Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Chapter 58 – A Glutton for Punishment

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Those three words caused Samantha’s hands to immediately clenched into fists. If Timothy’s suggestion was her to make it up to him in bed or something shameless like that, she would definitely reward him with a couple of punches!

Timothy locked his gaze on her dainty face and saw that she was thinking of something inappropriate, so he said slowly, “Be my caregiver in Tiana’s stead.”

Samantha was slightly surprised. “That’s it?”

Timothy cocked an eyebrow. “What else is there? Or could it be…you want to make it up to me in bed?”

He deliberately emphasized his last two words beside her ear, enunciating them slowly. The heat from his breath warmed her ears up, causing them to turn red and betray her emotions.

Samantha pushed him away as hard as she could, increasing the distance between the two of them. She retorted diffidently, “Did… Did anyone say anything about making it up to you in bed?”

Unfortunately, her reddened face made her look somewhat guilty. How could that scumbag know what was on her mind?

She lowered her eyes to avoid Timothy’s teasing gaze and surreptitiously took a deep breath. With her emotions finally calming, she was about to refuse when her words stopped short of escaping her lips. A sudden thought had occurred to her and she paused once more.

Samantha remembered Ronald calling her two days ago, saying that he wanted her to take care of Timothy. That time, she refused without hesitation.

Could that have been Timothy’s second reason for coming home with Tiana, aside from wanting to test Samantha?

Was he pissed that she refused to be his caregiver, and therefore he went about the situation in such a roundabout manner just to force her to submit to him and obediently allow him to enslave her?

Judging from Timothy’s self-righteous, insufferably arrogant, and vindictive character, there was no way he could tolerate it when she did not do as he wanted. The sum of all that made Samantha confident that her guess was 100% valid!

How childish! Did he have nothing better to do?

Samantha frowned for a moment before curling her lips in a smile. She raised her eyes, looked at his profound gaze, then said, “You’re right, Mr. Barker. I chased your caregiver away and it’s only right that I make sure that she has a replacement.

“Since you hold me in such high regard and entrusted me with this important task, it would be impolite of me to refuse.

“Alright then, I shall be your caregiver for the next few days and take good care of you!”

Timothy did not expect her to agree without hesitation and there was a hint of surprise flashing in the depths of his eyes. He looked at her glimmering black pupils and the cheeky, sly glow within them—it was just like the mischievous look she once had in the past.

He knew that some naughty ideas must have popped up in her mind again.

In spite of that, the way she was then made him really happy.

Timothy pretended not to know anything and replied, “I can’t wait.”

Samantha still had something to say, but her stomach growled in hunger before she could say anything.

Her words became stuck in her throat and she could not help but cover her stomach awkwardly. What a blow to her spirits.

Timothy’s gaze shifted downward and he glanced at Samantha’s stomach. His lips curled up into a smile, making Samantha feel even more embarrassed.

The man opened his mouth and said, “I’m hungry too. My caregiver, Samantha, should make some breakfast for me.”

After saying that, Timothy immediately turned around and walked out of the kitchen.

Samantha stood there for almost half a minute before returning to her senses. She thought Timothy would make some cutting remark to make fun of her, so she was somewhat surprised to see him being ‘overly merciful’.

Even so, that little bit of kindness paled by a mile compared to his bad behavior!

‘He wants breakfast, does he? Alright, I’ll let him enjoy the special breakfast that I’m going to make for him!’

Samantha grinned coldly. She turned around, opened the refrigerator, and took out some ingredients.

Timothy always ate Western-style breakfast, but she was not going to make Western-style breakfast for him. Instead, she boiled some noodles and added some simple ingredients such as vegetables and eggs.

Having gotten used to doing everything by herself abroad, she had acquired a bit of skill and could therefore whip up a big bowl of aromatic noodles with ease.

She took a small bowl and divided a small portion for herself, which she devoured in a couple of bites. The rest was poured into a big bowl, whereupon she rolled up her sleeves and added all kinds of seasonings into it!

Samantha stirred it with her chopsticks, looked at the ‘insidious breakfast’ before her, then nodded in satisfaction.

“Breakfast is served.”

She walked out carrying the noodles, set them down on the dining table, and pushed them in front of Timothy. Then, she handed the chopstick and spoon to him in a manner rivaling the most excellent of service, and said with a smile, “Please enjoy, Mr. Barker.”

Timothy first looked at her courteous expression, then at the bowl of noodles. The plethora of various seasonings appeared quite horrendous!

At a glance, it was obvious that the meal would be hard to stomach.

Timothy’s expression became somewhat indescribable.

Samantha watched his mien and could not help but feel elated deep down. She knew Timothy all too well. It was impossible that he could eat something like that because of how picky he was. After all, he had been living like a prince since he was young and ate only the best delicacies one could offer.

Samantha’s large eyes blinked a couple of times and she said innocently, “Why aren’t you tucking in, Mr. Barker? Doesn’t it suit your tastes? I took great care to cook this, but my cooking skills can only go so far. If you’re not satisfied, you can always look for someone more qualified than I am.”

She knew that Timothy had the means to come up with more heinous tricks to bully her if she continued to refuse his request, so she decided to just comply with it.

Unfortunately, he could dream on if he wanted her to take good care of him. What she wanted was to make it clear to him that he would have to suffer the same amount of suffering as she did if he were to enslave her.

Either he could retreat on his own, or they would hold out until the bitter end! It was a game of chicken!

Her bet was that Timothy would find such maltreatment to be utterly unbearable and therefore be the first to lose the battle. As she was fantasizing about it, she raised her head and saw a sight that made her widen her eyes in bewilderment.

Timothy picked up the chopsticks and ate the noodles gracefully.

His handsome face was so calm and composed that he did not even frown. He looked more like he was eating a dish from a Michelin star restaurant, rather than the ‘insidious breakfast’ she prepared.

Samantha watched as he gulped it down with every bite. His expression hardly changed at all when he drank some of the soup! He then placed the chopsticks down and commented, “Not bad.”

Samantha’s red lips opened slightly in her surprise and she was unable to close it.

What was going on? She was bamboozled all of a sudden.

Timothy took a napkin and wiped the corners of his lips. Then, he got up and walked out of the dining hall.

It was not until his footsteps disappeared from Samantha’s ears that she looked at the big bowl. There was only some soup left.

She was not hallucinating! He really did finish his meal!

Could it be because Timothy had no sense of taste? Or could she be so talented that she was capable of making delicious noodles even after adding a random array of seasonings?

Samantha unknowingly reached for the spoon that Timothy had put down earlier. She scooped up a spoonful of soup, brought it to her mouth, and drank it..