Rising From Betrayal Reborn As The Family Outcast (Alicia Delaney) novel Chapter 205

Chapter 205

After Alicia finished treating the villagers who came for medical help, she and Hannah pitched in to tidy up the house, using the time they had left.

The lady tried to wave them off, saying they didn’t need to bother with the cleaning.

But Alicia and Hannah insisted they’d made a promise and wanted to see it through.

The lady didn’t push it after that.

Then she went off to get some ingredients ready for them.

Meanwhile, the villagers Alicia had just treated went home, and soon everyone showed up with gifts of food and local treats for her.

No matter how much Alicia tried to refuse, the villagers just wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Worried Alicia might not accept, some just dropped the goodies and dashed off before she could say anything.

Left with no other option, Alicia and Hannah could only accept it all.

So when they finally left the lady’s house, each of them was carrying a huge basket overflowing with vegetables, meat, fruit, and all kinds of local specialties.

Meanwhile...

Caleb and the others went ahead and picked peaches from the hostess’s yard.

Then she brought them into the kitchen and let them choose whatever ingredients they wanted.

Jett was the first to point at a block of tofu and a bunch of scallions. “We’ll take the tofu and scallions—Nicolas and the others are crazy about these.”

Nicolas’s face turned dark. “Honestly, you’re way more tolerable when you just keep quiet.”

When Jett barely spoke before, everyone thought it was blissfully quiet and comfortable.

Sure enough, the moment he opens his mouth, nothing good ever comes out.

Jett rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I know I’m pretty great, but I’m just not into guys, so you really don’t have to worry about liking me.

He pointed at Nicole next to him. “Nicole’s the one you should be interested in.

“She even got hurt earlier trying to catch peaches for you, so tonight, you’re on veggie-washing duty.

“You two can handle dinner together in the kitchen.”

Then he winked at Nicole, looking all proud of himself for giving them some alone time.

Nicole was speechless.

‘Seriously, I could just punch him right now,’ she grumbled inwardly.

Even if he wanted to set her up with Nicolas, did he have to be so freaking obvious about it?

‘What’s Nicolas going to think of me now?

‘And what will everyone else think?’

She couldn’t even defend herself now.

It’s not like she could just blurt out, I don’t need Nicolas to like me, or help me.

Sure enough, when Nicolas heard Jett say that, his first thought was, Bet Nicole told Jett to set this up so she could get me alone.

Man, she’s such a pain.

Landon said proudly, “Alicia treated the villagers, and they just wouldn’t take no for an answer—they practically forced all this on us.”

Then he glanced at Caleb’s basket. “So you guys are really making scallion tofu to prove nothing’s going on between you two, huh?”

He clicked his tongue twice. “Way to make it look even more suspicious.”

Caleb was speechless. I really shouldn’t have opened my mouth, he thought.

Jett grinned. “Let’s just pretend we didn’t notice, thanks!”

Landon gave him a knowing look and made a zipping-his-lips gesture.

The two of them kept bantering back and forth, and it was enough to make Nicolas want to lose his mind.

“What nonsense are you two spouting? Can you stop being such trouble-stirrers?”

Jett shot back immediately, “We’re just naming dishes, but you’re the one panicking—talk about a guilty conscience.”

Nicolas rubbed his forehead. There was no explaining it to them anymore—every time he tried, things just got messier.

He couldn’t help but glance at Alicia.

To his surprise, she was just watching the show unfold, and that somehow made Nicolas feel even more ridiculous about the whole situation.

Caleb clapped his hands. “Alright, enough. It’s time to get cooking inside.”

The groups split up and headed to their own kitchens.