ACCEPTANCE

**AURORA'S POV**

It's been three days since I have come back from the hospital and Evelyn hasn't let me go to the bakery saying that I need more rest. She was also staying with me but she had to leave last evening when she got a call from her mother to complete some presentation.

So, now that I am alone in the apartment I decide to cook something healthy yet delicious which is Cinnamon Chipotle Baked Pork Chops with Parsnips and Carrots on the side. After giving Skittles some treats I start preparing for dinner.

Just as I am putting the tray inside the oven the doorbell starts ringing. I close the oven and wash my hands before drying them with a towel. I walk towards the door and open it to see that Nicholas is standing outside.

"Can I come inside?" He asks making me nod my head.

"Umm, do you want something to drink?" I ask after he sits down on the couch.

"Water will be fine." He answers back.

I go to the kitchen before getting a glass of water for him. I hand it to him which he takes while thanking me. I can't believe he has the nerve to come here after not asking about my whereabouts for three days.

"I know you're angry at me for not calling or coming here to ask about your health. But I didn't want  to bother you with my constant nagging." He says as if reading my mind.

"That's okay because I had my family and Evelyn to take care of me." I reply without looking at him.

Just then Skittles walk into the living room and hops onto the couch before lying down beside him. He chuckles yet pet her on the belly making her purr.

I hear the timer goes on of the oven so I excuse myself and go to the kitchen. I take out the tray from the oven before letting it cool down for a few minutes. When I am sure that it's not much hot I serve the food on a plate.

"I have made dinner. If you want you can join me." I let out going into the living room.

"Yeah, sure let's go." He replies and gets up from the couch.

He follows me into the kitchen and wash his hands. I serve him a large portion while I take a small portion of the food because I can't still eat much.

At first, none of us say anything but then he clears his throat so I look at him to see that he is already looking at me.

"What?" I ask after swallowing the bite.

"The pork tastes really good." He comments which makes me blush.

"Thank you. I wasn't expecting anyone to come here or I would have made something else." I reply.

"I wasn't also planning to come here without informing you. But then I thought you wouldn't permit me to come here so I didn't wait for your permission." He answers back making me hum.

"Why did you think I wouldn't let you come here?" I ask in confusion.

"Because of the way I behaved with you on the day of Arthur's party." He replies looking down as if he is ashamed of himself.

"It's in the past, and I don't want to hold any grudge against you as you are the one who helped me in the time of need." I let out while giving him a small smile trying to put him at ease.

Soon we finish our food and I ask him to go to the living room. I put the plates inside the dishwasher before walking into the living room. I offer him wine which he declines saying that he is going to drive so he doesn't want to drink.

"Well, what were you doing here that day and also how do you get inside?" I ask the question that is running in my mind for so long.

"You really want to know the truth, don't you?" He retorts while I nod my head.

"I realized my mistake that I shouldn't have treated you like this. So I thought I would go to your bakery and apologize to you. But when I went there, I learned that you weren't there. So, I decided to came here to meet you. However, when you didn't open the door after a lot of ringing I asked help from the receptionist. She opened the door with a spare key and you were laying on the floor. The rest you know I think." He explains running his hand through his hair.

"Thank you very much for helping me and for forgiving you, don't worry I have already done that. Anyone will get angry if someone rejects them directly." I reply trying not to laugh seeing the scowl on his face.

"Don't think that I am going to leave you alone because I am very persistent when I want something." He remarks winking at me.

"I am not going out with you." I reply folding my hands in front of my chest.

"Why not? It's not like I am asking you to marry me." He retorts casually.

"Still, I don't want to go anywhere with you." I reply.

"At least give me a chance to prove myself. Look I am not saying that we have to be in a relationship right away, I just want you to have a relaxing time where you don't have to worry about anything else." He is now seriously getting on my nerves. But it also true that he is not asking for any relationship so I think I can take a risk.

"Fine, I will go with you. But you have to promise me that after this date you won't bother me again." I let out pointing my finger at him.

"As you wish, Madam." He replies with a salute.