?Chapter 104:


    Left to her own devices, she would’ve been perfectly content with a simple meal, but for William, every day demanded something special. A sly idea crept into her mind. If her food was truly awful, maybe William would finally move out for good.


    The thought sent a secret thrill through Ste. Without hesitation, she seized the spat and set about cooking a table full of fiery dishes, each one smothered in chili except for the soup.


    When dinner was ready, Rita entered the dining room, her eyes widening at the sight. “Ms. Russell, tonight’s menu is…” she began, hesitating.


    Ste smiled, breezing past the concern. “Is something wrong? William asked for spicy food, didn’t he? These are ssic recipes—exactly how I like them.”


    Rita fell quiet, clearly unsettled, but dared not protest further. A few minutester, William appeared, only to find Ste busilydling food onto his te with a suspiciously cheerful energy.


    He arched a brow, easily seeing through her scheme.


    Ste patted the chair beside her. “You’re just in timee eat. I made several signature spicy dishes tonight. You should have seconds; they’re some of my favorites.”


    William surveyed the mountain of chilis on each dish, immediately understanding her little game. Ste handed him the fork and knife, and as he sat down, she made a show of picking a chunk of meat drenched in chili and cing it squarely in front of him.


    “Go ahead, try it,” she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.


    William met her gaze, the corners of his mouth curling up into a smirk. Under her expectant stare, he calmly picked up the utensils and took a deliberate bite of the fiery meat.


    A sh of anticipation lit up Ste’s eyes. “So? How is it?”


    William nodded, utterly unbothered. “It’s not bad.”


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    With a burst of enthusiasm, she loaded his te with more chili-soaked meat. “Here—have some more.”


    He epted every bite she offered, amused by her sudden attentiveness. Meanwhile, Ste barely touched her own food, her focus entirely on piling his te higher and higher.


    When the meal was nearly finished, she eyed him hopefully. “Are you done? Are you feeling… ufortable or something?”


    William wiped his mouth with practiced elegance, his gaze cool and unreadable. “Did you slip something into the food? Why would I be ufortable?”


    Her heart skipped, and she forced a sheepishugh. “No, nothing like that. I just thought… maybe the spice was too much.”


    Yet, despite drowning the dishes in chili, he finished the entire meal without so much as a wince.


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