My Fiancé's Scandals Never End, So I Married His Uncle Instead-Chapter 28: Picky Eater

Jade Orchid Manor.

The three of them were having lunch.

It was a private family meal. An impressive spread of Metropia’s specialty dishes covered the table. Celia Sterling sat between Kian Sterling and Silas Norwood. After the recent joint interrogation she’d endured, she was mentally drained and just ate with her head down, not saying a word.

Kian Sterling, still simmering with anger, wasn’t paying her much attention. However, after noticing she had taken several pieces of tofu in a row, he signaled a nearby servant to clear the dish away.

"Eat some meat." He dropped a braised sea cucumber into Celia Sterling’s bowl. "Tofu is too one-note, nutritionally."

Celia Sterling silently picked up the sea cucumber and took a very slow, tentative bite.

Seeing her reluctant expression, Silas Norwood mused for a moment. "Cece, what do you normally like to eat? I’ll arrange for some specialist chefs so you can adjust more easily when you move in."

Celia Sterling ducked her head even lower. "Silas, I’m not a picky eater."

Kian Sterling shot her a look. "She won’t touch seafood, anything with scales, cold-blooded animals, or anything with a gamey or fishy taste. You have to force her to eat fruits and vegetables. Right, not picky at all."

Celia Sterling: "..."

Silas Norwood just chuckled softly. Seeing Celia Sterling’s slight vexation, he gently came to her rescue. "It’s no problem. I’m even pickier than Cece."

Celia Sterling nodded in emphatic agreement. "Silas isn’t just a picky eater, he barely eats anything. He can take two bites of a pastry and be full."

’Maybe I should wait until after the wedding to go on a diet?’ she mused. ’With someone even pickier like Silas around, losing weight should be a piece of cake...’

Silas Norwood, who had been about to get more rice, sensed her little scheme. Amused, he decided to play along and casually set down his chopsticks. "Yes, I’m full now."

Just then, Kian Sterling’s phone rang.

He answered. "What is it?"

Evan Rhodes said something on the other end.

Kian Sterling shot a cool glance at Silas Norwood before getting up and walking a short distance away to continue the call.

Only the two of them were left at the table.

Celia Sterling was still struggling with the sea cucumber. She had taken dozens of tiny bites, but more than half of it remained.

She looked troubled, then hesitantly glanced at Silas Norwood. "Silas, do you like seafood?"

Silas Norwood glanced down at the sea cucumber in her bowl. "Can’t finish it, Cece?"

Celia Sterling mumbled in agreement. She picked up the sea cucumber, a little shy. "So, could I maybe—"

Before she could finish.

The next moment, Silas Norwood leaned over, opened his mouth, and quite naturally took the half-eaten sea cucumber from her chopsticks.

Celia Sterling’s face instantly turned crimson!

Mortified, she tried to explain, "Silas, I was just going to ask if I could throw it away, even though I know it’s rude..."

"We’re getting married soon." Silas Norwood lowered his gaze, hiding the dark undercurrent in his eyes. He spoke slowly, "We’ve already done something as intimate as the button incident. Sharing a sea cucumber is nothing."

Hearing him mention the button incident, Celia Sterling immediately clammed up.

Kian Sterling hung up and walked back over.

"You actually finished the sea cucumber? Not bad today." He sat back down, glancing at Celia Sterling’s bowl in surprise.

Celia Sterling mumbled an indistinct "mhm" and lowered her head again, eating obediently. The tips of her ears, however, were bright red.

Kian Sterling served her a bowl of bird’s nest soup.

Only then did he turn to Silas Norwood to discuss business. "That ’dear’ nephew of yours is targeting Summer Sutton. Now she’s calling my assistant about it."

Celia Sterling perked up her ears, ready for the gossip.

Silas Norwood remained unruffled. "What did he do?"

Kian Sterling summarized, "Blacklisted her. And blocked her from setting up her own studio."

Silas Norwood elegantly undid his cufflinks, the picture of nonchalance. "I never involve myself in the affairs of that world," he replied unhurriedly.

"Give her an out."

Silas Norwood’s amber eyes glinted with a deeper meaning as he met Kian Sterling’s gaze. "The ’out’ you’re talking about, Kade... is it a golden opportunity or just a crack to survive in?"

Ever since they signed the marriage agreement, Silas Norwood had always presented a deliberately restrained, gentle, and mild persona in front of Celia Sterling. But now, his aloof tone carried an indescribable pressure.

Kian Sterling let out a soft laugh, a smirk playing on his dangerously handsome face. "Silas Norwood, just say what you mean."

"I’m not aware of what Declan Norwood did in Port Sovereign," Silas Norwood said nonchalantly. "But is Miss Sutton truly so innocent? Keeping someone who’s such an unknown variable close by... might not be a good thing."

"I have no intention of keeping her in Metropia." Kian Sterling reached out and turned the eavesdropping Celia Sterling’s head away. "The night view in Oakhaven, on the other hand, is quite beautiful."

Silas Norwood nodded. "It is indeed."

Celia Sterling wriggled out from under Kian Sterling’s hand. Watching the two men speak in riddles, she blinked in confusion.

After lunch, Kian Sterling took Celia Sterling home.

In the car, Celia couldn’t hold back her curiosity. "Brother, are you planning on keeping a mistress in a gilded cage in Oakhaven?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"What mistress?" Kian Sterling shot her a sidelong glance. "You’re the only treasure I’m keeping. You’ve been wearing me down for more than a decade, and it’s practically cost me half my life."

Celia Sterling’s tone grew serious. "Brother, I’m really sorry about what happened at the club."

Kian Sterling didn’t answer.

Celia reached out and tugged on his sleeve. "Brother, I’ll be sure to bring bodyguards from now on, and I’ll always let you know where I am."

She tugged again. "And I promise I won’t secretly hire any male escorts."

Kian Sterling pulled the car over to the side of the road.

He held out his arms. "Come here."

Celia Sterling looked at him with her wide, almond-shaped eyes.

Kian Sterling tapped her lightly on the head, his voice laced with resignation. "Let your big brother give you a hug."

Celia unbuckled her seatbelt and deftly leaned into his embrace. She sighed in relief, knowing the incident was finally behind them.

「Port Sovereign, Wyvern Bay Villa.」

After the phone call, Summer Sutton and Anne Lowell were waiting for news.

"What exactly is going on between you and the Ninth Master?" Anne Lowell asked, her head starting to ache. "It’s been over half an hour since you called. With his status, this is something that should only take a few minutes to resolve. Why is it..."

Before she could finish, Summer Sutton’s phone rang with a call back from Evan Rhodes.

Summer Sutton paused for a few seconds, then answered, "What did the Ninth Master say?"

Evan Rhodes’s tone was respectful. "The Boss acquired a talent agency in Oakhaven. He’s giving it to you to play with, Miss Sutton."

Summer Sutton’s fingertips grew cold. "What does the Ninth Master mean by this?"

"The Boss says that Miss Sutton is a discerning woman. He’s sure you understand him."

The call ended.

Summer Sutton’s face paled. ’Understand him?’

’I traveled all that way to Metropia, only for him to force me back to Oakhaven. Understand what about him? That he’s cold-hearted by nature? That he’s cruel and ungrateful?’

Just then, her manager’s phone rang.

A few minutes later, Anne Lowell looked at her with a complicated expression. "Eldest Young Master Norwood’s side has lifted the restrictions in Oakhaven. I heard the order came directly from the head of the Norwood Conglomerate."

Summer Sutton sat on the sofa and buried her face in her hands.

After a long moment, she stood up, her expression calm once more. "Book a flight for tonight, direct to Oakhaven. Also, contact Delia Caine. Find a time for me to go to their office and sign the endorsement contract in person."