I put three chicken cooking methods to the test – the winning method produced the juiciest, most tender results.

Chicken is an extraordinarily adaptable ingredient that can serve as the basis for countless recipes, from Marry Me Chicken and Caesar salad to a satisfying Sunday roast. It also performs exceptionally well as a main course in its own right, accompanied by delectable sides such as sautéed cabbage, honey-roasted carrots and creamy mashed potatoes.

Preparing chicken in advance is something I rely on heavily, guaranteeing I always have some on hand for a speedy snack or to throw into sandwiches and salads. While many home cooks gravitate towards chicken thighs for their taste and consistency, chicken breasts are my preferred option.

Numerous people find this specific cut challenging because of how they handle it. There’s no doubt about it – if prepared improperly, chicken breast can become terribly dry and flavourless.

Whenever I cook chicken breasts, I consistently marinate them with two key ingredients and keep a close eye on the timing.

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The air fryer has always been my preferred technique, although I hadn’t explored other options until now. With that in mind, I decided to compare the air fryer with pan-frying and oven roasting.

The outcome truly took me by surprise, revealing one approach I appreciated and another I thoroughly loved.

Prior to cooking each chicken breast, I brought them to room temperature before brushing them with olive oil and two tasty seasonings – Nando’s Peri Peri Rub and Aromat.

Since the three chicken breasts were somewhat larger than average, each cooking method needed a marginally longer duration.

Air fryer-cooked chicken

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Preparing chicken in the air fryer is something I genuinely relish, as it’s quick, simple and delivers beautifully moist results. Using this method, there’s no need to preheat the air fryer; I merely positioned the chicken in the basket and configured it to 200C for 20 minutes.

For smaller chicken breasts, I would ordinarily leave it to cook for only 16 to 18 minutes.

To guarantee it is fully cooked, I like to use a meat thermometer to verify the internal temperature has achieved 74C.

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One significant disadvantage to this method is the restricted capacity of the air fryer, making it challenging to cook more than a couple of chicken breasts at once.

After cooking, I removed the chicken from the basket and let it rest for five minutes. This helps the meat retain more moisture and flavour than cutting it immediately.

The chicken had a pleasant, consistent colour throughout; it was evenly cooked, and when sliced open, the interior was wonderfully juicy.

Rating: 8.5/10

Oven-cooked chicken

Cooking time: 30 minutes

I’ve traditionally associated oven-cooked chicken breasts with being dry, but this belief was completely overturned after trying this technique.

The main disadvantage of this method is the time needed to preheat the oven and cook the chicken, although the results were quite impressive. I preheated the oven to 200C Fan and left the chicken inside for 20 minutes before checking on its progress, though it needed an additional 10 minutes.

The steady heat of the oven allowed the chicken to cook gradually and evenly, ensuring it remained moist and tender throughout. Following cooking, I let it rest for five minutes before slicing.

It didn’t gain much colour during baking, which left the chicken appearing quite pale. Despite the absence of colour, the sliced chicken breast proved to be beautifully moist.

Without the attractive golden-brown exterior, the baked chicken breasts had limited visual appeal and were slightly lacking in flavour. Consequently, it wouldn’t shine as a centrepiece on the dinner plate, although baking remains a perfectly suitable method for meal-prepping chicken breasts to incorporate into other dishes.

Rating: 7.5/10

Pan-fried chicken

Cooking time: 10 minutes

I tackled this method with some apprehension, fully aware that chicken can easily stick to the pan when cooked at high temperatures.

To pan-fry the chicken, I started by coating the pan with oil before searing the meat on a high heat, then covering it with a lid for two minutes.

I then flipped the chicken over and left it to cook for another two minutes, before adding some water to the pan and replacing the lid for five minutes on a medium-low heat. Just as with the earlier two approaches, I allowed the chicken to rest on a plate for five minutes before slicing it open.

Cooking the chicken over direct heat delivered a beautifully golden-brown crust on both sides. Nevertheless, as the heat stays constant and focused at the surface, the exterior became slightly overdone before the interior reached the proper temperature.

This led to a notably succulent centre but a somewhat firm outer layer, which wasn’t especially unpleasant.

This approach produced the most tender and moist chicken of all the techniques tried, with the sole disadvantage being that the pan was left severely burnt afterwards, demanding substantial time and effort to scrub clean.

Rating: 9.5/10

French toast is a classic breakfast dish that can be tricky to get right, but not with this simple method.

Few things beat a plate of French toast for breakfast on a lazy morning. Thick-cut slices of bread, steeped in a blend of whisked eggs, milk and cinnamon, golden-fried and finished with a generous knob of butter and a generous pour of maple syrup. It’s undoubtedly a firm favourite for many and one of the most gloriously indulgent ways to start the day.

A great number of people shy away from attempting French toast at home due to the dreaded sogginess problem. Even when attempting to keep it warm in the oven, it tends to turn flat, wet and thoroughly unappetising.

However, trained chef and baker Kristen Hoffman, who runs the recipe blog Baker Bettie, has discovered a foolproof method to achieve “perfectly crispy on the outside [French toast] with a fluffy custard-y inside”.

She said: “Not only does this technique give you the most perfect texture for French toast, but it also ensures that your entire batch is finished all at once, so you can sit down with your family or guests and eat together.

“This perfect and easy French toast technique is also incredibly fast.”

The baker revealed that the “key to perfect French toast” lies in baking it in the oven on a pre-heated, piping-hot tray.

She said: “You want to get a sheet pan roaring hot in your heating oven while you prep your other ingredients.

“This will cause the bottom side of the bread to sear immediately when you put it on the pan.”

The tray should be left to heat in the oven for a minimum of 20 minutes, though it can remain there until you’re ready to complete and dish up the French toast.

Ingredients (makes eight)

• Two eggs
• Half a cup of milk
• Half a teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Eight pieces of brioche bread

How to make French toast in the oven

Position your oven shelf in the central slot and place a baking sheet on it. Heat your oven to 230°C/210°C Fan/Gas Mark 8.

Allow the baking sheet to warm in the oven for a minimum of 20 minutes or until you’re prepared to cook your French toast.

In a flat dish, combine the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract together. You may also incorporate a hint of cinnamon if you wish.

You’ll need to move swiftly once you remove the tray from the oven, so have a non-stick spray ready and ensure your milk and egg blend and slices of bread are positioned and prepared.

When the oven is fully heated and you’re nearly ready to serve, use an oven glove to remove the hot baking sheet from the oven. Coat the sheet generously with non-stick spray.

Submerge each slice of bread into the milk and egg blend, covering both surfaces, then position the slices on the baking sheet. The slices should sizzle when they touch the hot surface.

Place the tray back in the oven to complete cooking the French toast. It will require approximately five to eight minutes for the slices to cook, so remain close by and monitor the tray so the French toast doesn’t scorch.

When the French toast is ready, it will be “perfectly crispy on the outside and light and fluffy in the middle”.

You can now serve your piping hot and perfect French toast to everyone simultaneously. Popular choices to garnish the French toast with include berries, maple syrup, butter and icing sugar.

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Published: 01:00 BST, 13 July 2026 | Updated: 04:22 BST, 13 July 2026

One user said: “I dare to laugh and talk again without constantly being insecure about my teeth”

We wear our teeth every day, and having a pearly white smile can make all the difference to confidence. While buying whitening products can often feel like a hefty investment, those with teeth staining have been turning to a budget-friendly solution to help keep their smiles in tip-top condition.

MySweetSmile’s Dentist-Approved Teeth Whitening Powder now has a new and improved 3-in-1 formula and the brand says it offers users whiter teeth in as little as 14 days. Those with sensitive teeth needn’t worry either, as the powder has been formulated to be enamel-safe with zero sensitivity.

Currently priced at £24.99 (was £29.99) it lifts stains from coffee, tea, wine, smoking, and ageing. The retailer says that there’s a 6-month supply in every jar which works out at 32p per use.

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For those wondering why the powder is so special, it’s amassed plenty of fans online thanks to its easy to use formula that’s been created to slot into a morning routine with minimal faffing. Users simply need to dip into the powder with a damp toothbrush, put their toothpaste over the top and brush for two minutes.

The powder has won over those seeking a budget-friendly solution for stained teeth, and has received praise for its high-performing formula. Users say it’s helped with staining from years of tea drinking and has given them confidence in their smile once again.

Get the look

£29.99

£24.99

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MySweetSmile

Buy here

Shop the Teeth Whitening Powder at MySweetSmile

If the powder doesn’t suit, then MySweetSmile also offers the PAP Teeth Whitening Strips which are currently priced at £29.99 (was £39.99). The Whiten & Brighten Bundle contains both the powder and strips plus additional freebies for £49.99 (was £125.94).

Elsewhere on the high street, Boots is selling the Hismile Starter Bundle for £39.59 (worth £43.99 when purchased separately). It includes a mouthwash and teeth whitening strips.

Alternatively, Polished London offers its Hyaluronic Advanced Teeth Whitening Powder which is normally priced at £27.99. Currently on offer for £22.39, it claims to treat a smile like skincare and is infused with hyaluronic, multi-vitamins, and hydroxyapatite.

Back to MySweetSmile, and it’s not hard to see why fans have been left impressed with the Dentist-Approved Teeth Whitening Powder, given that many of the reviews echo the same sentiments.

One said: “Absolutely fantastic product that really works. I had several stains on my front teeth that I found so embarrassing and my kids would tease me about.

“MySweetSmile power reduced the stain on the first application and by the second and third time the stains had completely gone, I now use it about once or twice a week to keep my teeth lovely and bright and stain free. Money well spent.”

Another who felt it was good for mature teeth raved: “Give it a try! I purchased this system after checking out the reviews. I’m a 60 year old smoker and I like my tea.

“I had been using white strips from the store but wanted to try something more inclusive. This product does what it says.

“Gradual whitening with little sensitivity. I like how my teeth appear and the price is right. The powder pot is huge and will last up to 6 months! I will stick with My Sweet Smile to whitening my teeth.”

Someone else agreed, writing: “The teeth whitening powder actually does work, even on this 60 year old. The delivery is always prompt and they have great offers, what’s not to love?!”

It is worth noting that one user mentioned an issue with their MySweetSmile delivery. They said: “I am only giving 3 stars because of the delivery service. I received an email to say my parcel had been delivered on 30/05/2026.

“I actually only received it today as it had been left at the wrong address and outside. I absolutely love the products and have ordered numerous times but the delivery has let MySweetSmile down on this occasion.”

Despite this, another reviewer said they had more confidence in their smile, commenting: “I am using the whitening powder and enamel care serum. It truly works!

“I was too embarrassed to take a before photo, but now I regret not taking one, because the result after three weeks is really amazing! My teeth are much whiter and most of the stains are gone.

“I hope the last discolorations will fade away as well. It also gives a very clean feeling. A product I will continue to use, and most importantly I dare to laugh and talk again without constantly being insecure about my teeth.”

A further review reads: “So far so good, great service and the powder seems to be removing stains fast (big smile here). Who knows, at this rate I might even end up not being embarrassed to smile…thank you.”

It was a case of ‘like mother, like daughter’ in Centre Court’s Royal Box today as the Princess of Wales beamed at Princess Charlotte on a sunny afternoon in SW19.

Kate looked radiant in a pleated green dress while Charlotte, dressed in blue, grinned at her mother ahead of the Men’s final between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.

The pair were joined by Prince William and Prince George at Wimbledon, where Kate presented Sinner with the pineapple-topped winner’s trophy after his second Championships triumph.

Before the match, which the Italian won in four sets, Kate and Charlotte looked the happiest of families as they shared a smile in the Royal Box’s front row.

Actors Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Rami Malek and Ben Stiller joined the family in the box as crowds packed into Centre Court to watch Sinner, 24, defend the title he won last year.

Earlier Kate, who is patron of the All England Club, met British wildcard Arthur Fery, whose electric run to the semi-finals was ended by Zverev, 29, on Friday.

Fery, celebrating his 24th birthday today, offered to play tennis with the Wales’ children and received a card from Kate.

After his exit from the tournament, the only British interest was Alfie Hewitt, who lost the Men’s wheelchair singles final in straight sets to Japanese top seed Tokito Oda.

Dressed in green and blue, the mother-daughter duo chatted as they waited for the game between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev to begin

The Princess, who is patron of the All England Club and presented the winner’s trophy to Sinner, greeted the Centre Court crowd as she took her seat

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Kate was joined in the Royal Box by stars including Hollywood legend Dustin Hoffman and singer Raye

Earlier Kate met British wildcard Arthur Fery, who made the semi-finals of the Championships before his defeat to Zverev on Friday 

Prince William and Prince George joined the front row as Sinner defended the title he won last year

It followed Kate’s appearance at Saturday’s Women’s final, where she presented the trophy to Czech youngster Linda Noskova, who won her tie against compatriot Karolina Muchova.

Noskova, 21, overcame a second-set collapse and five missed championship points to win her first Grand Slam.

Dressed in red, Kate donned her ‘Wimbledon bow’ – a brooch featuring the tournament’s iconic colours – and had it on again for the Men’s final.

Among the other famous faces in the crowd today were pop sensation Jennifer Lopez, 56, who looked the epitome of glamour as she arrived in a tight nude midi dress which she paired with a stylish hat and towering heels.

Elsewhere actress Nicole Kidman, 59, looked chic in a white suit as she joined Dame Anna Wintour in the Royal Box – where the Vogue icon enjoyed a rare laugh as she chatted to the Australian star.

Departing Strictly host Tess Daly, 57, and her daughter Phoebe, 21,  actor Daisy Edgar-Jones, 28, and model Twiggy, 76, also made their arrivals earlier in the afternoon.

Kate presented Sinner with his winner’s trophy on Sunday afternoon 

Kate chose a red dress for yesterday’s Women’s final, where she presented the Venus Rosewater Dish to Czechia’s Linda Noskova

The youngster, 21, overcame a second-set collapse to win her first Grand Slam

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Meanwhile Ben Stiller and Rami Malek looked delighted to see each other and hugged as they took their seats early in the Royal Box ahead of the doubles final match.

Those on Centre Court have been treated to a close match between Sinner and Zverev, with tiebreaks needed to settle both the opening sets.

After the German pipped Sinner in the first, the defending champion roared back to win the second 7-2 before taking the third and fourth sets 6-3 6-4.

Police, paramedics, the RNLI, and the Coastguard were called to the beach at 3.45pm on Sunday (July 12) after concerns were raised for two youngsters. 

Two men went into the water to assist the children and were brought out by the RNLI.

Tragically, despite receiving immediate medical attention, both men were pronounced dead a short time later. The children were deemed safe and taken to hospital to be checked over. 

Cleveland Police confirmed that the deaths are not being treated as suspicious and specially trained officers are now supporting both families.

Superintendent Glen Ward said: “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of both the men involved in this tragic incident today.

“Despite the best efforts of emergency services, sadly both men were pronounced dead a short time after being brought out of the sea.

“We are conducting enquiries into the circumstances of what happened today, although the deaths are not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the Coroner.

“I would like to remind everyone that open water comes with serious risks. We know it is inviting in the hot weather, but we would encourage people to refrain from entering any open water at all. Today we have sadly seen the true tragedy that can happen as a result.

“Please take extra care and enjoy the warm weather as safely as possible.”

The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) said: “We received a call at 3.45pm on Sunday, July 12, to reports of an incident on Seaton Carew beach. 

“We dispatched three ambulance crews, a clinical team leader, a duty officer, three crews from our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), and requested support from our colleagues at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) who attended by road. 

“Two patients were taken to North Tees Hospital for further treatment.” 

Passengers arriving at the country’s airports will complete digital cards rather than physical cards, which are required for both visitors and residents to enter the country

Brits and other tourists visiting a popular country for holidaygoers will no longer have to fill in physical passenger cards upon entry.

Passengers arriving at Australian airports will instead complete digital cards. Passenger cards are required for both visitors and residents to enter the country.

More than 450,000 passengers have already trialled digital-only cards since October 2024 on Qantas flights arriving at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, an Australian news outlet reports.

The program is expected extend to Qantas flights into Perth and Adelaide by the end of 2026. It will then be rolled out at all international airports and seaports over the next 12 to 18 months.

The form will initially be available by via a webpage, but is expected to co-designed with industry for in-app capabilities. The government said the trial had returned anecdotal evidence of “significant success”.

“Making arrivals simpler and quicker means visitors can spend less time filling out forms and more time enjoying everything Australia has to offer,” Tourism Minister Don Farrell said.

“This is a win for tourists and a win for our tourism operators, helping make Australia an even easier and more welcoming place to visit.”

The rollout of the scheme will be funded through $56.1m investment over a four-year period.

It will help facilitate and reduce manual processing for passengers. It will also allow for digital collection of information ahead of time and increase data quality for risk assessments.

The government has also said it will allow for updates and “management of global risks and events”, such as biosecurity outbreaks.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the modernisation was “essential to Australia’s prosperity and national security”.

“Visitors and Australian travellers alike will be able to take advantage of a seamless border process, which integrates into everyday digital life,” he said.

Funding for the program is also expected to support ongoing work to improve airport and cruise departure models, including an increase in travellers ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A top Republican and longtime ally of Senator Lindsey Graham reflected on his life, death, and legacy in an exclusive Sunday interview.

Texan Michael McCaul, who is not seeking reelection this November, formerly served as the chair of both the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee, which oversees the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) among other agencies.

McCaul spoke to the Daily Mail on Sunday via a phone call from Poland after a visit to Ukraine, revealing that although he is sure foreign intelligence services keep tabs on US lawmakers while they are abroad, he does not think they would be ‘stupid’ enough to kill Graham.

‘I can’t imagine the Russians would be that stupid to kill somebody …like they did Navalny,’ McCaul noted when asked why the FBI would be part of the investigation into Graham’s demise.

He was referring to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. 

‘The repercussions and the retaliation would be so strong to do something like that to someone who’s such a giant in the Senate, and such a leader in the Senate and the Congress and for the country. You know, I think that would be extremely foolish on their part,’ McCaul added.  

Graham’s preliminary cause of death was divulged following an investigation by the DC Medical Examiner and released shortly after McCaul spoke with the Daily Mail.

Per a statement issued by Graham’s office just before 5:00pm EST on Sunday, ‘Aortic Dissection due to Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease,’ was the cause of his ‘sudden’ passing.

‘The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized, and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death,’ Graham’s spokesperson added in the statement.

This handout photograph taken and released by Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on July 10, 2026 shows President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) welcoming US Senator Lindsey Graham prior their talks in Kyiv

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McCaul also shed light on Graham’s final days as he traveled back to DC after meetings at NATO and in Ukraine with President Zelenskyy.

‘He traveled a lot, and it can be exhausting. He would carry a sleeping bag, and on those military planes, it’s hard to sleep,’ McCaul revealed. 

‘It’s not like these recliners, and he would sleep on the floor on a sleeping bag, you know, curled up in a sleeping bag and with a pillow. I mean, it was not a glamorous lifestyle, and very tough on the body.’

Before the preliminary cause of death was revealed, McCaul also noted that he didn’t ‘know if Lindsey had any pre-existing heart conditions,’ adding that he hoped ‘it was natural causes.’

Hours earlier on Sunday, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation were spotted at Graham’s residence in Washington, DC, following an announcement from Director Kash Patel that his agency was providing all necessary resources for the probe.

The FBI stepped in to ‘assist’ local authorities in the wake of Lindsey Graham’s unexpected death, which added to mounting skepticism earlier on Sunday surrounding the US Senator’s sudden passing at 71.

The office of Graham, who had represented South Carolina since 2002, announced in the early hours of Sunday that the senator had ‘passed away from a brief and sudden illness.’

A 911 call for ‘cardiac arrest’ was placed from Graham’s residence around 8.30pm, but no official cause of death has been confirmed, according to multiple reports.

FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X on Sunday morning that the agency was ‘assisting local authorities and has made every necessary resource available.’

Graham was a vocal supporter of US involvement in conflicts abroad, including both the Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran clashes.

McCaul told The Daily Mail that he wants Graham’s lasting legacy to be the passage of sanctions on Russia. 

Graham’s Russia sanctions bill was already in the works in the Senate, and McCaul shared that they ‘were going to introduce it this week and have a press conference together.’

Still, McCaul revealed that ‘the one thing, one positive of his passing, and I know Lindsey would appreciate this, is that through his death, he possibly achieved more than if he was alive.’

‘I think that will give us so much momentum in the Congress to get this thing done. And I know one of his last acts, in addition to meeting with Zelensky, was meeting with the president to get his buy-in on this legislation,’ McCaul added, insisting that he sees this bill being passed despite the current gridlock and the quickly shrinking number of days remaining on the congressional legislative calendar, due to both the upcoming August recess and the November midterm elections. 

Around 125 firefighters were called to a fire affecting homes, gardens, sheds and a railway embankment in Walthamstow, east London.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said two rest centres had been set up locally for impacted residents.

It said it received the first of more than 100 calls to the incident near Vallentin Road and Shernhall Street just before 18:30 BST, and there were no reports of injuries.

The blaze was brought under control by 22:35 and LFB said the cause of the fire was under investigation.

Assistant commissioner Tom Goodall said one house was on fire, a second home suffered damage to a rear extension and the gardens of 30 properties were affected.

Earlier the fire brigade advised people in the area to keep their windows and doors closed due to the significant amount of smoke produced by the fire.

Motorists were advised to avoid the area, including Wood Street, Shernhall Street, and surrounding roads, as road closures were in place.

The Weaver Overground line was also partially closed in response to a railway embankment being alight. Disruption was expected to continue into the morning.

Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy said in an Instagram post on Sunday evening that “hundreds” of people had been affected by the fire.

She thanked locals for donations of food and water brought to the rest centres, adding that “it would make you cry to see what our community’s done”.

Maria Connolly shares videos of her ‘chatting’ with her seagull pal on TikTok as viewers brand him the ‘best fed seagull in Scotland’.

A Scots granny says she’s spending a “fortune” feeding a seagull that’s become her best pal.

Maria Connolly claims the bird she’s named Joey, turned up on the windowsill of her Dumbarton home the day after her son Liam, 22 moved out six weeks ago.

Since then, the gull has made an appearance for a feed four times a day before taking off.

Maria, 53, said: “It feels like Joey knew I had an empty nest and was home alone and that’s why he’s been coming to keep me company.

“I’ve not got my wean to feed anymore, so I’ve been feeding Joey.

“He’s getting six tins of sardines a day for breakfast, dinner and tea and then a wee bonus like fresh haddock or dried worms from the pet shop. My family think I’m crazy.

“He’s costing me a fortune so maybe Morrisons or Asda could sponsor me for sardines.”

Maria has started to record her conversations with Joey and is sharing them to TikTok, keeping viewers entertained.

She added: “Folk have said he’s the best fed seagull in Scotland. I don’t know about that, but he’s definitely the best fed one in the Shire.

“I love it. He’s great company.”

READ MORE: Ann Widdecombe murder probe finds ‘nothing to suggest political motive’

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In one video, she says while feeding him: “Well hello there my wee darling.

“Sorry you’ve not had my undivided attention today son.

“Yer auld maw’s sorry.”

Comments on TikTok include: “Hi Maria. What would you do if he answered you back?

Maria laughed: “I’d probably bring him in the flat.”

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