Unreturned When the Fog Cleared Chapter 04

Unreturned When the Fog Cleared Chapter 04: Another Wedding
Thera was tidying clothes in the guest room when she suddenly heard Yara Rhodes shout, “Thera! Where the hell are you? Get down here and cook!”
She went downstairs to find Julian Rhodes, Yara Rhodes, and Sylvia Chevalier all sitting on the living room sofa.
When Yara saw her, she immediately glared. “Taking your sweet time, aren’t you? How lazy can you be? Can’t you see we’re all hungry? Get in there and cook!”
Thera’s gaze swept over Sylvia. “Isn’t Miss Chevalier here? Let her do it. I’m sure you’ll like her cooking better anyway.”
“Sylvia’s hands are for playing the piano. They’re precious. How could she possibly do housework?”
As she spoke, she turned to Julian Rhodes, her voice laced with grievance.
“Julian, look at her! She eats our food and lives in our house, and now she won’t even cook a single meal. Does she have no shame?!”
Sylvia put on a troubled expression at the perfect moment and said softly, “Yara, don’t be angry. I’ve never cooked before, but I’m willing to try for your sake. I’m just afraid it won’t taste good.”
Julian’s tone was gentle. “It’s fine, Sylvia. You just stay seated.”
With that, he stood up and walked over to Thera. “Thera, you go ahead. Sylvia has never done things like this growing up; she isn’t suited for the kitchen.”
It felt as though something was lodged in Thera’s chest, the suffocating pressure causing a dull ache.
She remembered back when they were dating, how Julian would cradle her hands, his gaze earnest and filled with tender concern:
“These hands are for painting. I swear I’ll never let you wear them out.”
But now?
It was as if she were born to do housework, while for Sylvia, merely stepping into the kitchen was considered a hardship.
Julian probably sensed that his words were inappropriate, as his tone softened. “If you’re tired, just have Mrs. Chapman go with you. She can help you out.”
Thera didn’t say a word, simply turning and heading to the kitchen.
She said to Mrs. Chapman, “Sorry to trouble you with today’s meal.”
Then she leaned against the kitchen doorway, not getting hands-on as she always had before.
During breakfast, Yara suddenly put down her chopsticks, her eyes sparkling. “Julian, I didn’t even get to go to your wedding. What a shame! Why don’t you have another one? For you and Sylvia! I still want to be the Maid of Honor!”
Julian’s chopsticks froze mid-air. He subconsciously glanced toward Thera, his brow furrowing slightly. “Yara, don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not being ridiculous!”
Yara immediately pouted, her eyes turning red. “What if my Depression acts up one day and I’m just… gone? I’d die without ever having attended my own brother’s wedding. What a regret that would be! When that time comes, I won’t be able to rest in peace…”
Sylvia reached out and patted Yara gently, her voice full of hesitation. “Yara, don’t say that. You’ll get better. Besides… with Thera here… this isn’t quite appropriate, is it?”
Yara immediately rounded on Thera. “Thera, you don’t have a problem with it, do you? I missed my brother’s wedding, and now I want to see him have one with Sylvia. Are you really going to stand in my way and make me live with this regret for the rest of my life?”
Thera slowly set down her chopsticks, her voice calm.
“Fine. If you want to have a wedding, then have one.”
As the words left her mouth, the other three at the table were stunned.
Julian’s voice shot up, laced with disbelief. “What did you say?”