Chapter 2111


    Phoebe had a knack for being unreliable in front of Azriel, but when it counted, she showed she


    cared.


    Twenty-four hourster, a bowl of soup and an assortment of delicate side dishes were ced


    before him right on time.


    After unwrapping the cutlery and handing him the spoon and fork with both hands, she beamed with


    a grin: "Starving, aren''t you? This is from The Lucky Spoon, the soup everyone''s dying to try. It''s


    tough just to get a reservation. It''s delicious, give it a try."


    Azriel nced at her coolly, taking the cutlery from her expectant gaze. "Scared now?"


    The smile Phoebe was trying to keep up on her face stiffened, and eventually, her shoulders


    slumped as she hung her head and averted her eyes, her apologying out straightforward and


    sincere. "I''m sorry. I made a mistake."


    "Better think of how to make amends."d2


    Phoebe shivered involuntarily, for some reason that sentence sounded to her more like "Better think


    of how to face your doom."


    But then again, it was her fault he was in the hospital. She could at least own up to that.


    Watching Azriel begin to eat, his movements slow and refined, he hardly looked like someone who


    had starved for a full day.


    *


    When Azriel finished eating, he turned to see the girl on the couch had curled up and fallen asleep.


    The room was set to afortable temperature, but it was winter after all. Frowning slightly, he got


    up, cleared the food containers off the table, opened the closet near the door, and took out a


    nket. Walking over to her, he gently covered her with it.


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    The lights in the room were bright, and perhaps it was the rarity of being this close to a girl, or


    maybe it was just how peaceful and well-behaved she seemed in her sleep, or maybe he was


    curious about how much that quirky, lively child had changed over the years, but with a mere nce


    at her face, his brow furrowed sharply.


    Her skin was glowing, her features fine, her sleeping form attractive, but beneath her eyes were


    faint shadows, and her forehead bore the clear signs of fatigue.


    What caught his attention even more were the reddened corners of her eyes, a few longshes


    clumped together from moisture, glistening under the light.


    They had been together all day. She had been ying pranks heartily just hours ago, and had just


    admitted her faults to him with feigned obedience. And yet, in such a short time, she had cried


    herself to sleep.


    He had beenpletely unaware.


    Jace had said about her running off to a vi that no longer housed her grandparents, after


    Abrd''s birthday party. If he hadn''t just returned to the country, cleaned up the vi, arranged for


    heating and paid the electricity bill, she would have spent the night alone, curled up on the couch.


    Then she was startled by him, the unexpected "intruder," and all the hassle that led to the police


    station and then the hospital.


    Through all this time, he hadn''t heard a peep from the Alonso family about looking for her.


    With this thought, his expression grew darker. A youngdy of good standing was nearly vited by


    a fool in a calcted scheme, and now, there was not even a pretense of concern from anyone.


    No wonder, Damon had suddenly decided to take action against the Alonso family.


    He hadn''t understood the decision at first, but now it seemed necessary and entirely correct.


    *


    Waking up the next morning, her first instinct was to nce towards the hospital bed. It was empty.


    She frowned, sitting up from the couch, the nket falling to the floor.


    She paused, then picked the nket up.


    Azriel emerged from the bathroom, having changed out of his hospital gown into a crisp, ck suit.


    His tall, lean figure, impably dressed, his handsome face expressionless, detached yet


    commanding. Merely standing there, he exuded an aura of authority that demanded respect.


    This was the first time Phoebe had seen Azriel in formal wear. Their first encounter had been in his


    pajamas at the police station, the second in his hospital gown. Now, confronted with this imposing


    version of Azriel, she was struck by how outrageous her actions the day before must have seemed


    to him.


    Azriel, adjusting his cuffs, nced at her briefly and said in a detached tone, “Awake?”


    “Yeah.” Phoebe responded awkwardly, then added, “Are you being discharged?”


    “Yes.” His response was cool, yet he acknowledged her, “Get washed up.”


    Phoebe quickly stood and entered the bathroom. She came out just as Jace was walking in from


    outside.


    “Ms. Alonso, good morning.”


    “Good morning.”


    Phoebe had only washed her face, strands of hair by her temples and forehead were still damp.


    She usually wore little makeup, but now, fresh-faced without even the basics of skincare, she


    looked like a flower just emerged from water.


    With the bathroom located near the entrance, they crossed paths, and Jace''s gaze lingered on


    Phoebe''s face for a few seconds before he turned away.


    “Jace.” The stern, calm voice sent a shiver down Jace’s spine, prompting him to quickly carry the


    breakfast he brought into the room.


    Azriel sat down on the couch, watching indifferently as Jace opened the breakfast boxes.


    “Come and have breakfast.” He didn’t look up, but it was clear he was speaking to Phoebe.


    Phoebe walked over and sat down a short distance away from him.


    “After breakfast, someone will take you back to the vi. You should rest at home today.”


    Phoebe paused, “Since you’re fine now…”


    “Don’t forget, you’re my maid now.”


    Phoebe was speechless.


    “I''ve hired an experienced butler and two maids, learn from them. You get today off.”


    “But I need to go back to school.”


    “I don’t need you at the vi 24/7, just make sure you’re there for dinner and breakfast.”


    Jace, standing off to the side, couldn''t help but hide a smirk. Was Azriel courting disaster? After a


    near-death experience, Azriel still dared to eat her cooking. Impressive.


    Though, the maid thing... Hmm.


    “Okay,” Phoebe finally replied, resigned.


    *


    True to his word, Azriel had apparently informed the butler in advance, and the man showed no


    surprise upon meeting Phoebe.


    The butler greeted her politely and introduced the two maids to Phoebe, before sending her upstairs


    to rest . And he told her to feel free to ask if she needed anything. It was hardly the wee you''d


    expect for a guest.


    Phoebe didn''t overthink it. After all, the Alonso family had always carried themselves with an air of


    aristocracy, their noses high in the clouds, especially since they were rted to some distant royal


    cousin in Y Country. Most of the servants had been browbeaten by Wendy and her mother into a


    state resembling ancient serfs, devoid of any rights.


    Compared to her own home, the attitude of the butler and the staff here was a far cry from what she


    was ustomed to.


    The first thing Phoebe did was take a long, soothing bath. As she moved to the vanity to dry her


    hair, she noticed a collection of skincare products lined up. They were from the brand she had


    settled on for the past years, perfect for her sensitive skin.


    She hadn''t brought any herself, so someone here must have prepared them.


    Had the efficiency of butlers nowadays be so remarkable?


    After a basic skincare routine and drying her hair, she curiously opened the wardrobe to find it filled


    with clothes in her size.


    Phoebe fell silent. She wasn''t that naive.


    = She had thought of evading her responsibilities before, but now she felt even more guilty.


    Well, she decided, she''d better spend the afternoon perfecting a few recipes.


    *


    When Azriel came back in the evening, the butler was right there to greet him.


    As he nced around the living room, the butler said with a smile before Azriel could even speak,


    "Ms. Alonso is in the kitchen cooking."


    Azriel raised an eyebrow and headed to the kitchen. As he approached, he saw faint wisps of


    smoke drifting from the top of the doorframe, carrying a charred scent.


    Without a hint of surprise, he smirked and on reaching the doorway, found Phoebe d in a blue


    and pink apron, brandishing a spat in one hand and a pot lid as a shield in the other, squinting


    and asionally coughing as she bravely attempted to stir the contents of the frying pan. It was as


    though she was engaged in a duel, or more aptly, like a soldier charging into battle.


    He watched her silently for a moment, as she gritted her teeth, resolved herself, and dumped a


    pinch of salt into the pan from a distance before quickly turning off the heat.


    As the sizzling in the pan subsided, Phoebe let out a sigh of relief, then went on to yfully add


    various spices, one bottle after another.


    Finally, she stirred the mixture with the spat, dusted off her hands, and proudly dered, "OK."


    Azriel was speechless.


    OK? How could she say OK to that?


    He thought the instant noodle fiasco was a fluke, but was he wrong? Could anything in that pan


    even be edible?


    Perhaps realizing the gravity of her culinary creation, she took up the lid as a shield and cautiously


    turned on the heat again. About half a minuteter, she switched it off.


    Azriel turned to leave, but Phoebe caught a glimpse of him. "Azriel, you''re back! Come and try this, I


    learned a new dish this afternoon."


    Azriel didn''t pause in his stride.


    "Hey, Azriel. Never mind, go wash up and change, quickly. I''ll serve up the dish."


    For the first time, Azriel regretted something deeply.


    The housekeeper returned from taking out the trash, gazed upon the smoky battlefield that was the


    kitchen, and was at a loss for words. Watching Phoebe humming tunefully as she ted her


    creation, the housekeeper quickly whipped up several new dishes.


    *


    It took Azriel a good half hour toe downstairs. He recognized the dish on the dining table


    immediately and strategically sat as far away from it as possible.


    The housekeeper served the rice and soup, but Phoebe sat down next to him with her te in hand,


    eagerly picking up a bite of the dish with her fork and cing it onto Azriel''s te.


    Azriel''s hand froze. He turned to say something but was silenced by her expectant gaze.


    The so-called scrambled eggs looked nothing like the traditional dish, tinted with what seemed like


    soy sauce.


    Azriel took a deep breath and bravely ate the piece of ckened egg. The overwhelming taste of


    soy sauce and burnt bitterness left only saltiness and a tinge of regret in his mouth.


    "How is it?"


    Azriel swallowed the egg without betraying his feelings, nced at her nervous yet hopeful


    expression, and hummed a nomittal sound before adding, "There''s room for improvement."


    Phoebe''s smile faltered. Thepliment was diplomatic, but she understood. It was a less than


    ster review.


    Her face fell along with her mood.


    Azriel couldn''t quite understand why, but he couldn''t bear to see her like this. He took another piece


    of tomato, saying, "For a first attempt, this is really good. You have potential."


    The housekeepers exchanged a nce behind him. That was quite the stretch of the truth. But it


    seemed tofort Phoebe.


    *


    The next morning, under the watchful supervision of the housekeeper, Phoebe managed to prepare


    rice in the smart cooker. That breakfast was deemed a sess, and she was forbidden from


    contributing any further.


    So Phoebe took out her phone and sent her location to Angie, asking for a ride to school.


    Seeing a normal breakfast spread, Azriel breathed a sigh of relief. After breakfast, he put on his


    coat and turned to the still-seated Phoebe, who was busy texting away. "Aren''t you going to school


    today?"


    "Yeah, what about it?"


    Azriel continued buttoning his coat. "I''ll drive you."


    Phoebe''s eyes widened in surprise. "No, it''s fine. My friend''s picking me up in a bit."


    Azriel paused, then acknowledged with a brief "Hmm" before leaving the matter be.


    *


    On the drive to school, Angie couldn''t help but feel a mix of sympathy and amusement as Phoebe


    recounted thest few days'' events. "But listen, Phoebe, they always say once you get a stepmom,


    you''re bound to get a stepdad. Just forget about the Alonso n, okay? And Chloe''s been running


    her mouth about taking over the Alonso business. I know it''s tough for you to swallow, but honestly,


    rather than letting them use the Alonso name to torture you or worse, sacrifice you, maybe it''d be


    better to let her take it off your hands. Your sister and stepmom have been scheming since your


    mom was still alive. I doubt they''d throw you a bone when the timees. I even have this gut


    feeling that if Chloe does take over the Alonso legacy, she won''t leave you high and dry."


    Angie tried to sugarcoat her words, but the truth was harsh and, after dancing around the topic, she


    decided to justy it out straight.


    "Angie, you don''t need to spell it out for me, I know the score. From the get-go, they never intended


    to let me in on the business. I''m aware that sooner orter, they''ll sell me out for the sake of the


    Alonso name. Thank goodness their egos have been looking to cash me in at a high price, which is


    why I''ve been spared all these years and could keep hitting the books. I don''t give a hoot about the


    fate of the Alonsopany. My mom died because they were eyeing it, and they almost sold me off


    for it too. I managed to dodge the bullet this time, but I know my days ahead won''t be smooth


    sailing.


    "As long as the Alonsopany is in their hands, they''ll try to sell me off a second, a third time. I''ve


    spent my life walking on eggshells around them. I do not have a single savvy bone in my body, and I


    am not bright or resilient. If Chloe can wrestle the Alonsopany from their clutches, I won''t hold


    a grudge. In fact, I''d be grateful to her."


    Angie sped her hand, "The world''s full of sharp women who can stand on their own two feet, like


    Chloe, but not every woman has to fit that mold. We''re just ordinary, not tough or clever, and that''s


    perfectly fine. We have our way of life and are just as entitled to our slice of happiness."


    "Yeah!"


    Relieved, Angie then ventured, "So, who''s this guy anyway? You''re living under the same roof now,


    so aren''t you..."


    "Are you kidding me?!" Phoebe, blushing profusely, interrupted before Angie could finish, "I''ve only


    known him for a few days. And besides..."


    Angie nodded emphatically, "Yeah, yeah, I get it. You''ve been holding out for your Mr. Lollipop, the


    one with the peach vor."