Second Life New Choices

Chapter 17

On their way home, Cedric kept going over the medical report from the hospital that his secretary had passed on to him a while ago.

He felt slightly relieved after reading the phrases “minor injuries” and “no serious damage to the patient's internal organs and bones" at leas Beside him, Jolene snatched the report away and tossed it in the bag. Her tone was cheerful and light-

hearted.

"I told you I was

tine, yet you insisted on taking me to the hospital for a checkup this morning. You can finally stop worrying now, right?" "seeing your checkup results with my own eyes gives me the reassurance I need. Besides, it only took up some of our time."

Cedric had a point, so Jolene nodded. Then, she recalled something important.

"When did you obtain the surveillance footage showing the areas in and around Preston's villa?"

"This morning."

Jolene was a little confused upon hearing Cedric's quick reply.

"He had no idea you did?"

"It doesn't matter even if he does. Anyhow, all

of the assets he owns have to go through me. His house, his car, the company share he possesses... Pretty much everything.”

A vague thought came to Jolene's mind just then. It had slipped away from her grasp before she could figure out what it was. What was left lingered in her heart for a long time.

Since the issue had been taken care of, Jolene saw no need to think too hard about it. With an eager look on her face, she asked Cedric if h Cedric looked at her with widened eyes. He sounded quite surprised. “You know how to cook?"

The normal 21-year-

old Jolene would not have known how to do it. Yet, Jolene had learned how to cook from a nutritionist after giving birth to her daughter in he not want to sound too boastful in front of Cedric. So, Jolene responded humbly by saying that she knew the basics.

Yet, the look of confidence she had on her face turned into one of awkwardness when Jolene burnt the fish she was frying, filling the kitcher

She racked her head trying to come up with an excuse. “Most of the recipes I've learned are for preparing simple, nutritious

meals. It's my first time frying fish, so it's pretty normal for me to fail my first try."

Cedric tried really hard to hold back his laughter. His reply was nothing less than being supportive of her. "You should prepare those simple, nutritious meals next time, then. We should eat cleanly and healthily so that we can stay by each other's side for a long long time

Although those words were well wishes for their future, Jolene could not help but feel a bit melancholic after hearing them.

In her previous life, Cedric had only lived up to the age of 35. Moreover, Jolene also died in the same year he passed. It did not even make up to a hundred years even if the two of them added all the years they had lived.

wn

Even though their fates had changed now in this life, no one knew what could happen in the days to come.

Cedric could tell Jolene had probably recalled something unpleasant when he noticed the fleeting expression in her eyes. He swiftly change “Why do you suddenly want to try making a fish dish when you've never done it before?”

Jolene was struck speechless by his question.

She stuttered, having trouble giving a plausible excuse. In the end, Jolene smudged the dark stain on her hands onto Cedric's clothes in ex "I've heard that you like eating fish. That's why I... I shouldn't have put in the effort if I knew you were going to say this."

Cedric helped wipe Jolene's hands clean with a cloth as he tried to appease her,

"I'd eat the fish even if it's burnt since my wife cooked it for me. Should we have someone bring in a few more fish? I'll help you watch the fir

Cedric's words boosted Jolene's confidence. She rolled up her sleeves again.

After trying relentlessly for several

hours and sacrificing three fish, Jolene managed to make a pot of milky white fish soup. Cedric immediately took a photo of it as a keepsake and uploaded the photo to his social media page for the very first time.

"The first bowl of fish soup my wife made."

In just several minutes, there were more than a hundred likes and comments under his post.

"? Who made that? When did Jo learn how to cook? We had no idea!"

“So jealous! I want someone to make fish soup for me too."

"I want to have some of it too. You should let us try your wife's cooking next time!"