Villain Ch 104. ‘Home-cooked Meal’
“A bit,” he admitted in a casual tone.
Despite her calmness, Zoe was surprised by Allen’s straightforward answer. She had expected him to deny feeling nervous or make a joke about it, but his sincerity caught her off guard. She could feel a bit of disappointment. She had hoped that he would be a little flustered or embarrassed, something that would give her the upper hand after he had made her feel that way earlier. But instead, he had calmly admitted to his nerves.
Allen’s eyes fell on the teddy bear in Zoe’s lap. He couldn’t help but ask, “Why didn’t you put the teddy bear away or ask one of your servants to put it in your room?” he asked, pointing to the doll. 𝐨𝘃𝗹.
Zoe looked down at the teddy bear, realizing that she had forgotten all about it. But she quickly came up with a good reason, “Oh, I like the teddy bear with me, so I thought I’d bring it to dinner with us.”
Allen chuckled at her response, “I see. Is it because of the bear’s cuteness or because it’s from me?” he made a bull-eye guess.
Zoe felt her face start to blush, but she held her ground and replied, “Both actually.”
The conversation was interrupted as the butler came in and announced that dinner was ready.
Allen watched as the servants carefully pushed the food carts, revealing the array of dishes. They had meticulously set everything up, ensuring that every detail was perfect. The servants had not yet removed the cover from the dish, as they were waiting for Zoe’s mother to arrive.
As they waited for Zoe’s mother to join them, the butler and the maids stood quietly by, ready to attend to their every need. It was as if they were dining in a 5-star restaurant, not a family dining room. The atmosphere was formal and elegant.
A couple of seconds later, Shea walked with grace as she entered the dining room. Her heels made a clicking sound as she approached the table. Her dress was a navy blue silk dress that hugged her curves. She had taken the time to freshen up, her hair styled in loose waves and her thin makeup flawless.
“Good evening,” she said in a cool, collected tone as she approached the table.
“Good evening, Mom,” Zoe greeted her with a smile.
“Good evening,” Allen also greeted her politely.
Once Shea’s eyes met Allen’s, she couldn’t help but stop in her tracks in surprise. Her body stiffened for a moment. But then she regained her composure and gracefully walked to her seat. She didn’t expect Zoe to succeed in bringing Allen to have dinner with them.
“I didn’t expect you to come here,” Shea said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Allen looked at her with those piercing brown eyes that had once made her weak in the knees in the game. “Zoe invited me,” he said, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’m grateful for the invitation.”
“Zoe, huh?” said Shea. Her eyes flickered towards Zoe, who sat nearby holding a teddy bear in her arms. There was a smug smile on Zoe’s face, one that matched the expression on the plush toy. It was a smile of victory, and Shea couldn’t help but feel a twinge of annoyance at the sight.
As if sensing Shea’s gaze, Zoe turned to face her, her smile widening into a full-blown grin. The smugness on her face was unmistakable as if she was silently taunting Shea. ‘You didn’t think I could do it, did you?’ the words seemed to be written clearly on Zoe’s face.
Shea cleared her throat, her eyes flickering back to Allen. “Well, I hope you enjoy your meal,” she said, her voice steady despite the racing of her heart.
Zoe turned to her with a sly smile. “Oh, he won’t just be having dinner here,” she said, her tone teasing. “He’s staying the night. We’ll be hunting all night after this, and I couldn’t let him go home in the middle of the night.”
Shea’s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t expected Allen to stay the night. But before she could say anything, Allen spoke up.
“I haven’t decided whether to stay or not,” he said, his voice hesitant. “I’m planning to go home after dinner.” To him, it was a bit improper since they had just known each other.
Zoe rolled her eyes. “No,” she said, her voice firm. “You can’t go home in the middle of the night. It’s dangerous out there.”
Allen looked at Zoe, his expression a mix of gratitude and annoyance. “I appreciate your concern, Zoe,” he said, his voice polite.
Shea’s mind raced as she tried to come up with a solution. She couldn’t deny the fact that she also wanted Allen to stay.
Suddenly, an idea struck her. “Actually, why don’t you stay, Allen?” she said, her voice confident. “Zoe and I could use your help with the game tonight. It’s always better to work as a team.”
Allen looked at Shea and Zoe, his expression contemplative. For a moment, Shea held her breath, unsure if he would agree. But then, he glanced at the two of them, his eyes thoughtful, before finally nodding.
“All right,” he said, his voice calm. “I’ll stay.”
As he spoke, a servant approached the table and placed another plate in front of Shea. The plate was steaming, and Shea could already smell the delicious aroma wafting off of it.
Suddenly, the other servants stepped forward, each of them pulling open a food cloth at the same time. The sound of the clothes rustling filled the air, and the smell of food grew stronger, making Allen’s jaw drop as he took in the mouth-watering scents.
Before him, on the table, was a feast fit for royalty. Beef ribs grilled to perfection in a special sauce, with narrow bones on the side, and a generous helping of mashed potatoes. The meat was so tender that it practically fell off the bone, and the sauce was a perfect blend of sweet and savory.
Allen couldn’t believe his eyes, and he felt his mouth water at the sight. He had never tasted anything like it before, and he couldn’t wait to dig in.
‘Home-cooked meals, huh?’ he thought cynically. It was clear the meal was far from that.