Can't Win Me Back

Though Amber tried to kick Axel out, he shamelessly stuck around. However, he merely observed her from a distance without disrupting her work.

He watched as she joined the cooks to prepare food. Despite her petite frame, she stirred the food in the industrial cooking pots with ease. She harvested, washed, and cut the vegetables expertly, as if it were second nature.

With his arms folded across his chest, Axel became engrossed in her actions. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and a few strands of hair clung to her cheek. Despite her disheveled appearance while working, he found her beauty captivating.

Every time they crossed paths, she carried herself like a flawless masterpiece, catching the attention of the opposite sex. However, Axel found her prettier in her current state-more vibrant and real.

As Amber's "friend", Axel was invited to lunch with the other kids when food was served. Amber stood in a line with two other teachers to serve food.

"Thank you, Ms. Altman!" The kids chirped with wide smiles. She warmly greeted them as she busied herself serving food.

After a while, her hand suddenly froze midair as she looked up in surprise. Axel stood up straight, holding a tray. He looked into her eyes with passion. Smiling, he said, "Ms. Altman, I have a huge appetite. More food for me, please."Belongs © to NôvelDrama.Org.

Amber's heart raced wildly. She bit her lower lip shyly, feeling helpless. Meanwhile, the two teachers grinned knowingly at her blushed face.

"Please leave after you're done with lunch." Lowering her head, she whispered in a voice that was only audible between the two of them.

Still, she served him a generous portion as he had requested.

"Oh, that's a lot of food. Might take me a while to finish. Let's see." Leaning in with a twinkle in his eyes, he teased, "I don't always get to see you. I won't leave until I've had my fill."

Once again, he dropped another flirtatious line without warning. Whenever her heart fluttered, she would instantly force herself to stay grounded. She cautioned herself not to long for what could never be hers and not to fall deeper for him, knowing they had no future together. Besides, she wasn't worthy of him.

She was merely an orphan raised by Jameson and later defiled by various men. Her face, despite its beauty, was the reason behind her low self-esteem.

She refused to believe that Axel would catch feelings for a worthless plaything that bore a resemblance to his sister.

...

The kids were either in class or taking naps in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Amber sat on a stool in the laundry room to handwash the children's clothes with lukewarm water. "Why don't you use the washing machine? This must be tiring," Axel suggested.

Amber looked up at him before going back to work. She explained, "Kids' clothes are very dirty. You can't just toss them into the washing machine. Some clean freaks would prefer to handwash these clothes. "The orphans don't have a family to take care of them, but the teachers are busy with too many children. So, I thought I could lend a hand. You will never get this because you grew up sheltered."

"Tsk. How could you assume that? I handwashed my sister's shirts and pants when she was a kid!" He grabbed a stool and sat from across her. Removing and tossing aside his windbreaker, he rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt to reveal his muscular forearms with bulging veins.

"Did you handwash her clothes? I thought you had plenty of servants at home..." Amber widened her eyes in shock.

"Of course, I looked after my own sister. I wouldn't have anyone else take care of her!" Axel wore a proud look before skilfully joining her in washing the clothes.

He might be a spy, but he looked like a good househusband when doing chores.