bChapter /bb39 /b

b“/bbAlright/bb, /bbI’m /bbon /bbit/bb. /bbGive /bme a moment, pleaseb,/bb” /bthe waiter replied.

bSavory /bHouse wasn’t just a buffet. It was a top–tier dining club. In the main hall, regr patrons served themselvesb, /bbbut /bfor elite members like Olivia, all they had to do was order, and the food came right to them.

“Are you cooking?” Jenny asked, puzzled by why Olivia was asking for a separate pot.

“Yes,” Olivia replied with a casual smile, her effortless beauty shining.

“You can cook?” Andrew, who’d been quiet so far, asked curiously, his voice full of doubt.

Olivia handed him a ss of water. “Wanna try some?”

“Sure,” Andrew replied.

Jenny shook her head, thinking Andrew had no idea how amazing Olivia’s cooking was.

Soon, the cooking tools and ingredients arrived. Olivia pulled her hair back with a band, dropped diced purple sweet potato and barley into the pot, and tossed in a handful of corn. Every move was smooth and quick.

Ethan watched from the side and felt his stomach growl. He had eaten fancy dishes all over the world with Andrewb, /bbut simple home cooking like that was rare for him.

While the porridge cooked, Olivia cracked a few eggs, added minced garlic, and thenid in tofu and shrimp. She poured the eggs over the top. In minutes, a shrimp–tofu omelet was done.

It was just two in dishes, yet they pulled hard on Ethan’s hunger. He forgot the rule about not sitting at Andrew’s table, grabbed a stool, and waited to eat.

Andrew gave him a puzzled look. Ethan pleaded, “Mr. Shea, could you spare me a bite to eat, please? I haven’t eaten all day.”

“All right, just this once,” came the reply. With permission, Ethan grabbed a spoon, rubbed his hands in anticipation, and got ready to dig in.

Olivia knew how to order. Besides the two dishes she’d cooked, every te was bnced–meat and veg, all the nutrients

covered.

“Alright, let’s eat.” She wiped her hands. “My cooking’s nothing special. Bear with it.”

“Getting to eat her food is your honor,” Jenny dered, arms folded, proud as could be.

Ethan wanted to dig in, but training told him to watch Andrew first. Andrew had the ssic CEO problem–bad stomach. Picky eater, fragile gut.

“Mr. Shea, maybe you just watch us eat and I’ll get you somethingter…” Ethan didn’t finish. One cool nce from Andrew shut him up.

Olivia set down a few small bowls–dishes she’d ordered just for him. Her voice was t. “Yours.”

b1/3 /b

Chapter b39 /b

b“/bbToo /bbmuch /bbporridge /bbmakes /bbmore /bbacid/b,b” /bbshe /bbadded/b, beyes /bbdown/b. b“/bbStick /bbto /bbthese/b. bThere’s /bbsoup /bbter/bb” /bbA /bbdoctor’s /beye saw th bproblem /bbin /bbone /bblook/b.

bEthan /bbwanted /bbto /bbow right there. b‘/bThank you, lifesaver,‘ he wondered.

bAndrew /bwatched herb, /beyes narrowing, a softugh in his throat. “As you say,” he saidb, /band then all of them started beating /b

bEthan /bwent for it. The shrimp omelet was tender and fragrant. He downed two bowls before he knew it.

Andrew’s stare darkened as he thought,‘As if I never paid him a sry.’

He’d nned on a few bites; his appetite was small. But one taste of the egg and he kept going until the bowls were almost empty.

Jenny stared. Her brother had never finished five bites.

Andrew had eaten little since childhood. Not enough food meant not enough fuel, so in a family where every man was

over 6’1“, he alone stayed shorter.

All the doctors said it was mild anorexia. Eating less left him weaker. The Shea family tried a new cook every two weeks just to tempt himb, /bbut nothing changed.

Now color warmed his pale face. Jenny thought, ‘Olivia’s a fairy. When we get home, I’ll tell Grandpa I’ve found Andrew a

wife.‘

“Ms. Summers, mmm, how is this so good?” Ethan asked while shoveling food, afraid talking would cost him a mouthful.

Olivia ignored what the others were doing and fixed her eyes on Sean to stop him from eating too much.

Sean held amb leg in one hand, a pig’s trotter in the other, cheeks greasy. “Ugh, you look gross,” Jenny said.

Sean kept gnawing. He would never let himself starve..

“That’s enough, no more,” Olivia said and pressed Sean’s hand, stopping him with a warning look.

Sean drooped, sulking. But Olivia didn’t indulge him, letting him be.

Belly full, Jenny looped an arm through Olivia’s. “Your medical skills are amazing. Can you check Andrew’s pulse?”

Olivia nced briefly at Andrew and showed no reaction.

“It’s a weird illness,” Jenny said and rested her chin on her hand, small face scrunched. “Hundreds of doctors gave up. Some say even the gods can’t save him. But your skills are so remarkable. Maybe you can save him.”

Ethan choked on his food in shock, coughing wildly as his face flushed crimson. He shouted in his mind, ‘Ohb, /byou’ve just blurted out the secret the Shea family has been guarding.

‘Apart from the Shea family’s own people, anyone who learned about Mr. Shea’s illness was silenced or buried.’

Ethan swallowed hard and then turned to watch Andrew. His eyes were frosty as he calmly lifted his cup. Though he gave ba /bquick smile, there was an icy detachment about him.

21:53 Sat, 30 Aug bO /b

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b39/b%

Ethan didn’t dare say a word. He thought, ‘Is he already thinking about how to kill Ms. Summers? Impossible. She bsaved /bMs. Shea’s life, after all. I have to step in. Even for this meal, I have to save Ms. Summers.‘

“Mr. Shea, let’s talk this out with Ms. Summers. She won’t breathe a word about your condition. Why not—” Ethan said,

but Andrew cut him off mid–sentence.

“Shut it,” Andrew demanded. Ethan promptly closed his mouth. Just when he thought Olivia was done for, Andrew’s next

words stunned him.

“Any chance I can get you to take my pulse, Ms. Summers?” Andrew raised an eyebrow, his eyes dancing with yfulness and a hint of flirtation. But somehow, he didn’te off as annoying.

Olivia looked detached, the mole beneath her eye barely visible. “Fine,” she said. She was very interested in the disease that the gods couldn’t cure.