His Untamed Rose novel Chapter 29

Cedric had already unfastened his cufflinks, set them aside, and rolled up his sleeves, revealing his strong, well-defined forearms. “No need to stand on ceremony with me,” he said.

Minka chuckled and didn’t protest further.

Over in the living room, Yadiel was peeling an orange for Lumina. Catching sight of Cedric pitching in, he scoffed, “Is he here to eat or to show off?”

Lumina grinned. “Let the man experience a little slice of ordinary life for once. He’s always been out of reach. Maybe this is good for him.”

She popped a segment of orange into her mouth, savoring its sweetness. “Where did you get these? They’re delicious.”

“Your dad dropped them off,” Yadiel blurted, then immediately regretted it.

As expected, Lumina’s expression shifted; the sweetness vanished from her mouth.

She forced a smile. “How thoughtful of him, to send gifts to you all.”

The Jardin family and the Sterlings lived just down the street from each other. Before her brother passed away, Yadiel would often use visiting Hugo as an excuse to spend time at the Jardins’ place, and the two families had always been close, almost like one big family.

After Hugo died, those visits grew infrequent, and the families gradually drifted apart. Still, they maintained the usual holiday gestures, exchanging gifts on special occasions.

Yadiel sighed. “I’m sorry.”

Lumina kept eating the orange, but each bite was tasteless. “How is he doing these days? Is his knee still bothering him like before?”

Yadiel glanced at her, sympathy in his eyes. Ever since Lumina had left for college, she hadn’t set foot in her childhood home. It had been six, maybe seven years now. She never talked about it, but Yadiel knew how much she must miss home. Even earlier, standing outside the Sterlings’ door, she’d kept glancing toward the neighboring house.

Unfortunately, things at the Jardin place hadn’t exactly gotten easier over the years…

He hesitated, then chose to keep the truth from her. “Your parents both seem well. I see them out jogging most mornings. They look fit as ever.”

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