Chapter 683
The three people at the table were instantly stunned.
What was that aroma?
What kind of food was this?
How could it possibly smell this good?
Oliver, Selena, and Marisa had all enjoyed a life of luxury for years. They had tasted the finest cuisine around, yet the fragrance of these dishes had them completely caught off guard.
It didn’t help that it was already dinnertime, and the Hortons were known for maintaining disciplined eating habits, keeping their portions modest. As a result, they were often genuinely hungry by mealtime.
Now, hunger was gnawing at them, and these mouth-watering dishes were making it unbearable. All three couldn’t help but fix their gazes on the plates in front of them.
On the table were hearty dishes: a rich beef stew, slow-cooked pork belly, meatballs in a savory sauce, and even a simple stir-fried vegetable dish that looked unusually fresh and flavorful. And was that a casserole with layers of seafood and mushrooms?
They all swallowed hard.
Keira raised an eyebrow, not even bothering to look their way. Instead, she turned to Lewis and old Mrs. Horton. “Lewis, Grandma, let’s eat p>
Then she glanced over at Fiona.
Fiona instantly caught the hint and hurried off to the kitchen to grab her own portion.
She couldn’t wait any longer!
How could Miss Olsen’s cooking be this delicious?
The dining room suddenly grew very quiet p>
Keira, Lewis, and old Mrs. Horton ate with their usual grace, though even old Mrs. Horton indulged in extra helpings, savoring the dishes with obvious delight.
Selena awkwardly attempted to break the silence. “Uh p>
But as soon as she opened her mouth, she instinctively had to swallow another mouthful of saliva. It was as if her body wasn’t under her control anymore. She felt utterly humiliated.
Keira shot her a look. “Hungry p>
Selena quickly waved her hands. “I’m not… I mean, I’m not hungry p>
Oliver and Marisa felt embarrassed for their daughter, struggling to watch her stumble through her reply.
They both turned away at the same time, and Oliver decided to speak up. “Well, Grandma, the food here today is really, uh p>
He couldn’t finish before he, too, had to swallow back the excess saliva. There was just too much to hold back, and it was on the verge of spilling out. How mortifying!
Oliver’s face turned red with embarrassment. “Uh, I just remembered something urgent I need to handle. I’ll be going now p>
The moment he left, Marisa and Selena stood up hastily. “We’ll be heading out too p>
They needed to eat something, anything. Staying in the room with that aroma any longer felt like torture.
Keira casually waved them off. “Don’t rush off now. Didn’t you say you wanted to spend time with Grandma? Why don’t you come back for the next meal as well p>
Marisa and Selena both faltered.
Come back? With food this tempting, who would dare?
The two practically fled the house as if something were chasing them. Keira’s lips curled into a smile.
Even Lewis couldn’t resist giving her hand a squeeze with an amused grin.
Old Mrs. Horton chuckled warmly, her eyes full of approval as she looked at Keira. “Keira, you really know how to handle things! Finally, some peace and quiet. Let’s enjoy our meal p>
Keira nodded.
The three continued eating in tranquility. But midway through, Keira paused. “Does it feel like something’s missing p>
Lewis frowned slightly. “It does feel like something’s off, but what could it be p>
Old Mrs. Horton waved it off. “There’s nothing missing. Let’s just finish our meal p>
They had barely finished eating when a cheerful voice floated down from upstairs. “Hey, you guys already ate? How could you start without me p>
Keira quickly turned to see Erin bounding down the stairs, pistachios in hand, curiosity written all over her face. “What did you make tonight p>
Keira felt a headache coming on.
Erin sniffed the air eagerly, her eyes sparkling. “Wow, this smells amazing! What is it? It smells like the best thing ever! Hurry up and bring me my portion p>
Fiona, who had just finished her own meal in the kitchen, froze when she heard Erin’s words.
Erin had joined Keira just the day before. She was bubbly, sweet, and charming and had already won Fiona over completely. Fiona treated her as one of their own.
But now, seeing Erin’s expectant look, Fiona felt a pang of guilt. How could she have eaten the fourth portion that Miss Olsen prepared? She should have saved it for this lovely guest!
Fiona was about to confess when Keira cleared her throat lightly. “Fiona, didn’t we set aside some food for Erin in the kitchen? Go ahead and bring it out p>
Fiona’s heart skipped a beat.
All that was left in the kitchen were the regular dishes they had every day.
The special four-course meal Miss Olsen had prepared? Completely gone…
But Fiona quickly picked up on Keira’s intent and responded with a cough. “Of course, I’ll bring it right out p>
Erin’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Hurry up! Mr. Horton, Mrs. Horton, your chef is a genius! I’ve never smelled anything this good, not even back at the Olsen house! I can’t wait to dig in p>
As she finished her praise, Fiona returned, carrying out their usual dinner dishes with a nervous expression. She placed them in front of Erin.
Erin eagerly grabbed a bite, then hesitated, a frown forming on her face. “Why does the taste feel completely different from what I smelled p>
Fiona’s heart raced.
Erin’s gaze turned toward Keira, brimming with suspicion. “You guys are holding out on me, aren’t you? I want the real food, too p>
Keira raised an eyebrow. “And what would make us share p>
Erin clenched her fists with determination. “If you let me eat it, I’ll tell you a major South family secret p>