Chapter 33

Seeing Samuel's expression, Layla could tell that he didn't intend to eat.

She watched as he stood there for a couple of seconds, then left expressionlessly.

Layla felt a bit disappointed. Did he think cooking four dishes and soup was easy? She had taken an hour-long bus ride and walked for an hour up the mountain, and then still stood and cooked all this food for him her legs felt like they were about to give out.

If he didn't want to eat, then he didn't have to. She couldn't force him with a knife to his neck. Besides, her stomach had been growling for a while now, and she could eat the meal on her own.

Layla took her seat, picked up her knife and fork, and started eating.

"Miss Adkins, the young master was just exhausted from work. I hope you can understand." Mr. Morris consoled her.

"It's okay." Layla replied nonchalantly. She wasn't unaware of his temperament.

As she continued to eat heartily, Samuel walked over with slightly wet fingers.

So, he went to wash his hands...

Layla's mood brightened, and she teasingly said, "I thought you weren't going to eat."

Mr. Morris also smiled. He knew Samuel wasn't as cold-hearted as he seemed, and Miss Adkins was treated differently by him.

Samuel took off his jacket and handed it to Mr. Morris. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing a section of his wrist - it wasn't perfect, but it added a touch of charisma. His skin had a healthy, bronze-like color, masculine and robust.

Layla couldn't help but imagine his chest muscles and eight-pack abs; his physique resembled that of Apollo, the god...

Her face involuntarily reddened.

Ah, why am I thinking such random thoughts while eating?

"Let's have some soup before the meal, it's good for the stomach." Layla served a bowl of rich chicken soup.

Samuel, as usual, took it indifferently and had a sip. The hot soup flowed down his throat, bringing a warm sensation that instantly relieved his aching stomach, making it much more comfortable.

A bowl of hot soup was far more effective than stomach medicine.

His mood improved as well.

"Try the fish, it's particularly fresh." Layla pointed out the dish, gently touching the white, tender fish meat with her knife. It exuded a sour and sweet fragrance.

"Miss Adkins, Sir isn't accustomed to using other people's utensils..." Mr. Morris was still speaking when Samuel already had the fish in his mouth.

It seemed that Mr. Morris's concern was not necessary. Although Samuel had a cleanliness obsession, he had already done more intimate things with Miss Adkins, so eating a dish she had touched was completely normal.

"Do you want me to get a new set of cutlery?" Layla didn't take offense. Some people were just more particular about certain things.

"No need." Samuel then picked up a piece of steak and continued to taste every dish.

Though they were just ordinary ingredients and common dishes, they tasted better to him than what he had eaten in high-end restaurants.

Was this the taste of home?

It was said that a man strives outside in order to have a home-cooked meal at home.

He had never felt this way before, never even had the concept of "family" in his mind. But suddenly, countless inexplicable thoughts surged within him...

All because of a hot meal, a few spoonfuls of soup, a few dishes?

Samuel considered himself a cold-hearted person, not someone who would be affected by such a trivial matter.

His emotions were slightly complicated for him to handle, as he rarely needed to control his feelings.

"What's wrong? Don't you like it?" Layla asked, noticing that he had stopped eating and was looking thoughtful. She asked in a puzzled manner, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

His gaze was so complex that she couldn't understand it.

Samuel's eyebrows slightly furrowed, and he couldn't help but wonder if she had cast a spell on the food.

Raising his hand, he pinched her chin.

Layla was busy chewing on her steak, looking confused and foolishly staring at him. When his rough fingertips touched her skin, a surge of electricity passed through them, making her face blush.

Unconsciously, she swallowed her saliva.

Her pink lips slightly parted, tempting Samuel to kiss her.

Her astonished and adorable face was even more appetizing to him than the food.

Samuel moved his lips but ultimately said nothing, releasing her and saying, "Let's eat."

As her chin was released, Layla secretly let out a sigh of relief. What's with him? Suddenly stopping halfway through the meal to contemplate, pinching her chin, and not saying a word, acting all mysterious.

She really couldn't understand it. Regardless, she paid no more attention to him and his unusual behavior.

Layla ate heartily and Mr. Morris couldn't help but chuckle to himself and think that Miss Adkins has a good appetite.

Samuel also thought that a woman with a good appetite was much more likable than those girls who claimed to be full after eating two bites of a salad. It felt like he could eat two more bowls of rice just by eating with her.

Layla ate three big bowls of rice before feeling satisfied, she patted her round belly and sighed, "Ah, so full."

Samuel had long since put down his cutlery.

"You ate so little."

To Samuel, one bowl of rice was already a lot, and he had eaten many dishes. Feeling full, his mood improved, and his expression softened slightly. "Compared to you, it is little. Aren't you worried about getting fat from eating so much?"

"I'm young, my metabolism is fast, and I digest it all at once. It's only older people who need to worry about getting fat." Layla gave him a pointed look.

This was the first time Samuel had been referred to as "older." He was thirty this year, the prime of a man's life, successful in his career, wealthy, and in good physical shape. He was only about ten years older than her, what's the big deal?

It's not that he was old, she was just too young, too tender.

Samuel's heart wavered.

"I wasn't overexaggerating, was I? Isn't my cooking amazing?" Layla arrogantly tilted her chin, waiting for him to praise her. She felt like giving herself a round of applause for cooking so deliciously today.

"As a chef here, you could make a monthly salary of five hundred thousand US dollars."

Five hundred thousand US dollars. Such a high salary!

But Layla was only momentarily excited for a second before returning to her senses.

"No way. Didn't we say a meal was worth a hundred thousand dollars? So a month would be five hundred thousand dollars. I'd be losing a lot, and I'm too busy with my internship to handle both. I can occasionally make a meal to reduce the debt. Consider today's meal as my treat. With three hundred and fifty thousand dollars left that I owe you, I can make four meals."

"Very clear indeed." Samuel sneered.

"It's nothing special. I can't compare to you." he was an evil capitalist, after all.

Layla had planned to leave after cooking, but it was already ten o'clock, and it had started raining. She couldn't walk anymore.

Considering the safe nights that they spent together before, she gathered her courage and asked, "Could you accommodate me for one night?"

Samuel didn't say a word and left the room.

Mr. Morris chuckled, "I'm sure Sir would welcome it."

Layla pouted. His cold face did not show a hint of welcome.

After taking a shower upstairs, when Layla was tidying up her clothes, a slip of paper fell out of her pocket. Right, she forgot to give it to him during dinner.

The wardrobe was filled with JR's suits, and Molly would be angry with her again tomorrow.

After hesitating for a moment, she had no choice but to wear the clothes from inside the wardrobe and knock on the door of the next room.