Broken Memories, Intertwined Hearts

Ethan hadn't given a specific time for his return, but just the uncertainty alone was enough to set Izzy on edge. She was told to expect something and
was a bundle of nerves, her emotions was all over the place. One day after work, as soon as Izzy opened the door, she was hit with a rich aroma
wafting from the kitchen. Her legs acted on their own, changing shoes at the entryway and heading straight to the living room. Sure enough, Ethan's
suitcase was still there. A smile crept up on her face when she thought about him rushing to cook before even unpacking. Lady Luck had finally cut
her some slack and she had managed to nab him out of the sea of men.
"What are you grinning at? Hurry up and wash your hands, dinner's ready."
Izzy looked up at the man standing in the kitchen doorway and responded softly, "Okay."
Just as she turned on the faucet to wash her hands, a warm body pressed against her back. One hand assertively wrapped around her slender waist
and the other gave her nose a playful pinch. "You cold-hearted girl, not a single call from you all this time, and you even went on a date with a
stranger behind my back yesterday."
Izzy snorted silently. He's one to talk, she didn’t get a single call from him either. A wave of annoyance rose in her chest at the thought. Acting on

impulse, she gripped the hand around her waist with her wet and cold hands, as if to punish him with the chill.
One hand was rugged and bronzed and the other was delicate and slender. The mismatched colors didn’t seem out of place at all, instead, they gave
off a warm vibe.
Ethan didn’t call her out on her little scheme. But the cold touch made his brow furrow. He immediately dried her hands with a towel, reminding her as
he did so, "I've told you multiple times, we have hot water 24/7. Even when you're washing your hands, use hot water."
They continued to hold each other. Izzy leaned against his warm chest, and after watching his actions, her annoyance dissipated significantly. "I
forgot."
Ethan has made spaghetti and steak, both looking delicious. Izzy’s stomach growled at the sight. She blushed, instinctively glancing at Ethan across
the table. But Ethan didn’t react, so she relaxed.
Izzy had a very satisfying meal. For the past few days, she had been having lunch in the office cafeteria and either eating out with Phoebe or having a
simple meal at home for dinner. She was tired of it.
After they finished eating, Ethan cleaned up the table while Izzy helped him unpack his suitcase. Clothes that hadn't been worn are put back in the
wardrobe, while the worn ones were put in the laundry basket in the bathroom. Just as she was about to start washing them, Ethan grabbed her
hand. "Leave them, I'll have someone pick them up for laundry tomorrow."

Izzy looked at Ethan. "It's okay, I'll do it." She couldn’t cook, but doing laundry was something she could handle. She had to do some sort of
housework or she wouldn’t be able to stand herself.
A glint of amusement flashed in Ethan's eyes. He pulled her into his embrace. "But now's not the time. That's not your main priority right now."
"Huh?" Main priority? Izzy couldn’t think of anything she had forgotten. She looked at him in confusion.
Ethan looked at her long eyelashes and kissed her slightly parted lips. A loud boom went off in Izzy’s head and she finally remembered what he was
referring to. The thing that had been bothering her the past few days. She didn’t know whether to feel embarrassed or nervous and pushed him
lightly. Ethan frowned slightly, making the kiss a bit more forceful. His intense presence enveloped her and Izzy got dizzy. She closed her eyes in a
daze and slowly responded to him. Seeing her response, the frown on Ethan's face smoothed out and the initially punishing kiss became gentler. He
lifted Izzy onto the washing machine. The sudden coolness brought Izzy back to her senses. She opened her eyes and accidentally saw her flushed
and dazed reflection in the mirror.
"Ethan..." Izzy breathed heavily, not knowing what to say, just calling out based on her feelings. But she froze when she heard her own voice. Her
eyes widened in shock. Whose soft voice was that?
Ethan chuckled at her innocent appearance. His chest moved slightly. Being so close, Izzy could naturally feel his chest vibrating. She forced herself
to calm down, feeling embarrassed and annoyed. "What's so funny? Stop laughing."
"Izzy, it’s time to keep your promise."
"I didn't promise you anything." She hadn’t agreed to what he mentioned a few days ago, right?
Ethan affectionately rubbed his nose against hers. "I took your silence as consent." Suddenly, he lifted her up. Izzy was caught off guard and can only
wrapped her arms and legs around him.