Chapter 0441


    Or will Gianna’s ws sink into the very earth we stand on?


    I''m sitting in the living room. The sun has long since gone down, and I’m curled up beneath a nket with a good book. After my


    date with Elsie earlier, | feel lighter—but | also feel heavier, because | keep thinking about all of the possibilities, all of the what-


    ifs.


    As | try to focus on my book, though, | hear someoneing. | look up from the pages and see Karl walking in, a mischievous


    grin on his face. His sudden appearance catches me off guard.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    “You''re grinning from ear to ear. What’s going on?” | ask, closing the book and setting it aside.


    Karl takes a seat across from me, his eyes fixed on mine. “I’ve got a proposition for you,” he says, his voice filled with


    excitement.


    | arch an eyebrow, intrigued by his enthusiasm. “Okay, I’m listening. What’s this proposition of yours?”


    “So | was talking to Sarah earlier,” he says, “and I’m going to be working on a library building project in town.”


    “Okay,” | say. “That sounds interesting.”


    “But that’s not all,” Karl exins. “I had an idea when she mentioned it to me. Something that might help your restaurant staff,


    just as you said you wanted to do.”


    | furrow my brow. “Go on.”


    Karl takes a deep breath before he continues. “What if we brought your staff here? The event needs a caterer for the workers. It''ll


    be a weeklong project.”


    My eyes widen in surprise at his suggestion. It’s not at all what | expected to hear. “Wait, you want to bring my restaurant staff


    here? For a whole week?”


    Karl nods eagerly. “Yes! We can have them provide food for the workers, and I''ll pay them well for their services. It''ll give them a


    job and create great press for your restaurant, Abby.”


    I''m taken aback by the idea. On one hand, | miss running my restaurant and being in the kitchen. The thought of being at the


    forefront of a food operation again is enticing. On the other hand, it means facing Chloe and Leah and confessing everything.


    It''s going to beplicated and maybe even a little embarrassing, to say the least.


    “Karl, this is a crazy idea,” | say, shaking my head. “I mean, | miss running my restaurant, but bringing my staff here for a week?”


    “Abby, you have to trust me on this,” he says softly. “I’ve thought it through, and | believe it’s a win-win situation. Your staff gets to


    make some money, and your restaurant gets positive publicity. You''ll be in charge, running the show, just like old times.”


    | can’t deny the appeal of being back in control of my restaurant, even if it’s just for a week. And the idea of my staff benefiting


    from it is heartwarming. But there’s still a part of me that’s skeptical, that wonders if Karl’s motives are solely driven by the need


    to boost his approval ratings.


    “Karl, are you doing all of this just for your approval ratings?”


    Karl’s gaze softens. “Abby, | won’t deny that my approval ratings matter to me,” he admits. “But | also want to make things right,


    for both of us. | promised | woulde up with something to help you and your staff, didn’t 1?”


    “You''ve changed,” | murmur.


    Karl chuckles. “I try,” he says. “And by the way, before you ask: I’ll talk to Chloe and Leah.”


    My eyebrows raise. “Really? You''ll do that?”


    “Abby, of course,” Karl says. “A deal is


    a deal. You wanted to,coareas hd


    Ghigegndleah! Sh so | will.


    Besides, | want to.” Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Karl''s words take me by surprise. |


    guess | never expected him to mM


    actually follow. heouate Vath tho?


    sfiptidnot our agreement, and


    yet here he is, making promises


    before | even have the chance to ask.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    “Well?” Karl asks, quirking an eyebrow. “What do you say?”


    | nod, already too intrigued by this idea to say no. “Let’s go for it,” | say.


    Karl grins. “Good,” he says, standing. “If you can just send out the invite to your staff, I''ll handle everything else.”


    With that, Karl turns on his heel and begins to walk out of the room. But | find myself standing, calling after him. “Karl, wait.”


    Karl pauses, slowly turning to face me. “What''s up?”


    As | look at him, | feel a blush creep


    into my cheeks. | hate to admit it,


    even to myself, but his actiogsOl!


    ‘egprateve soieadme toward him


    ever so slightly. And as | stand here,


    looking at him in the dim light of the


    living room, | can''t help but feel that


    undeniable attraction to him once


    more. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    “T-Thank you,” | manage, still holding his gaze despite the heat in my cheeks. “For everything.”


    Karl looks at me for a moment, and then his eyes soften. “No, Abby,” he says. “Thank you.”