It was safe to say that even Evelyn Grant’s own mother probably couldn’t have picked out her daughter’s favorite dishes with such accuracy.
Evelyn Grant was stunned.
Her first instinct was that this couldn’t be a coincidence; it had to be a deliberate act by someone thoughtful.
But on second thought, Evelyn couldn’t name a single person in the world who knew her that well.
’It couldn’t be Julian Sterling, could it?’
’He probably doesn’t even know I hate cilantro.’
Evelyn Grant’s lips twitched. She pulled out a chair at the dining table, deciding to eat before the food got cold and her boss’s kind gesture went to waste.
She had just taken a few bites when she heard the sound of the front door unlocking.
The door opened, and Ryan Sterling appeared.
It was rather cold outside, and he brought a gust of chilly air in with him.
Ryan Sterling didn’t immediately head over to Evelyn Grant. He paused to make a phone call, waiting until the chill had left his overcoat before he moved again.
"Having a nice dinner,"
he said, his dark eyes sweeping over the table as he passed the dining area.
"It’s from the head of my law firm," Evelyn Grant said, then asked out of habit, "Have you eaten?"
At this time of day, the answer would usually be yes.
But Ryan Sterling wasn’t most people.
"I haven’t."
"...Want to join me, then?"
"Sure. I’ll go change."
The moment the words left her mouth, Evelyn Grant wanted to slap herself.
’I had no intention of eating with Ryan Sterling! How did the conversation end up here?’
A short while later, he emerged from his shower, dressed in a set of dark loungewear.
His hair wasn’t completely dry, and drops of water occasionally trickled from the ends, dampening the fabric on Ryan Sterling’s shoulders.
"Food from Crimson Pagoda. Still tastes the same," he remarked after taking a bite.
Evelyn Grant was confused. "How did you know it was from Crimson Pagoda?"
’Could it be...?’
Ryan Sterling pointed directly to the two words on the takeout box. "I’m not blind."
"..."
Evelyn Grant felt that communication with him was impossible, and she didn’t want to try. She lowered her head and ate quickly, planning to get back to work as soon as she was done.
But then, she accidentally splattered a drop of oil on her clothes!
It was a pure white shirt; if the stain didn’t come out, the garment would be ruined.
She immediately put down her chopsticks. "I’m going to go wash this. Take your time. I’m full."
With that, Evelyn Grant ran toward the upstairs bedroom.
Ryan Sterling let out a resigned sigh. "Just walk, don’t run!"
"Honestly... pregnant and not being the least bit careful..." he muttered.
The words had barely left his lips when a phone on the dining table suddenly rang.
It was Evelyn Grant’s.
Ryan Sterling glanced over and saw it was a call from her brother. He called out lazily, "Evelyn Grant, your brother’s calling."
She shouted from upstairs, "Can you get that for me? Just tell him I’m washing something, and I’ll call him back!"
His long fingers reached out and plucked the phone into his palm.
He pressed the answer key, and Alex Grant’s voice came from the other end. "Sis!"
"Your sister’s washing something. What’s up?" Ryan Sterling replied.
"Oh! Is that my brother-in-law?" Alex Grant chuckled. "Good evening!"
A thick brow arched as a smile touched his lips, his prominent Adam’s apple bobbing. "Mm. Good evening."
"It’s nothing much, really. School’s about to let out for break, and Mom’s been missing Sis. I was just calling to see if she has time to come home for a get-together!" Alex Grant made sure to add, "Brother-in-law, if you’re free, you should come too!"