Chapter 258

Before Millie could finish her sentence, Marcus had already walked away.

Meanwhile, the fishing rod had already been retrieved from the pond.

Her cheeks flushed a deeper red, and her chest heaved with rage.

As the clock struck eight, Millie found herself drenched in perspiration. Fortunately, the strenuous task of trimming the myriad of

plants and flowers was completed for the morning. She promptly gathered her tools before the first meal of the day.

Retreating to the sanctuary of her room, Millie cleansed herself and descended for breakfast.

No sooner had she settled at the table than Celeste and Rhea sauntered towards the dining area, faces lit with warm smiles.

A flicker of pause danced in Millie’s eyes. Rhea’s swift charm for Celeste was impressive, she mused.

Rhea, wearing a triumphant grin, eased Celeste into a seat.

Battling her rumbling stomach, Millie averted her gaze, anticipation stirring for the forthcoming meal.

The flurry of dishes began their parade on the table. Millie’s eyes immediately locked on the succulent stewed carp. She wasn’t

alone, though; Rhea’s eyes, too, bore into the fish, her lips tightening. The fish was Marcus’ catch, expertly prepared to

perfection.

As the meal commenced, Millie sampled the fish. It burst with flavor in her mouth— slightly fiery but delicious.

Rhea’s eyes bore into Millie, a venomous glare painting her features. She obviously interpreted Millie’s enjoyment as a

provocation.

Her grip on her fork tightened.

As they neared the end of the meal, Bruce noticed that his cousin-in-law seemed unduly fixated on the fish dish.

Bruce was averse to spicy food. The sight of the chilli-smothered fish gave him jitters. His worry for Millie was amplified by her

relentless consumption of it. To add to his concem, Millie’s lips seemed to have succumbed to mild swelling.

“Millie,” Bruce began, “why not sample some of the other dishes? More balanced, milder meals are generally better suited for

women.” Bruce spoke.

Initially, Millie had decided to indulge in the fish mainly to tease Rhea. However, despite its spicy kick, the stewed carp was

unexpectedly delightful. Its unique flavor had captured her taste buds.

Moreover, she noticed that each bite seemed to cast a shadow over Rhea’s countenance.

“It's truly delightful. You should give it a try,” Millie replied, taking a deep breath as the spice made her internal furnace blaze.

Once her words trailed off, she felt a piercing gaze. His eyes profound and narrow, Marcus scanned her from head to toe.

Puzzled by his intent stare, Millie sidestepped his gaze and reached out for another morsel of fish.

But before her fork could touch the fish, it was swept away. A bowl of soup replaced the spot where the fish once was. It was

Marcus who had intervened.