After her rebirth
Chapter 31

As a doc, keeping patient info on the down-low is a must. Aurora always said it's part of the gig. Katniss had made up her mind to be a legit doctor this time around, not just using her skills for Nathan. So, she was doing this to keep her patient safe.

Anna was eavesdropping at the door but didn't catch any studying vibes. She wasn't sure if Katniss had hit the books.

Seeing the stuff in the kitchen, Anna started organizing with a big grin.

These things are seriously top-notch!

Katniss knew Anna always looked down on her, but Wesley and Daphne were still cool with her. Since her place wasn't ready yet, she had to crash at Wesley's for now, trying not to stir up any drama with Anna.

As long as Anna didn't start anything, Katniss could chill.

The next morning, with no classes, she hit up the supermarket, grabbing a bass to make some soup.

When she got home and opened the jars of ingredients, she paused for a sec, wondering if it was just her imagination, but it seemed like there were fewer ingredients than yesterday.

She didn't think much of it until she noticed other ingredient boxes were also missing some stuff.

Katniss frowned. She was the only one home; everyone else was out. She decided to let it slide for now.

Rocking a comfy apron and with her hair in a high ponytail, Katniss started cooking.

She picked up the knife, handling the ingredients like a pro. Steam rising from the pot, the heat waves making anyone's mouth water.

She added the prepped ingredients to the pot one by one. The clear water boiling, the bubbling sound filling the air. She gently stirred with a wooden spoon, mixing the soup to let the flavors and nutrients blend. The aroma wafting from the pot was mouthwatering.

After an hour of hard work, a pot of steaming bass soup was finally ready. Katniss poured the soup into a big bowl, ready to serve. She tasted a spoonful, smiling with satisfaction. This pot of soup was not only a treat for the taste buds but also had some medicinal benefits.

She hoped Maximilian would dig this homemade goodness.

With a thermos in hand, Katniss headed out. She had asked Felix for Maximilian's address yesterday, which was in a nearby residential area.

When she arrived, Katniss realized that Maximilian lived super close to Aurora's house, just around the corner.

She was stopped by security, so she called Felix, who came to take her inside.

The villa area was filled with blooming flowers and picturesque scenery, with sparrows chirping as they flew by. Felix pointed to a villa, saying, "Here we are."

Katniss looked up at the standalone villa. The exterior was simple, and the yard was bare, almost like a wasteland.

Was this Maximilian's crib?

Upon entering the villa, Katniss felt the space was super sparse and empty. The room was almost devoid of furnishings, with plain white walls and no decorations or photos. The floor was covered with a simple rug that seemed never to have been stepped on.

In the middle of the room was this long table with just one lonely chair, looking all sad and abandoned. A few books were stacked in the corner, giving off a musty smell, and there was a simple bookshelf with barely any books on it. Other than that, the room was pretty much empty. The whole minimalist vibe of the villa made it feel like no one actually lived there, or the owner was just super into keeping things simple, totally ignoring comfort and warmth. The emptiness made Katniss feel kinda surprised and uneasy.

Luckily, Felix soon opened the door again, smiling, "Katniss, come on in."

Katniss quickly stepped inside, a faint woody scent immediately surrounding her. She looked up and saw Maximilian's ridiculously handsome face, making her inexplicably nervous.

She lifted the thermos in her hand, greeting him, "Maximilian." She was here to drop off some medicinal food.

Maximilian gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

Katniss put down the food container, hesitated for a moment, and pulled out a small notebook from her pocket, speaking softly, "Maximilian, I've prepped some medicinal food to help stabilize your body first. We'll go for stronger treatments later." She handed over a piece of paper, adding, "These are the do's and don'ts while using the medicinal food."

Maximilian stayed silent, not even glancing at her. Just when Katniss thought he wasn't paying attention, Maximilian slowly raised his eyes and took the paper.

Katniss had written these notes hoping Maximilian would take better care of himself and not repeat past mistakes. She remembered the past when Desmond inherited all the family assets, making her furious.

She decided that Maximilian had to live well! So, besides the medicinal food precautions, Katniss wrote down everything beneficial for his health.

Katniss explained, "Maximilian, you need to eat the medicinal food on time. Reheating it won't be as effective." Maximilian nodded, as Felix went to grab the utensils.

With just the two of them left in the room, the atmosphere got super quiet. Katniss didn't dare to look around, only seeing Maximilian's hands.

His hands lay open on the table, pale but smooth and soft. The veins on the back of his hands were faintly visible, outlining perfect lines. His fingers were long and slender, with neatly trimmed nails that had a faint rosy hue, giving off a slight rose fragrance, like freshly picked petals.

Each joint of his fingers was clearly visible, like a layered work of art. When he moved, his fingers exuded elegance and composure, showing off a unique charm and vibe.

Katniss couldn't help but be totally drawn to these perfect hands, feeling like she was pulled in by some mysterious force, unable to look away. Such elegant hands made one marvel at how beautiful hands could be.

Katniss was mesmerized, thinking what woman could possibly resist such a perfect man?

She stared intently, her gaze traveling upward from his wrist, lingering on his pants.

Suddenly, Maximilian asked, "What are you staring at?"