Arjun's ex-girlfriend wanted to meet me.

She was dressed impeccably, her delicate features accentuated by her sophisticated outfit. Meanwhile, I was in casual clothes, without a hint of makeup, feeling every bit the dowdy housewife.

I assumed she wanted this meeting to ask me to step aside, to show off how madly in love Arjun was with her. To my surprise, she slid a contract across the table.

“Ms. Carlson, I’d like you to be my personal assistant. I want to buy your soups, your comforting meals, your perfectly put-together outfits, and your genuine care.”

When Arjun discovered that I was delivering soups to someone else every day, disbelief filled his eyes as he demanded, “Who is it? Who’s the person?”

---

I couldn’t help it—I agreed to the offer.

The proposal was too enticing to resist. This woman, she was truly wealthy. Initially, I was skeptical. Was Jessica trying to manipulate me?

“Ms. Dunn, if you’re planning to get back together with Arjun, I will willingly step aside…”

Jessica chuckled, covering her mouth.

“Get back together? We were never a thing. What is he to me, anyway? I’m here for you, dear. The contract is right here, take a look, take another look.”

Her eyes held eager anticipation as she watched me.

I glanced through the contract, still in disbelief. It offered a monthly salary of $20,000, along with various perks.

Jessica was accustomed to a life of luxury. What could she possibly want that she couldn’t have? My cooking wasn’t that exceptional.

“The food I make…”

“It’s delicious, just perfect for me. It warms me all over,” Jessica genuinely praised.

“Your cooking might not be gourmet, but it has a comforting simplicity that makes it incredibly satisfying.”

That, I believed, because I did have some unique cooking techniques.

Jessica recounted how one day, as I delivered lunch to Arjun, he wasn't fond of the cafeteria food at the office and found my attire too casual and embarrassing. He thought the lunchbox I used was uncool and wanted to throw it away, but Jessica had stopped him.

Intrigued by the meal, she decided to try it and found it extraordinary.

To impress her, Arjun claimed that if she ever wanted it, he'd have me make it for her. When he came home, he actually demanded I cook for Jessica.

I felt utterly humiliated and ended up having a huge fight with Arjun, refusing to cook for him anymore. I wasn’t some housemaid.

Knowing my husband was fawning over another woman and still having to send her meals? How degrading!

He criticized my attire, even though he knew my style for years.

That day, Jessica happened to be visiting his office for business. Arjun belittled me in front of her, trying to convey that he didn’t love me. He thought by emphasizing my flaws, he'd make Jessica happy.

Since I knew my husband didn’t love me, I didn’t want to keep trying to get his attention.

So, I refused to cook and deliver meals.

Arjun smirked, assuming I was just being moody, expecting that ignoring me for a few days would have me come back to him willingly.

But Jessica couldn’t forget the taste of my cooking.

"I must say, the stew you made was something I could never forget, even though I only tried it once," Jessica Dunn commented, licking her lips.

During that time, I had completely stopped cooking, including making the wholesome stews for Arjun Carlson. I used to prepare various hearty stews to help boost his health. Each one required careful simmering, but since he thought I was useless, I didn't see any reason to continue.

However, one day Arjun tricked me into believing he had a stomachache. Feeling sorry for him, I gave in and made the stew once again. He eagerly took it to Jessica, claiming she was overworked. When the container came back, I noticed lipstick marks on it. My heart clenched with pain, and in a moment of anger, I smashed the container. While cleaning up the pieces, one shard cut deep into my hand, stinging sharply, and I couldn't help but burst into tears. How had my life turned into such a mess?

Little did I know, that single taste of stew gave Jessica the idea to hire me.

"Jessica, you're a savvy businesswoman with a great reputation. You could hire anyone you want, and I'm really quite ordinary…" I protested.

"You're anything but ordinary. Your cooking and stew-making skills not only taste wonderful but also revitalize the body. It's nothing like the restaurant chefs' techniques. If I may ask, is it a family secret?" she inquired.

I couldn't help but admire Jessica; she had such a keen sense of taste.

"Jessica, you have an astute palate. My grandmother, Caroline Franklin, came from a line of royal chefs, quite famous in their day. She inherited some of their skills and eventually opened a small eatery. My grandfather was a herbalist, so he added some health-focused recipes to the menu. After my grandmother passed away, my uncle, Quentin Reyes, took over the eatery, which is now a prestigious private dining establishment, though mostly known to true food enthusiasts."

Jessica's eyes sparkled with excitement at the story.

"I knew it! This cooking technique has a legacy to it. Arjun, that fool, has no idea what he had. He's like a bull in a china shop, completely oblivious to the treasures around him."

Jessica shook her head in disbelief, adding, "That idiot's been enjoying your food all these years without appreciating it—it's like casting pearls before swine!"

For some reason, hearing Jessica criticize Arjun filled me with immense satisfaction. It was incredibly gratifying.

Jessica observed my expression, and when she saw my smile, she clapped her hands together excitedly. "Kayleigh, I'm serious about hiring you, and if the offer isn't tempting enough, we can definitely negotiate. By the way, I have to ask—are you the one styling Arjun for his outings? His previous fashion sense was as off-putting as mustard in your eyes. Now, he looks like a celebrity on the red carpet."

I nodded. To choose Arjun's wardrobe, I bought countless men's fashion magazines and studied them carefully. I also went online to read about the history of men's fashion and its development over time. I even invested in courses on men's grooming and hair care. Arjun takes good care of himself and looks at least five years younger than me.

Jessica seemed intrigued. "With all that effort, why not give yourself a makeover?"

I sighed. Ever since I was little, I've loved taking care of dolls—making clothes for them, tucking them in with blankets, and using toy kitchen sets to pretend to cook. I've even seen a psychologist about it; I might just have a classic caregiver personality. I enjoy creating comfortable environments and taking care of others, ensuring they have the best possible experience. And most importantly, I have an eye for beauty. Whether it's a man or a woman, I appreciate attractive people. If I can bring happiness to someone good-looking, it gives me great satisfaction.

Arjun is quite handsome, and I've been charmed by his looks. I just couldn't help it. Similarly, I can't seem to dislike Jessica. She has a slim waist, an impressive bust, long legs, and her feet look delicate and fair in her high heels. Her eyes are exotically almond-shaped, her lips have a captivating curve, and her chin has a distinctive cleft that adds to her allure. When Jessica smiles at me, my heart flutters.

I'm confident that my preferences are normal; it's just that her beauty is breathtakingly striking. Arjun is attractive too, but he falls short of Jessica's allure. When he was younger, he resembled Keanu Reeves with a more refined presence. That's why I enjoyed dressing him up—he was a sight to behold. However, over the years, his charm has faded due to his indulgent lifestyle.

After I explained this to Jessica, she gazed at me with narrowed eyes for quite some time. Her look made me feel warm all over. Please, don't flirt with me—we're supposed to be rivals in love.