My Beloved Has Risen from Death's Embrace novel Chapter 44

"I sneaked out to play today, and my uncle is already super mad. If he finds out I haven't finished my homework, he's definitely going to spank me. So can you help me out?"

"Homework help, huh?"

Xanthea glanced at the stack of elementary school workbooks on the desk and nodded, "You've come to the right person, kiddo. I'm a total genius!"

"That's awesome!"

They sat down at the desk, Xanthea flipping through the easy-peasy problems, "Which one should we start with?"

Sebastian said, "Language, I guess. I'm not great at it."

"Alright, let's start with the exercise then."

Xanthea picked up a pencil and circled the question, when suddenly, a beautiful fruit platter appeared before her, filled with cherries, strawberries, bananas, and peaches—all her favorites.

She looked up to see Orion, a bit surprised, "Mr. Lockwood, you're too kind, bringing me this fruit platter yourself."

"No problem. Need me to peel anything?"

Peel?

What here needs peeling?

As she pondered, she noticed the bananas. He meant the bananas?

It was unusual; people usually offer to peel apples or pears, but bananas?

For a moment, it felt like being back on the plane, when she heard him offer to pick bones out of fish—a surreal moment. How could such a considerate man be portrayed by the media as some ruthless tycoon?

"No need, I need to help Seb with his homework first."

Orion glanced at Sebastian, who was munching on strawberries with his feet propped up, "Are you sure about tutoring him?"

Xanthea's mouth twitched—Dare he say that again?

"Right? Xan, am I not super smart?"

Xanthea thought, "Smart, you're a real genius!"

Xanthea felt a bit embarrassed, only to see Orion across the table, a faint smile playing at his lips, and she was unexpectedly dazzled.

Was this the first time she'd seen him smile?

She hadn't expected that a man who usually seemed so aloof could have a smile that was so disarming, almost ethereal. She dared not imagine how weak at the knees she'd be if he whispered sweet nothings with that smile.

"Xan, come on, praise me! Stop staring at Uncle Orion!"

Sebastian shook her arm, and Xanthea realized she had been gazing at Orion for quite a while. What if he thought she was some kind of flirt?