Chapter 108 At Home
“Next time, you can just ask me. Mr. Harland isn’t always reliable.”
Unreliable? Zion froze in place, thoughts swirling in his head.
The CEO had just taken a swing at his work ethic. That was insulting.
Straightening his posture like he had something to prove, Zion set his jaw, determined to show Jonathan that he could be counted on.
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“Mr. Fullbuster, I’ll take these files and head out. My mom lined up a blind date for me, and I can’t be late for that.”
Before Jonathan could answer, Zion was already moving toward the study.
A few minutes later, he walked out with a file folder in hand and rushed straight for the door.
Anneliese had cooked a full meal, even set aside a portion for him, but before she could say a word, he was gone.
She turned to Jonathan, startled.
“Why does Mr. Harland keep going on blind dates every single day?”
Jonathan slipped off his jacket and tossed it onto the couch. He lifted his eyes at her question.
“Maybe he feels like he’s running out of time.”
Anneliese thought back to Zion’s face,
He wasn’t striking, but his features were tidy and pleasant. There was a scholarly charm to him. He was still young.
In most social circles, someone like Zion–with his appearance and his skill set- would be considered a good match. Finding a partner shouldn’t have been hard.
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Chapter 108 At Home
Jonathan, by contrast, carried the aura of someone people admired from a
distance but hesitated to approach.
“He’s actually pretty handsome,” Anneliese murmured without meaning to.
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Jonathan had just rolled up his sleeves to wash his hands when her words hit him. He stopped and turned.
“Handsome?” His voice was slow, every syllable deliberate.
That morning, she had called Jonathan incredibly handsome.
The compliment had carried him through the entire day.
Jonathan thought of Zion’s sharp chin, the big, wide grin that pulled his eyes into thin slits, and the way he tried too hard to impress.
Handsome? That?
Does she really think every man walking by qualifies as handsome?
She has seen my face. How could she look at Zion and still say that?
How could someone’s sense of taste be so off? he thought.
Anneliese blinked. “You don’t think he’s handsome?”
Jonathan pressed his lips into a tight line and gave a dry, humorless chuckle.
He turned away and headed to the bathroom. From the set of his shoulders, Anneliese felt the weight of silent resentment, though she had no idea what had sparked it.
Meanwhile, just stepping out of the elevator, Zion suddenly bent forward and sneezed hard.
Jonathan kept Anneliese for dinner. She had cooked carefully to his:
liking, making sure every dish suited his taste.
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Through the meal, she thanked him often and watched closely for his approval.
By the time the plates were nearly empty, she felt confident that the boss seemed fairly satisfied.
“How was it? Next time, I can adjust to your preferences,” she asked as she set her fork down.
She meant it sincerely.
She figured she would be cooking for him for a while, and his approval was part of her responsibility.
Her cooking was excellent.
Even if the dishes had fallen short, Jonathan would have forced himself to eat them and likely claimed they were good.
But watching her treat this like a duty, like she was a chef ready to record every suggestion in a notebook, frustrated him.
This wasn’t what he wanted. He hadn’t asked her here to play housekeeper.
He set down his fork and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“It’s really good, but there’s still room for improvement.”
“Got it. Tell me, and I’ll make it better next time,” Anneliese replied cheerfully, nodding without the slightest irritation.
She didn’t think he was being difficult.
Everyone had their own preferences, and even with her best effort, her cooking might not match his exactly. Since she owed him, his opinion mattered first.
Jonathan felt his chest tighten with frustration.
The scene turns to Sunrise Residence.
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Zacharias had spent the entire day running around, yet he still hadn’t been able to secure Melody’s release.
All he could do was pull strings to make her time in detention less miserable.
When the car finally entered the complex, the hard line of his brow relaxed a little.
He had compromised enough when it came to his mother.
Surely Anneliese couldn’t blame him any longer. By now, she had to be calmer.
He hadn’t had dinner, and he missed her ramen.
It was simple, but they always tasted like home.
He was finally going back.
As he walked toward the door, Zacharias realized it had been far too long since he had last stepped inside.
“Mr. Shaw, we’ve arrived. But… Mrs. Shaw doesn’t seem to be in,” Jackie said carefully.
Zacharias glanced toward the window and frowned again.
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