[Music Recommendation: "Usui Takumi" theme (Kaichou wa Maid-sama OST)-available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

"Hey, Sena. What's happening?" Hora whispered to my ears, being careful so she wouldn't be heard by Kaiden.

"If you don't want me to accompany you, that's fine," Kaiden said with a worried expression.

"N-No! That's not what I… It's just that…"

Should I tell him or not? But wouldn't that upset him? And he might feel guilty, too. Or… I'm not even sure anymore.

My heart kept on stinging. Emotions were just flooding inside me again—negative emotions. But how could I not doubt myself if that was the case? Did I even get this movie adaptation by cheating? By connection? Come to think of it, Kaiden easily agreed on adapting one of my future books into a movie as well. Maybe that was the reason I'm working with a screenwriter. Because I'm not that good and a screenwriter needed to fix the story for me.

If that was the case… then wouldn't that mean that I'm just a big fraud?

Tears started to form in the corner of my eyes… but I couldn't show them to Kaiden. I had to get out of there.

"I… I'll just go to the bathroom for a sec—" I excused myself and quickly stood up.

Kaiden's face was horrified. He must be thinking what he did wrong. Actually, he didn't do anything wrong. It was just me… deluding myself I had real talent. Mother was right before… I really didn't have them. I was just lucky because I met Kaiden.

"Sena, what's wrong?"

"Senara, wait!" Kaiden pulled my arms gently to stop me.

"I'm sorry," I apologized under my breath. For some reason, I felt the need to apologize. I'm causing such a ruckus again, disturbing their peaceful lunch time.

'Why am I such a troublesome person? Why do I keep on making people around me worry? I should handle things like this on my own. I should learn to control my emotions and not cry over little things! But… this is no little thing, right? Ugh. I don't know anymore.'

"Please tell us what's wrong," Kaiden pleaded.

Right. I should tell them. It's weird to just burst out crying for no reason.

"B-because… I just realized that… you're the one who submitted my story… and you're the heir of Red Dragon Holdings. There's no way they would refuse the story you submitted, right? So I—it's not because of my talent that I earned that movie adaptation," I confessed, smiling bitterly.

"Huh?" Kaiden looked perplexed. "What are you saying? I did submit your story but I submitted it anonymously so they wouldn't know I'm the one who did it."

"Huh? You submitted it anonymously? Y-you're only saying that so I won't be upset."

"It's true though. I can show you the email I used to submit your story."

"But I had no experience, not even an education about writing. I'm only getting my education now. It's impossible that I'm—"

Kaiden started tapping on his phone. After a few seconds, he showed me the email he was pertaining to.

"[email protected]" was the email used. It contained a query letter, an introduction, and the copy of my manuscript. So he was telling the truth.

'Arrghhhh!!! Damn it. Sena, you're so stupid! You easily jump to conclusions! Now, go and apologize for ruining such a peaceful lunch time!'

After seeing that, I couldn't paint what face I made trying to apologize to Kaiden and Hora. But they just ended up laughing at me.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha! You're so cute, Senara. And still a crybaby," Kaiden teased me. "Don't worry. Once I accompany you today, even Ms. Qian Yu will be surprised I'm there. That will show you they had NO idea it was me who sent it. And that should be enough proof of your talent, right?"

"Y-yes! I'm really, really sorry!"

"Tsk! Tsk! Seriously, Sena. Why do you doubt yourself so easily? As if everyone else can be so great and you can only be the loser," Hora shook her head and sighed. Her facial expression was screaming "this-stupid-friend-of-mine".

"I'm so sorry, Hora. Yeah, I'm being pessimistic again. Sniff… I'm really sorry."

"It's fine. Now stop apologizing and let's eat. I'm starving."

"Yes. Let's eat."

"Good thing the chef cooked salmon for you today."

"Really?" My eyes glimmered in joy. "Please tell the chef thank you."

"Oh, you're welcome," Kaiden smiled at me.

"Huh? I said the chef though… What the—did you cook this?" I almost shouted in my surprise. And my lips stretched into a grin.

'OMG! Kaiden cooked for me!'

"I had nothing to do earlier so I decided to cook. I thought you'll need the energy for today. Hope you like it."

"Waaaaa… thank you so much!"

Feeling excited to eat Kaiden's cooking—which was the first time for me—I quickly picked up my fork and knife, and sliced through the baked salmon. As soon as I cut through it, aromatic juices came spilling out. My mouth drooled the moment I saw it. Before I knew it, I was already savouring the salmon in my mouth.

"Ahhhh… it's so yummy! And savoury! And delicious! And perfect! Thank you so much Kaiden! I didn't know you're this good at cooking. Callan did tell me you're better than him at cooking but this is just… WOW! You can even be a professional chef."

"Ah, I see. Callan told you that, huh?" Kaiden's expression suddenly turned menacing for a moment. "At least he admitted I'm better than him. Heh."

"Uhm, is there something wrong with Callan?"

"No. Nothing at all," he smiled at me, changing expressions in an instant. Was it just my imagination?

"Pft!" Hora chuckled beside me.

'What is it with these two? Is there something going on that I don't know of? Hmmm… I should pester Hora about this later and make sure she spills the beans. Very suspicious.'

Anyway, after cheering myself up with Kaiden's amazing cooking, I waved my goodbye to Hora. Kaiden already bathed in the morning so he just changed his clothes and took his car. He probably planned on accompanying me since yesterday seeing he was prepared. He usually bathed around lunch time or the afternoon if it's the weekend.

'Wait a minute. Why do I even know his bathing schedule? Why am I remembering such weird details? Waaaaaa!!! Sena, you're simping is getting off hand! You sinful being!'

Haaahh… I should probably go to a retreat and purify my soul. And I should bring that sly fox Verrill with me. I still had not forgotten how he dared eat—I mean, kiss my dear friend without my permission. Heh. I should go back to planning on how to roast him soon.

______________________________

Hi Pumpkins!

I just wanted to let you all know that I made changes for June privilege tiers. Please take note of the discount especially for Tier 5, it has 99% discount which means all privilege chapters that you'll unlock moving forward will just be 1 coin each so it's a major discount.

I'm putting it on here to be clear since new app update is not showing the discount percentages per tiers. Hope it helps. Thank you so much for all your support again.

ABC Tiers (June)

● Tier 1: 2 Chapters, 1 Coin (Auto)

● Tier 2: 5 Chapters, 399 Coins (Scarecrow) 10% discount

● Tier 3: 12 Chapters, 859 Coins (Casper) 30% discount

● Tier 4: 15 Chapters, 1099 Coins (Grim Reaper) 50% discount

● Tier 5: 20 Chapters, 1499 Coins (Secret Witch) 99% discount

Lots of love,

Macy Bae