The Girl They Ignored Returned as the Woman Seven Men Would Die For novel Chapter 54

After lunch, Mika carried the plates into the kitchen to wash them. Leona stood in the doorway, looking mildly surprised at her efficiency.

"You must do a lot of chores at home, huh?"

Mika thought of her childhood, remembering how she had been forced to learn to cook and do laundry for her mother and a revolving door of "uncles." A dark shadow fell over her eyes.

But she quickly feigned nonchalance and replied lightly.

"Yeah, my mom raised me all by herself... it was pretty tough on her. I just wanted to share the burden whenever I could."

She paused, then looked up with a genuinely grateful smile.

"I can cook too, you know. I'll take care of dinner tonight and let you try my cooking."

"You sweet girl," Leona said, a glimmer of approval in her eyes. "Alright, then I'll just sit back and relax tonight."

"You got it."

After finishing the dishes, Mika saw Leona sitting on the sofa, using a handheld massager on her lower back while frowning at the television.

She immediately walked over with concern. "Mrs. Remington, is your back bothering you?"

"It's nothing, just an old issue." Leona waved a hand. "It happens when you get old."

Mika blinked, playfully taking the massager from her hand with a bright smile.

"Let me massage it for you. It's exactly what I'm studying, so you can test out my techniques and tell me if they actually work."

She didn't try too hard to flatter her; instead, she framed it as asking Leona for a favor.

Leona's smile faltered in pleasant surprise, and she didn't refuse.

In Leona's bedroom.

Mika had Leona lie down on the bed, applied some soothing muscle rub to her lower back, and began methodically working out the tension in her muscles, inch by inch, applying the perfect amount of pressure.

Older people naturally suffered from backaches, and given Leona's years as a teacher, she had chronic neck and shoulder issues as well, which Mika handled while she was at it.

There was one thing Mika hadn't lied about.

"Really?" Mika put on a look of utter shock. "You look barely any different than you do in the picture! Are you sure this wasn't taken just a few years ago?"

"I'm nowhere near that young anymore," Leona chuckled, gently swatting Mika's arm before looking back at the photo with a softer expression.

"The poor boy has had a rough time. He was in a car accident two years ago and lost the use of his legs. He's been depressed ever since. He used to be... just like you, always finding ways to make me smile."

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Remington." Mika quickly lowered her head in apology. "I had no idea."

"It's fine, it's not a secret," Leona sighed wistfully.

"After the accident, his parents wanted to take him abroad, but he absolutely refused to emigrate. He said he was afraid I'd be lonely and wanted to stay in the country so he could visit me often...

He's a good, filial boy, but his temper has been pretty bad these last two years. If you run into him, just don't take anything he says to heart."

Mika stared at the little boy in the photo, noting his distinct mixed-race features, and slowly curled her lips into a smile.

"Of course not. You've helped me so much, Mrs. Remington. When the time comes, I'll definitely do my best to make you smile—

And I'll find a way to cheer Julian up, too."