?Chapter 1366:


    “No, the food’s good, really,” Florrie said carefully. “It’s just…st time we were here, the dishes tasted different. Weren’t they cooked by another chef? Where is he today? Is he not on duty?”


    Torrie’s smile faltered a bit. She opened her mouth, closed it, and hesitated, unsure how to answer without upsetting anyone. Her hands, folded neatly in front of her, clenched subtly, betraying her unease.


    How could she exin that? It had been Dn himself cooking for them before, a special favor reserved only for guests of his girlfriend. Dn’s cooking was legendary among the head chefs at Morfort Restaurant. Now that he had stepped away for personal reasons, no one could match the taste he created.


    After a brief pause, Torrie regained herposure and said, “That chef has some personal matters to attend to and won’t be back for a while.”


    “He’s not quitting, right?” Florrie asked, worry creeping into her voice.


    The thought of losing that chef forever made her chest tighten. Where else could she find food that tasted this good?


    The other guests stared at Torrie too, their expressions tense, uncertain of what she would say next.


    Once they had experienced his cooking, nothing else ever seemed quite the same. They couldn’t shake the memory of it.


    Torrie’s lips twitched slightly, a faint smile ying at the corners.


    “Well, yes,” she said carefully, “he didn’t actually quit.”


    She stole a subtle nce at Christina. Deep down, Torrie was certain—if Christina was here, Dn wouldn’t be able to stay away for long. As long as Christina was around, he was bound to show up.


    “How long until the chef returns?” Florrie asked, her tone casual but curious.


    “That… I’m not exactly sure,” Torrie replied, still smiling. “He’s taking an extended break.”


    Her palms were already damp. If this questioning continued, she might identally say too much.


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    Florrie gave a small chuckle, trying to smooth things over.


    “Oh, I was only curious because his cooking was truly remarkable. I wanted to bring my three grandsons to try it for themselves, that’s all. The chef cooking today is wonderful too, of course.”


    Her words were gentle and deliberate. Thest thing she wanted was to create any awkward misunderstanding that might hurt the current chef’s reputation.


    “I understand,” Torrie said with a polite nod. “Please, enjoy your meal. If you have any feedback, don’t hesitate to let us know.”


    With that, she turned and hurried off, the sound of her heels fading quickly down the corridor. The further she got, the better—before anyone could corner her about Dn again.


    “What a pity,” Florrie sighed softly, watching Torrie leave. “I was really looking forward to tasting that chef’s cooking again.”


    Christina smiled faintly. “Grandma, he’s only on leave. He’ll be back.”


    Florrie brightened a little at that. “Good, then when he returns, I’ll bring your three brothers here for a real culinary feast.”


    Gerry crossed his arms, brows raised. “Is that chef’s cooking really that good?”


    “Of course it is,” Florrie said, giving him a sharp sideways nce. “You’ll understand once you try it.”


    Gerry muttered under his breath, “I don’t believe it. You’re all exaggerating. I’ve eaten dishes from the best chefs around the world—impressing me won’t be easy.”


    “I’m curious too,” Jordy added with a small smile.


    Then Bain, who had been quietly cutting his steak, suddenly spoke up, his voice low and steady.


    “If he’s really that skilled, I might pay a fortune to hire him—to teach me how to cook.”


    He didn’t say it out loud, but his thoughts were crystal clear. It wasn’t just about the food.


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