Chapter 39 Chapter 39 "Alright, I'm on it. Give me a moment, please," the waiter replied. Savory House wasn't just a buffet. It was a top-tier dining club. In the main hall, regular patrons served themselves, but for 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 glass 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 Andrew, but simple home cooking like that was rare for him. While the porridge cooked, Olivia cracked a few eggs, added minced garlic, and then laid in tofu and shrimp. She poured the eggs over the top. In minutes, a shrimp-tofu omelet was done. It was just two plain 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 plate was balanced-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 declared, arms folded, proud as could be. Ethan wanted to dig in, but training told him to watch Andrew first. Andrew had the classic CEO problem-bad stomach. Picky eater, fragile gut. "Mr. Shea, maybe you just watch us eat and I'll get you something later..." Ethan didn't finish. One cool glance from Andrew shut him up. Olivia set down a few small bowls-dishes she'd ordered just for him. Her voice was flat. "Yours." 1/3 Chapter 39 "Too much porridge makes more acid," she added, eyes down. "Stick to these. There's soup later" A doctor's eye saw th problem in one look. Ethan wanted to bow right there. 'Thank you, lifesaver,' he wondered. Andrew watched her, eyes narrowing, a soft laugh in his throat. "As you say," he said, and then all of them started eating Ethan went 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 salary.' He'd planned 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 him, but 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 a lamb 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 glanced 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, 'Oh, you'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 a quick smile, there was an icy detachment about him. 2/3 21:53 Sat, 30 Aug O W Chapter 39 39% Ethan didn't dare say a word. He thought, 'Is he already thinking about how to kill Ms. Summers? Impossible. She saved Ms. 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 playfulness and a hint of flirtation. But somehow, he didn't come 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. 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