Addicted After Marriage: Marrying My Abstinent Boss-Chapter 214: Tipping Off

At exactly twelve noon, two workers from "The Private Kitchen" arrived outside with food.

They orderly delivered the homemade dishes from the thermal boxes to the backyard.

Eve and Nadia hurried to help set the table.

In less than five minutes, eight delicacies, each accompanied by a cup of sea cucumber soup, and dessert were fully prepared.

Everyone put down their work and sat down together.

"Mr. Ellison is really generous. It’s hard enough to get a reservation at ’The Private Kitchen,’ let alone takeout. Yet, he had eight dishes delivered over," Eve whispered to Nadia.

After Corinne Chapman distributed the bowls and chopsticks, everyone began to eat.

Sophia Lowell looked at the table full of dishes, all of which she loved. They weren’t too greasy, and there were even two sour dishes, which suited her palate very well.

She ate a lot and felt much better.

Just then, the bell outside rang, meaning someone had opened the door.

There was a bell hanging by the door, so if someone opened it, they would definitely bump into it.

Everyone’s gaze turned outside.

At this hour, a sign was hanging on the door: Resting, Please Do Not Disturb.

Logically, no one should be coming in.

Just as Corinne went out, she saw Faye Ellison coming in, followed by two attendants carrying thermal boxes full of homemade dishes.

"There’s more?" Corinne casually asked.

"Hmm?"

More?

What does that mean?

Why is there more?

"I apologize; I had something to handle earlier, so I arrived late. I hope you weren’t too hungry."

Before he realized it, he had already reached the backyard.

As soon as he stepped into the backyard, he saw everyone sitting at the table, and the dishes on the table were almost entirely consumed. Eve and Nadia were already full.

"..."

Corinne looked at the people Faye brought. Then who delivered the ’Private Kitchen’ meal they just ate?

Everyone exchanged glances.

Even the two attendants glanced over with curious looks.

This meal cannot be returned, even if they were already full. Since the meal was delivered, they had to pay for it regardless!

"Weren’t these dishes sent by him?" Nora Ellison quietly asked Eve.

"Doesn’t look like it."

"Could it have been sent by Mr. Sterling?"

"Shh!" Eve quickly stopped Nora.

At this moment, Sophia most dreaded any mention of Zane Sterling. Even if this meal was sent by Zane, once it’s eaten, it’s just eaten. Best not to say anything unnecessary.

The voice was low, but some people still heard it.

"Ellison, this..." Teacher Hale was a bit surprised, thinking this meal was sent ahead by Faye.

She had heard him say he’d be late, so everyone thought the person would be late, not the meal.

Faye’s deep eyes darkened, and his expression turned sour.

He glanced at Ansel, who continued eating with indifference.

It must have been him who tipped them off!

Otherwise, how could this meal have been sabotaged when the restaurant started preparing it? Now he’s awkwardly late.

Being late was one thing, but ordering and delivering food too! What an old fox!

Hugh Irving noticed something odd and subtly smirked.

This Zane Sterling was something else, being this wary of Faye!

She looked at Ansel and added a piece of sweet and sour pork rib to his plate.

Ansel smiled and thanked her.

Sophia also noticed what was going on.

"Put it in the fridge. Tonight, we can eat here before going home," she smiled without the warmth reaching her eyes.

Faye could only nod and agree with a single word, "Okay." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Eve hurriedly instructed the two attendants to place the food in the fridge.

Well, now they could enjoy gourmet meals from major restaurants all day.

"Who sent this?" Teacher Hale couldn’t help but ask.

"A friend," Hugh Irving replied.

"Today was truly a coincidence," Teacher Hale laughed.

"Yeah, what can we say? Our studio has great feng shui!"

"But the dishes were quite good; they suited my tastes well."

Faye stood to the side, saying nothing, his expression growing darker.

"Mr. Ellison, we still have more, come on and join us! It’s delicious!" Ansel quickly handed him a bowl and chopsticks.

He was here to protect Sophia, and aside from earning his salary, the best thing for him was to enjoy such a lavish lunch!

Faye was stunned, his anger reaching its peak!

But he couldn’t get angry; he had to forcibly suppress his anger!

Why hadn’t he anticipated Zane would pull this trick!

Beside him, Sophia took a bowl of soup, sipping at a slow pace, accompanying him in a way.

Hugh Irving also deliberately slowed down.

Yet Ansel, as if starved for years, ate like a maniac, completely disregarding his manners.

*

Dinner was also consumed at the studio before heading home.

Sophia did not stay over at the studio; she drove back to the villa.

Upon returning to the villa, she noticed the backyard lights were still on.

She felt a bit tired today; spending noon with Teacher Hale left little time to rest, and the work accumulated from the previous days kept her busy.

Seeing the sudden backyard lights on, she couldn’t help but walk over.

The villa’s garden had always been tended by Aunt Sutton.

In the past, Sophia loved sitting in the backyard on a rocking chair to read or sketch. But after opening the studio, she rarely went there, almost always sinking into work upon returning home, then going straight to bed.

Today was unusual.

She reached the backyard and saw Aunt Sutton bathing the surrounding plants with water.

"Aunt Sutton," Sophia greeted.

"Oh! Ma’am, you’re back!" Aunt Sutton quickly turned off the water, worried it might splash onto her. "Don’t come over; the ground is wet and a little slippery."

Sophia stood still, too lazy to look further. However, she seemed to notice something.

Where hydrangeas once flourished, the plants had been switched for something else.

Fresh buds had just emerged, replacing the swath of hydrangeas.

"What kind are these?" Only then did she notice that the back garden had been tastefully remodeled.

Aunt Sutton seemed uneasy, thinking carefully before saying, "These are tulips Mr. Ellison planted some time ago. I heard the seeds were airlifted from overseas. He planted them overnight, and I only learned about it after receiving his call late that night."

Aunt Sutton had once been a florist and knew flowers well.

Sophia paused, her eyes drifting.

She vaguely recalled one night, asleep in a daze, the person beside her was gone. She thought another international meeting had caught him.

He returned after midnight and showered before coming back to bed.

He left for work early the next morning.

He said nothing.

Aunt Sutton continued, "These days, he’s been away. He asked me to take care of them. With today’s blazing sun, I thought I’d give them extra water tonight."

"Okay," Sophia replied softly, "Thank you, Aunt Sutton."

"My pleasure, Ma’am!" Aunt Sutton smiled and continued watering the flowers.

The love the household’s master had for the mistress was overt, but there seemed to be some unresolved tension between them, not just ordinary issues.

She dared not ask, but she hoped their misunderstandings would soon be resolved.

This pair was a rare match; it would be a pity if they were to part!

Sophia found herself lost in thought.

She had once said she wanted her garden filled with colorful tulips! To wake to their fragrance!

He remembered.