Hull heard her say she was in pain and paused momentarily before letting her go.


    "Go make me some oatmeal."


    Susanna blinked in surprise. "Huh?"


    Oatmeal? Really?


    Hull added, "Apple oatmeal."


    Susanna''s eyes widened. "Apple oatmeal?"


    Apple oatmeal was one of the few things she could actually make. She''d prepared


    it once for Ste when she had a fever.


    "But wait a minute. Isn''t there a cook?"


    Hull replied, "I fired her."


    Susanna stood there, speechless.


    Fired her? Why? When she first arrived here, there was no cook. And after just


    one day of cooking? Being someone close to Ronald, this guy surely isn''t short on the funds to hire some help, right?''


    "Why?" she asked, bewildered.


    Hull simply replied, "Her cooking wasn''t good."


    "I thought it was fine," Susanna said instinctively.


    She wasn''t picky about food, finding almost anything ptable. But Hull was


    clearly not like her.


    Without another word, Hull headed back to his room.


    Not getting any response, Susanna shrugged and went downstairs.


    The kitchenyout was familiar, but Hull''s vi had an open-n kitchen. Susanna rummaged around and found the oats and the apples left.


    While cooking, she called Ste.


    Soon enough, Ste picked up, sounding a bit out of breath. "Susie?"


    "What are you up to?" Susanna asked.


    "Ronald had too much to drink, so I was just giving him some hangover soup," Ste replied.


    Susanna chuckled. "Gotcha."


    Ste continued, "And you? Calling at this hour?"


    "I''m making oatmeal for Hull."


    "You can cook?" Ste asked, genuinely surprised.


    Susanna scoffed. "What, you think I''m ipetent? You''ve eaten my cooking before."


    Ste gasped, remembering. "Oh, that oatmeal!"


    Susanna had made her a bowl once. It was a memorable experience, to say the least.


    Without thinking, Ste said, "Are you sure that was oatmeal?"


    Susanna asked, "What else would it be?"


    "Who turns oatmeal into a cake?" Steughed, remembering the oatmeal cake Susanna had made by ident with apples mixed in. The taste was unforgettable, especially since she''d been expecting a soothing bowl of oatmeal when she was feverish.


    Susanna had presented her with a dry lump instead!


    It was that culinary mishap that made Ste give up any dreams of cooking herself. She realized it wasn''t just about trying; cooking required a certain talent.


    Susanna was speechless. "That was


    my first time, okay? Be grateful even tried. Not everyone hits a home run on their first try, right? Don''t underestimate me. I''ve gotten a lot better since then."


    "Really?" Ste sounded skeptical.


    "Of course," Susanna replied, her pride evident.


    After failing with Ste''s oatmeal, Susanna had decided that if anyone close to her needed something simple like oatmeal, she should at


    least be able to make it. So she


    practiced, a lot!  en


    Ste asked again, "Wait a minute. Why are you making oatmeal for Hull? Aren''t you terrified of him?"


    Susanna hesitated. "Well, yeah, he is pretty terrifying."


    Hull was intimidating, and there was no doubt about it. But he had also saved her. Even if his way of helping was a bit rough, she couldn''t overlook what he had done for her.


    Thinking about the mix of gratitude and fear she felt, Susanna mumbled, "He''s hurt."