Chapter 114 The Search for a Granddaughter-in-Law Ends
Ophelia cooked often, especially when she wasn't working late, cherishing homemade meals for their nutrition and affordability.
Finnegan leaned against the frame of the sliding kitchen door, watching her cook, suddenly understanding what true happiness felt like.
In this modest house, with her and the homely smells of cooking, they were just an ordinary couple.
Ophelia sensed Finnegan's presence and said while stir-frying, "You should go out. It's smoky in here."
"I just want to watch you," Finnegan's gaze was fixed on Ophelia.
Feeling slightly uncomfortable—already shy enough—Ophelia was taken aback when Finnegan suddenly said, "Ophelia, you're beautiful."
Ophelia's cheeks grew even hotter.
"I remember you used to call me unsophisticated and said it was refreshing. Now you're saying I look good?" she teased Finnegan in a playful dig.
Unexpectedly, Finnegan replied with stark honesty, "I was blind back then."
Ophelia laughed and looked back at him, "Finnegan, seeing you like this is something I'm not accustomed to. I almost miss the times when you were aloof and demanding about revising proposals."
It felt surreal to Ophelia how smooth Finnegan had become.
Quickly, Ophelia whipped up two simple dishes: roasted chicken and macaroni.
"I only picked up these ingredients today. You don't have any dietary restrictions, do you?"
Finnegan glanced at the two home-style dishes on the table - dishes that had never graced his table in his thirty years.
He picked up his fork and tried the food, "Not bad."
The chicken was a bit spicy. Ophelia had added some chili sauce. Finnegan didn't handle spicy foods well. This being the first meal Ophelia made for him, he mustered his courage and ate.
"Then have some more." Ophelia piled more onto his plate.
Finnegan fought through the meal, reaching for water to quell the heat, which finally made Ophelia realize, "Can't handle spicy?"
"Just a bit," Finnegan coughed and said, "No worries. Oh, and this is for you."
He handed Ophelia a card, "I've eaten at this house now, so naturally, I should pay. Can't have my girlfriend taking a loss. If word got out, people would say I'm mooching off you. The PIN is the last four digits of your social security number."
Ophelia was surprised, "You remember my social security number?"
Finnegan retorted, "Isn't that the least a boyfriend should know?"
Ophelia chuckled awkwardly, "You’re quick to get into the role. How much is on the card?"
Who could refuse such a 'generous' boyfriend?
She feared a seven or eight-figure sum would be too much for her to accept.
"Fifty thousand," Finnegan said softly, "You’re my girlfriend, and it's only right for a boyfriend to spend on his girlfriend. With the cost of living in A City, fifty thousand a month is modest. Buy some clothes, nice skincare products. If it's not enough, I'll give you more."
Ophelia chuckled, "Why do I feel like I'm being kept? Finnegan, take your card back. I don't need it. If we ever break up one day, I wouldn't mind you giving me a little extra."
Finnegan frowned at her words, reminding her, "Ophelia, this is only our first day of dating."
The mere mention of breaking up was a mood killer. Yet, it revealed how incredibly insecure Ophelia felt inside.
Her expression faltered, and she looked down, not sure how to continue the conversation. She was usually quite talkative, so why did she always seem to say the wrong thing around Finnegan?
Seeing Ophelia with her head down, Finnegan reached out and took her hand, his voice deep and reassuring, "I should have considered more, but, Ophelia, I hope you don't feel the need to be so formal with me. You can depend on me completely. If you want to fly, I'll be the one to support you."
Ophelia looked up and smiled, "Okay."
Choosing Finnegan meant adapting to his lifestyle. To him, even half a million was just a small amount.
After they finished eating, Ophelia went to wash the dishes. Finnegan, with his injured arm and back, wanted to help but was shooed out of the kitchen by Ophelia.
When she finished and came out of the kitchen, she saw Finnegan on the phone. He referred to the person on the other end as Grandma, and that's when Ophelia realized he was talking to old lady Abbott.
Ophelia didn't interrupt. She just sat quietly on the couch, picking up her tablet to sort out some work-related matters.
The house was of a size such that even a whisper could be heard from corners away. Ophelia could faintly hear the voice on the other end of Finnegan's phone call, a voice that sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldn't quite place where she had heard it before.
She overheard old lady Abbott asking on the phone, "When are you bringing back your granddaughter-in-law?"
Ophelia and Finnegan's eyes met as she looked up, and she saw his eyes soften. He then spoke into the phone with a warm smile, "Grandma, I've found your granddaughter-in-law."
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