his fist. He slammed the laptop close and heard a knock at the door.

''Come in'' he said and saw Natalie coming in.

Natalia opened the door and entered holding a mug of tea. ''I thought you could use some tea. she put the mug on the table and saw blood coming out of his knuckles. ''You're bleeding Mikael. Did you hurt yourself?''

Mikael looked at her and retreated his hand when she tried to touch him but Natalie ignored him and looked under the table and pulled out a first aid box. She placed it on the table and sat across him and stretched her hand towards him.