Chapter 52
After a while, they arrived at Grand Manor
The three of them got out of the taxi, with Sherri and Natalie sitting in the backseat while Edward took
the passenger seat.
After paying the fare, Natalie went to the trunk to retrieve the luggage but was stopped by a slender
hand. Tll do it. It’s a bit heavy.”
In fact. Edward had more than just one suitcase. He had several boxes, but he had asked Kyle to send
them home. This particr suitcase contained gifts for the two girls. It was a bitrge and held some
valuable items. Edward wanted to give the gifts himself.
Sherri walked up to the reception desk and presented her reservation confirmation message to the
staff.
Shortly after, an employee guided them to a private dining room on the 8th floor.
“Edward, you’re back!” a woman eximed when she saw Edward. There was a hint of surprise in her
tone.
Edward didn’t show much expression and politely exchanged greetings with the woman. “Yes, I just
returned today.”
Natalie observed the woman for a moment. She noticed the woman’s designer clothing, immacte
makeup, and even the intricate patterns on her nails.
While Natalie didn’t know who she was, judging by her attire and manner of speaking, as well as her
acquaintance with the Landor family, she was undoubtedly an heiress from a wealthy family.
From the tone of their greeting, it was evident that they were familiar with each other.
Natalie wasn’t materialistic and didn’t have a preference for designer brands. However, she had Sherri
as her best friend, who happened to have a strong affinity for luxury handbags, clothes, and watches.
Her exnation was, “I’m just an ordinary person.”
Being exposed to it frequently gradually influenced her taste and perception.
It was simr to how someone could be knowledgeable in a particr field after being exposed to
it for a long time.
Mia shifted her gaze to Sherri and Natalie. “Sherri, long time no see. I just came back a few days ago
and have been busy, so I didn’t get a chance to meet up with you. Let’s have afternoon tea together
sometime.”
Sherri replied. “I’ve been quite busy too.” She was indeed busy and didn’t lie, but Mia perceived it as an
excuse.
Mia continued to smile and disyed her impable manners as a heiress. “I saw that you even went
live recently. That’s impressive. My parents praised you.”
Mia nced up and down at Natalie with a hint of disdain. She disdained Natalie for going out without
makeup, what audacity. Nevertheless, she maintained a smile. “And this… is she your girlfriend,
Edward?”
Natalie knew Mia was referring to her, but she didn’t want to bother with someone she didn’t know.
Moreover, she could. sense the disdainful look in Mia’s eyes, indicating that they would have no
interaction in the future. “Edward, I’ll go to the private room first,” Natalie said.
“Sure, Sherri, you can go in as well. I’m sorry, Mia. I’m a bit hungry after just getting off the ne, so I’ll
dine first,” Edward responded with polite words, but there was a clear sense of distance.
“Alright, let’s meet up next time. It’s been a long time since we hung out together. We can invite Trevon
as well, Mia replied. Edward simply nodded before leaving.
In the adjacent private room, Mia, with her refined manners as an heiress, sat gracefully next to the
rxed man. “Guess who I saw just now,” Mia said amusingly.
Trevonzily leaned back in his chair, smoking, and didn’t bother to answer. Frank followed suit,
sharing the same indifference.
Only Hackett showed some courtesy and asked, “Who was it?” After all, Mia was his cousin, and he
had to show some respect.
Today’s meal was organized by Mia. Hackett’s uncle, who happened to be Mia’s father, recently used
some connections to purchase a piece ofnd in Athana. Coincidentally, the officials of Athana wanted
to develop that area into amercial street and amusement park, involving a wide range of ns.
Trevon wanted to secure the project and work on it with Frank Unfortunately, one-third of thend was
purchased by Mia’s father. So today, he sent Mia for the negotiation instead of showing up himself. His
implication was clear. He wanted to avoid Trevon.
As for Hackett, he was just a tool.
He was apanion for eating, drinking, and escorting Mia.
“I just went to the restroom and saw Edward. He said he just arrived. Ile is in the adjacent private room.
Quite a coincidence, don’t you think?”
Trevon didn’t respond to her remark.
Mia didn’t mind his temperament. She understood that he held grudges after eight years apart, but she
was confident they could reconcile and start anew.
This piqued Hackett’s curiosity. “Oh, Edward is back? I should go and meet him. Trevon, you’ve been
at odds with him for so many years. Isn’t it time to reconcile? Why did Edward suddenly return after two
years abroad?”
Trevon’s business ovepped with the Landor family’s in many areas, leading to a longstanding rivalry
between them. They had been engaged in behind-the-scenespetition, and their rtionship was
good.
On the surface, they maintained courtesy.
However, they were far from courteous to each other behind closed doors.
Trevon remained silent. His purpose today was solely aboutnd transfer, nothing else. Lately, he had
been asionally meeting up with Mia, but it had been several days since he tasted Natalie’s cooking.
Feeling a craving, he suggesteding to the Grand Manor and specifically requested the chef they
hadst time.
Meanwhile, Edward opened his suitcase before the dishes were served. He turned to Natalie and said,
“Natalie, I might have to go back home after we finish eating. I have a lot of work at thepany
tomorrow, so I might not be able to see you. Let me give you the gift first.”
Natalie felt a bit embarrassed and wanted to refuse, but when the suitcase was opened, she was
shocked deep down. Edward always knew what she liked. “Edward, how did you manage to buy this
helmet?” Natalie asked. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.
Sherri, who was standing aside, looking for her own gift. She then eximed, “Damn, you managed to
get this? And with an autograph too Natalie, this is way cooler than Mr. Roberts’s one.”
Sherri still remembered how her best friend adored the helmet Mr. Roberts hadst time.
Before Natalie could snap out of her obsession with her coveted helmet, Edward handed her a pair of
limited-edition boxing gloves and sportswear.
Natalie was about to say that they were too expensive.
Then, Edward interrupted her, “You can’t refuse. It’s a brother giving gifts to his sister. Why would you
burden yourself with such thoughts?”
She obediently responded with a simple “Okay” and epted the gifts.
Sherri became unhappy. “What about mine? What did you buy for me?” she asked, rummaging through
the suitcase. “Everything in the suitcase is for you. Stop searching and take it all, Edward replied. After
finishing with Natalie’s gifts, he stood up and pushed the suitcase toward Sherri.
Upon seeing the contents left in the suitcase, Sherri fell silent. Her face was filled with exasperation.
Not because she didn’t like them, but because she felt her brother didn’t put much thought into the
gifts. The items in the suitcase were all things she liked. “Edward, can you be more thoughtful with my
gifts? Look, they are all bags, perfumes, and cosmetics.” Edward looked at his sister’s face and asked
her seriously, “Do you have any other hobbies apart from these?”
Sherri gulped and admitted that she didn’t have any other hobbies.
She simply loved bags, watches, and cosmetics. She wasn’t interested in cars since she wasn’t skilled
at driving either.
“What about my watch? Why didn’t you buy it?”
*I let Kyle send it home. You get it yourself tonight.”
Sherri was delighted now. The watch was something she had been longing for, so she immediately
sent a picture of it to her brother, asking him to bring it back for her. She also sent numerous cute and
ttering emojis.
“You’re the best, Edward. Love you, mwah!”
At that moment, the waiter came in to serve the dishes, and soon the table was filled with an array of
food.
Edward calmly put on gloves and began to crack open the crabs, meticulously removing the meat and
cing it in front of
Natalie.
Sherri didn’t think much of it. Whenever they dined with Edward, he would instinctively put on gloves
and help them with the shelled seafood. However, he would always serve Natalie first before her.
Despite Sherri asking Edward several times, Edward would always say that Natalie was the youngest.
However, Sherri and Natalie were actually the same age, with Sherri being three days older. In ancient
times, even a one-day age difference could be considered significant when it came to matters like
establishing hierarchy or seniority.
Natalie reminded him, “Edward, you should eat first. Sherri and I can handle it ourselves.”
But he didn’t listen as if this behavior had be a habit. He believed it was necessary to prepare the
food before eating, and he continued meticulously cracking open the shells.
Natalie decided not to stop him anymore. After all the years of being with Edward, she understood his
personality well. Once he set his mind on something, no amount of persuasion could change it. He
would follow his own way and finish his
routine.
Natalie quietly enjoyed her meal, and when she came across the delicious sweet and sour sausages,
she turned the te towards Edward and said, “This is delicious. Edward, you should try it
He elegantly wiped his hands, picked up his fork, and took a bite. Indeed, this chef’s skill is simr to
yours. Is he from Athana?”
Natalie paused for a moment. She was surprised that Edward’s first reaction was also about the chef’s
hometownL
Was this truly an observation point for sessful individuals?
She made a mental note to inquire about it another day.
“I don’t know. I haven’t asked. They might be from a culinary training region, simr to where our
household staff is trained. Natalie replied.
Edward didn’t dwell on the topic and didn’t engage in further conversation about it.