Geoffrey eyed his reddened hand, thinking cooking wasn’t so hard…
He didn’t know why he’d suddenly gotten up to cook. Maybe guilt over last night’s harsh words.
Maureen entered the dining room, froze at the sight of Seafood Chowder, and didn’t touch her spoon.
Thinking it tasted bad, Geoffrey pulled out a chair, took a sip–plain but edible.
“If you don’t want it, toss it.”
After speaking, he sipped his congee without another word, yet his gaze remained fixed on Maureen’s face.
Maureen picked up her spoon, scooped some congee, and softly murmured, “First time anyone’s made me seafood congee.”
Geoffrey missed the weight behind her words.
“Eat more.”
Maureen took a bite, then asked, “We’ve known each other about 17 years now, right?”
Geoffrey never kept track of such things.
“Yeah, over a decade.”
Maureen slowly fed herself spoonful after spoonful, whispering almost inaudibly, “…How foolish I was.”
Geoffrey didn’t catch it. “What did you say?”
“I said it’s delicious.”
“You always cook fish. This was my first try,”
Geoffrey replied.
Maureen finished the entire bowl.
“Are you full?
If not, I’ll ladle more.”
Geoffrey stood to serve more, but Maureen stayed silent.
He looked back at her–red splotches now covered her neck and hands.
“What happened?”
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His eyes narrowed sharply.
“I’m allergic to seafood,”
Maureen met his gaze, gently said.
Sevent years of knowing each other, three years of marriage, and he’d never known.
Geoffrey’s mind reeled. He swept her into his arms, rushed her to the car, and sped toward the hospital.
En route, he snapped, “You’re insane?
Allergic and didn’t tell me?”
“I told you, maybe you forgot.”
Maureen had indeed told him.
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Back then, she was still in high school, when they went to the Sutton Family’s old mansion for holiday celebrations.
Geoffrey noticed she hadn’t eaten enough at the banquet, so he secretly took her out for good food.
Right then, she told him she couldn’t eat seafood because she was allergic.
Maureen remembered clearly how he said: “I’ve noted it down, I’ll never forget.”
But Geoffrey couldn’t recall her ever mentioning seafood allergies.
He only remembered how Maureen always prepared seafood dishes whenever he came home.
He naturally assumed she loved it too.
As if reading his mind, Maureen added: “I used to cook fish for you often, not because I liked it, but because you did.”
Geoffrey’s chest tightened even more.
The road to the hospital seemed to stretch endlessly.
“You didn’t need to do this.”
After a long silence, Geoffrey spoke.
Only then did Maureen realize her years of devotion earned just these words: “You didn’t need to do this.”
How foolish her past self had been.
“I understand now, I’ll never do it again.”
Never again would she show kindness to someone incapable of loving her.
That afternoon, Katherine rushed over upon hearing Maureen was hospitalized.
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Geoffrey wasn’t there.
Seeing Maureen covered in red spots, her heart ached.
“How could you be so foolish?
Why eat something you can’t have?”
Maureen reassured her: “Don’t worry, I’ve had check–ups before. The allergy isn’t life–threatening.”
“You’re talking nonsense! I know severe seafood allergies can kill!
288 Vouchers
If you pull this again, I’ll…” Katherine trailed off, struggling for a threat before blurting, “I’ll make myself allergic too.”
Maureen couldn’t help but laugh.
“Silly, I’m not lying.
My symptoms just look dramatic, really not dangerous.”
“With Ethan and Jacob to care for, why would I gamble with my life?”
Katherine frowned: “Then why torture yourself?”
“Geoffrey never trusts me. He despises me. I needed him to lower his guard.”
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