Define The Relationship Novel - Chapter 29

Mayam made a gesture of looking around. Soon, Mayam covered her mouth with her hand and whispered as if telling a secret.

“He’s a very wonderful person, isn’t he?”

Karlyle paused. He understood what Mayam was misunderstanding. It was natural, given how excited she had been since Ash’s first visit.

“And he cooks so well, too, I was so surprised. I only helped Mr. Jones with what he was making. Oh dear, my heart is fluttering.”

Mayam placed her hand firmly on her chest and winked.

“Then, this…”

“Mr. Jones made it for a young master, thinking of you!”

Mayam, with a very excited voice, even sat down next to Karlyle. She pointed out each dish and boasted about how Ash had cooked, so Karlyle closed his mouth and listened to Mayam’s story for a long time.

From stories about how his smiling face was so handsome she couldn’t take her eyes off him, to comments about how popular he must be, all sorts of sincere compliments poured out, and finally, the main point came.

“I’m truly happy that the young master has met such a good person.”

Mayam knew Karlyle’s situation, but she probably couldn’t understand the difference between an Alpha and an Omega. At her words, which referred to them as if they were a special couple, Karlyle lowered his eyes slightly and hesitated. He looked at the hand holding the knife before opening his mouth.

“Mr. Jones and I are not in that kind of relationship.”

His own voice, stating the truth, felt unfamiliar. It was sad, yet strangely, his insides tickled. Ash hadn’t abandoned Karlyle. They had spent the night together. Since it was already Saturday, he had been by his side for almost two full days. He felt sorry.

“Rather, I am unilaterally causing him trouble.”

“Young master, you are?”

Mayam asked in a disbelieving tone. Karlyle wasn’t Mayam’s child, but their relationship was similar, so in Mayam’s eyes, Karlyle would appear endlessly kind. Karlyle nodded.

“Yes. Mr. Jones is only temporarily helping me.”

“But he seemed to care about the young master?”

Even knowing that Ash would be like that to everyone, his insides tickled again. Karlyle rubbed the knife and quietly cut the ratatouille.

“Mr. Jones is… a good person.”

“He certainly seemed so. He even prepared this meal for young master.”

Mayam seemed to want to add something, her lips parted, but then she stood up and shook her head. Instead, she added something else.

“If he’s such a grateful person, why don’t you express your gratitude too, young master?”

At Mayam’s words, Karlyle looked up. If it was compensation, he had initially offered large clients or financial remuneration. Ash had refused it. He didn’t seem like someone who was short on money.

Of course, he had prepared to put good business deals into Ash’s studio in another way on the day this relationship was settled. But Mayam was right. He had received a lot. The roses, the laughter, the gentle compliments, and today’s meal, all from Ash. In contrast, Karlyle had given nothing.

“I don’t know if he’ll accept what I give him.”

“If it’s sincere, he’ll definitely accept it, young master.”

‘Because he’s a good person,’ Mayam said. Karlyle was silent for a moment. He had no idea what to give Ash that he would like. If he were to give something… he wanted to give Ash something meaningful.

“Oh, my mind. Well then, I’ll be going. I’m making apple pie with my granddaughter this evening.”

Karlyle stood up. After seeing Mayam, who repeatedly waved her hand, to the entrance, he was finally left alone in the silent house. No sound was heard. In that stillness, Karlyle felt a familiar solitude. The solitude and silence he had thought comfortable felt awkward today.

He slowly returned to his seat and picked up his utensils. With smooth movements, he cut a bite-sized piece of the beautifully arranged ratatouille. He lowered his head slightly and put it into his mouth without spilling anything.

The finely chewed food was warm and seasoned just right. Mayam’s words that Ash had made this kept coming to mind. He wanted to see Ash. He wanted to make Ash happy.

What was it that Ash said he didn’t know?

Karlyle mulled over Ash’s words. Even though he had said hurtful things, Ash had come to him. He had spent the rut with him and told him to speak more gently next time. He wanted to know if those words held any possibility that their relationship could change, even just a little.

His thoughts, following one after another, stopped again as he recalled Mayam’s voice talking about gifts. Even though he thought it was too late to make amends, he kept imagining Ash’s reaction to receiving a gift he liked.

How he would smile, what he would say as he touched him, whether he would smile more happily than he usually did, whether he would lightly kiss his cheek as always—he imagined all of it in vivid detail.

His insides warmed hotly. The taste of tomatoes and vegetables spreading on his tongue felt sweet. Chewing it finely for a long time and swallowing it, Karlyle quietly finished his meal without leaving anything behind.

As Karlyle placed the empty plate in the sink, he recalled the previous week. He remembered Ash talking about Philip Whitewood’s painting.

He vividly recalled Ash’s navy top, beige bottoms, exposed ankles, brown shoes, subtle perfume and pheromones, and his serious profile as he admired the painting.

Karlyle remembered everything about Ash without forgetting a single detail. His only unique strength was his memory. He hadn’t realized it would bring him pleasure, but it had been helpful this way.

‘Looking at Philip’s paintings… makes me want to love someone.’

Ash, describing the artist’s overflowing emotions, had his eyes half-lowered. His upturned lips seemed joyful yet somehow sad. Karlyle, watching Ash’s profile as he recalled someone he didn’t know, thought to himself.

Would Ash think of him even once, when a month had passed again, and they no longer needed to meet?

Karlyle would probably be forgotten quickly. That was very sad. But if he couldn’t prolong their end somehow, he wanted to give Ash something at least memorable.

If he could become someone remembered, even occasionally, through that…

He felt like he would be incredibly happy.

His heart kept leaning towards the painting. His resolve hardened even more when he remembered that it was impossible to obtain, as he didn’t even know who the owner was. Karlyle dried his wet hands. He put his hand in his pocket and briefly looked at Ash’s call history, then called his secretary.

There was still a month left.

That was enough time to find it. A small smile, which Karlyle himself didn’t realize was there, formed on his lips as he thought about the unwritten future.

It was a very faint and quiet smile, one that required a long look to see.