The soft strains of jazz floated through the living room, a gentle backdrop to the warm glow of the overhead lights. The dining table was set neatly, crystal glasses catching the light, a bottle of red breathing beside a pair of half–filled glasses. The scent of roasted duck and citrus lingered in the air, rich and inviting.

Izzy watched Liam carefully, fork in hand, as he took a small bite of the Duck à l’Orange. His eyes narrowed slightly in concentration, chewing slowly. She leaned forward, eyes glinting with excitement.

“Well?” Izzy pressed, lips twitching at the corners. “Do you like it?”

Liam raised an eyebrow, setting his fork down. “This is Duck áà l’Orange?” he asked, a hint of amusement flickering in his

eyes.

Izzy rolled her eyes. “Obviously,” she huffed. “I just followed the recipe. It’s a bit complicated, but definitely worth it.”

Liam took another bite, chewing thoughtfully. He finally nodded, leaning back in his chair. “This is really good,” he admitted, lips twitching faintly. “I didn’t know you could cook something like this.”

a piece of duck with her fork. “Is that an insult?” she

amused. “No,” he said mildly, swirling the wine in his glass. “I just thought you

had time to breathe, let alone cook. And she was doing all those things for that damn Calen!

wine, savoring the warmth that spread down her throat. “I can follow instructions,” she muttered, feigning

the disaster that was your beef bourguignon back when we were sixteen,

paused mid–air. Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “That was a long time ago,” she bit out, though a faint flush crept up her cheeks. “I was just a kid.” Why was this man suddenly talking about

disowned you,” he

face into her hands. “Don’t remind me,” she muttered, the memory clear as day. Her grandfather’s horrified expression, the way the entire kitchen had filled with smoke–the soup that had turned into a thick, inedible

glinted. “Experimenting?” he repeated, clearly amused.

desk. The view outside his office window was all sleek glass and gray skies, the cityscape of Paris stretching endlessly beneath a layer of clouds. The

his assistant continued to rattle off updates.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255