Chapter 186: A Stir in the Kitchen

The pronouncement of potential scarring was enough to extinguish the last embers of Phoebe's defiance. Gone was the facade of bravado; a tremor of fear replaced it. Joe's stern words about proper treatment resonated, and she nodded mutely, allowing him to usher her out of the kitchen. As Joe escorted Phoebe away, his gaze lingered on Mariana for a fleeting moment. He noticed the way her body had tensed at the sight of the hot oil and her immediate rush to Phoebe's side. It was a reaction honed by experience, a flicker of recognition in his eyes told her. "Burnt yourself once, haven't you?" Joe asked gently, his voice laced with empathy. Mariana hesitated for a moment, then a sheepish smile tugged at her lips. "Busted," she admitted. "Sweet and sour spare ribs. My first attempt at cooking anything remotely adventurous. Ended with a week of excruciating pain, a mountain of takeaway menus, and a lifelong aversion to anything remotely resembling ginger." A collective snort of laughter