جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 370

"What time exactly?"Luke was always concise."4:30 PM, private room 103.""Ms. Middleton managed to get a reservation at Royal Chef's Restaurant?" Joey's eager voice came through the phone.Joey was in Luke's room? This call couldn't have come at a worse time!Worried I might be interrupting Luke and Joey's private moment, I quickly said, "I was just asking. If you're busy, Mr. Walker, I can go to Royal Chef's by myself."I've had a good appetite lately. I could easily finish a meal for two.Luke replied, "I'll be there on time.""It's so hard to get a table at Royal Chef's," Joey chimed in again before Luke hung up.Knowing the woman Luke liked was staying at the same hotel, yet I still asked him out to dinner - it felt like I was trying to steal him away!I felt a bit uneasy.Five minutes later, my phone rang. It was Joey calling.She liked Luke. Given her personality, she was probably calling to confront me.Things between Luke and me were strictly professional. Worried I might mak

It seemed Luke and Joey had parted on bad terms, not even finishing dinner. My well-intentioned plan had backfired.With Luke's mood still sour, I didn't dare ask what happened between him and Joey. I could only speculate silently.As the staff at the Royal Chef restaurant set the dishes on the table and lifted the covers, I saw gourmet delicacies straight out of a cooking show. The visual impact was so strong, I couldn't wait to taste them."Enjoy your meal," the waiter said."Thank you," Luke replied, tipping the staff member, who then left.Seeing me motionless, Luke asked, "Aren't you hungry?""This restaurant truly lives up to its reputation." After eating a small appetizer earlier and giving up my seat to Joey, I had planned to skip dinner. But now, with so many delicacies before me, my appetite was piqued. I picked up my fork. "They're so exquisite, like works of art. I almost don't want to ruin them.""It's just food. Filling your stomach is more important. Try it and se

Our first attempt was unsuccessful, so Luke and I spent the afternoon trying to track down another expert, Professor Killiney. He was a true authority in the field, well past retirement age, and now living out his golden years in the suburbs.Known for his eccentric personality, he disliked socializing. He often said that businessmen reeked of money and that today's students were too impatient to conduct proper research. Apart from occasional interactions with a few long-time friends, he turned away all visitors.Luke had tried to meet him several times before regarding Hengton matters, but never succeeded."Mr. Walker, couldn't we put him last on the list?" I asked. Compared to Professor Mannings, our chances with him seemed slim."Let's give it a try. Professor Yan has many students. Compared to him, Professor Killiney might be a better fit for Jon.""Jon's situation is unique, and Professor Killiney is eccentric. Who knows what kind of clash might occur if we put them together?

"I've watched others fish.""..." I had hoped that Luke would demonstrate exceptional fishing skills to impress Professor Killiney. The expectation was lovely, but reality was harsh.Before meeting Professor Killiney, I should have done more research about him. Knowing he had a golden retriever, I could have brought some dog food or treats. Maybe that would have helped us get on the dog's good side.After a while, Luke was still figuring things out. I took out my phone and found the contact information for the salesman who sold us the fishing gear. I asked him about setting up and using the equipment.The salesman was very patient and offered a video call. Luke, gifted in learning, quickly grasped the basics under the salesman's guidance.After thanking the salesman and ending the call, I stood nervously nearby, watching Luke as he finished preparing.He was remarkably calm, casually casting the line. His relaxed demeanor made him look like a seasoned angler, quite convincing.L

Just after returning to the hotel, I received a call from the staff at the interest class center. My heart raced as I silently hoped for good news.As I answered the phone, my heart skipped a beat. "Hello...""The man who came with you today isn't your husband, and you don't have a child! Your only goal was to meet Professor Mannings!"The caller's voice was angry.Their words felt like a bucket of cold water over my head. "I'm sorry, we were just...""Don't bother waiting. Professor Mannings won't see you!"Before I could explain, they hung up.Johnsonville was nearly a thousand kilometers from Brookshire. It was impressive that the staff had managed to discover Luke and I weren't married in such a short time.The path to Professor Mannings was now closed. I reported this to Luke.Luke pondered for a moment. "Where there's a will, there's a way.""I don't think Professor Killiney is completely unreasonable. We should try to meet him again," I said, opening Professor Killiney