Ex-husband's Sweet Trap novel Chapter 35

As she spoke, he demonstrated the steps. When she cooked, she normally just cut the ingredients and threw them into the pan, but the way he cooked enhanced the smell of the tomatoes.

"Add cold water so that the tomatoes break apart slowly while it boils."

Declan's eyes had a soft glow to it when he said this. He was willing to wait for Luz just as he was willing to wait for the sauce to cook.

"Declan, I've always treated you as a friend."

She had thought a lot about how to start their talk, but it was only when she actually said it out loud that she realized how hurtful it sounded.

Declan stiffened for a few seconds, then he relaxed. "That's great."

There was no turning back now. Luz had to continue on, no matter how hurtful it might be.

"You know what I mean. I was about to give up on everything at first in the US, that's why I accepted your help to the point that I feel quite dependent on you. But Declan, you have to know, dependency is not love."

She had tried. She had listened to Mia and tried telling herself that Declan was a good man and a once-in-a-lifetime catch, but she couldn't do it. She loved another man, and she couldn't forget him. It was harder to forget him than to fall in love with Declan.

The name Henry Maynard seemed to be engraved in her bones.

"Luz, dependence can turn into love with time."

Declan turned his head, and his gentle face showed a sense of loneliness that was hard to look at. She said that dependency wasn't love.

"I'm sorry, I can't."

"It's because you love another person, right?"

He already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it from her.

"Maybe."

Luz didn't know how to answer. She had been divorced for seven years, but she still loved her ex-husband. It felt like a slap in the face.

Disappointment flashed across Declan's eyes. Although she didn't admit it out loud, her frown was enough of an answer.

"That person is..."

"Declan, the water is boiling."

Before he could finish his question, Luz interrupted him. If he really asked if the person he loved was Henry, she didn't know how to answer.

"Yes, the water is boiling." Declan nodded with a bitter smile. His eyes fell on the rolling water in the pot. The tomatoes in the pan had all melted, but even if he turned up the heat, he still wouldn't be able to melt Luz's heart.

He served up the tomato pasta while Luz sat at the table awkwardly. Declan was a good man, almost the best, but she could not love such a man.

"Have a taste. It should taste better than yours."

His tone was teasing, but she could see sadness in his eyes. Her words earlier had hurt him, even though she didn't mean to.