Chapter: 168

"No hurry. Phillip hasn't returned yet. I'll stay a bit longer."

Standing up, Sean rolled his sleeves and cleared the table of bowls and plates. "I can wash the dishes. I've got time."

Norah reached out to halt him. “Sean, you're my guest. I can't allow you to do the dishes. I'll handle it."

Sean persisted and bypassed Norah, heading to the kitchen. “Norah, it's no trouble. It's just washing dishes."

The tall man in a suit stood by the kitchen sink, meticulously washing the dishes. His attire contrasted sharply with the kitchen, yet Norah's heart raced at the sight. Despite Sean's attire and wealth, here he was, washing dishes in her kitchen.

"Should I store them in the cupboard?" His deep, raspy voice broke her reverie.

"Yes,"

Sean wiped the water spots from the dishes with a fresh cloth, his expression serious.

Suddenly, Norah recalled Derek, the drunken man who seldom did chores and frequently criticized her. Those memories felt distant.

Sean also tidied up the table. As he left, Norah noticed oil stains on his gray suit. Pointing at his chest, she remarked, "You have oil stains on your.."

If Norah wasn't mistaken, Sean's suits were all tailored. They were exorbitantly priced, and the cleaning costs were considerable.

Sean glanced down and replied nonchalantly, “It's no problem. I'll take it off and wash it."

Norah reclined on the sofa, cradling a pillow. Meanwhile, Sean settled on the opposite end of the sofa.

Knowing Phillip was off to fetch Susanna and mindful of the considerable distance between their homes, Norah was certain Sean couldn't just hoof it back.

With a car parked in her garage, she wasn't keen on shuttling back and forth, so Norah suggested Sean linger in her place until Phillip swung by to pick him up.

Norah ducked into her study, fetched her computer, and flipped on the TV for Sean. "Sean, feel free to watch some TV if you're getting bored," she said.

Remote in hand, Sean replied with a nod, “Alright, go on with your work. I'll be fine here."

As Norah dove into her tasks, Sean flipped through the channels, eventually getting up to take in the villa. It was his first visit to Norah's place.

Though their respective villas resided in the same upscale neighborhood, their homes couldn't be more distinct.

Sean's villa favored a minimalist grey and white palette, but Norah's home, with its warm white and beige tones, felt more inviting.

The ground floor of Norah's villa hosted the Living room and kitchen, the former boasting a white porcelain chandelier with lengthy tassels, its glow reflected by the white tiles to brighten the space remarkably.

Sean had dug up that a woman initially bought this villa before selling it to Norah. Properties in this area were hot commodities.

Why that woman sold it was a puzzle, adding to the enigma regarding Norah.

The more Sean uncovered about Norah, the more he realized he was barely scratching the surface.