After saying this, Emily felt something was off.

She thought, ‘Very clean? Why did such an adjective suddenly pop into my head?’

It was as if Ethan was a fresh, untested newcomer, not yet seasoned by experience. Pure and clean, treating others with care.

Emily began to let her imagination run wild. ‘What if Ethan were really just a background-less boy? That would be wonderful!’

Looking at the meat slices and shrimp in her bowl, Emily felt that if she didn't ...