My Beloved Has Risen from Death’s Embrace

Chapter 56

“I’m not creepy!”

Xanthe grabbed a wooden block and threw it at him, and he yelped, picking up two to throw back, “Xan, you are a grown–up, you can’t bully little kids!”

“Little kids are the easiest to bully!”

Peals of laughter drifted into the kitchen, where Orion, through the frosted glass, watched the joyous interplay of the girl and the boy below. The scene was a mirror of the countless sleepless nights filled with dreams, yet infinitely more enchanting.

Even though it was just a fleeting illusion, he wished it could last a little longer, much longer, ideally forever.

An hour later, the butler descended the stairs and bowed, “Ms. Nightshade, Sebastian, Mr. Lockwood has prepared a midnight snack. Please join him in the dining room on the second floor!”

“Alright!”

Xanthea and Sebastian, washed up and racing each other, entered the dining room on the second floor and were greeted by a lavish table set with an array of mouthwatering Willowdale specialties.

Sebastian exclaimed, “Wow, it smells amazing and looks so bountiful, Uncle Orion, you’re awesome!”

“Did you make all this?”

she looked at Orion. Even before tasting, the presentation and colors alone were not the work of

simple cold cuts for a snack, but instead,

urged, “Ms. Nightshade, please, have

mind if I

quickly picked up her utensils, scanning the table with a touch of decision paralysis. Crab cakes, roasted chicken, and fluffy mashed potatoes. Finally, she forked a piece of crab cake, its rich, creamy filling perfectly soft and

is so good, how can it be

that her eyes squinted in satisfaction, emitting sounds of delight like a content

too, lifted his

finding each more delicious than the last anything she

25 25 2 2 2

Orion, a busy CEO, not

someone to be so

even better than

on her and paused awkwardly, “Am I being too unreserved? Your cooking

“Not at all.”

but adorable, and very

like it, please have some

“Sure!”

“There’s also soup.”