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And then he speaks and renders me speechless.

“Thank you,” he murmurs.

His words make me glance over my shoulder.

Is he being sarcastic?

Why is he thanking me?

“For what?” I frown.

He pins me with those brown eyes of his, the color of wet earth and coffee and something moves inside my stomach. It better be diarrhea and not those damn bugs with wings.

“The food.”

He takes a bite, chews, and adds, mouth still full, “It’s good.”

I wait for the insult. The joke. Some obnoxious comment about how I’ve somehow managed to poison his breakfast despite his apparent approval.

But nothing comes. He just keeps eating the food I helped prepare.

Thud.

Thud.

Ugh. No.

Something about the way he looks at me makes the warmth in my chest spread another inch.

I immediately turn away.

No.

Absolutely not.

I am not melting.

Never.

Mrs. Han tries and fails to hide her soft smile, while Mika sneaks another photograph.

This isn’t happening.

Not now. Not ever.

I take a deep breath, give them one last look, and escape the kitchen before anyone can witness my further humiliation.

Unfortunately, Stephen’s quiet thank you follows me out.

Along with those stupidly soft eyes.

Ugh.

the daily dose of art

It’s been days since Artemis landed in South Korea and then she “poof” vanished.

No paparazzi photos. No social media posts. No public appearances.