Chapter 1625
In the heart of Greenhaven lay a gem known as The Gourmet Sanctuary. Famed for its exquisite cuisine, this place was notoriously challenging to book, owing to the enigmatic proprietor who operated solely on a first-come, first-served basis.
It mattered not who you were or what your background was.
If you could snag a reservation, kudos’ to you.
If not, better luck next time.
Thaddeus, a local who had been living abroad, had always been a big fan of this eatery. Upon his return to the city, he bypassed the glitzy five-star hotels and headed straight for The Gourmet Sanctuary.
However, due to his last-minute booking, he failed to secure a private booth and had to settle for a less crowded corner in the dining hall.
As his family gathered around the table, Thaddeus quickly ordered a few of their signature dishes that suited his palate, as well as the favorites of his wife and younger daughter. He then passed the menu to his eldest daughter, Sophia.
After taking the menu, Sophia first attended to her husband. “Marcus, what would you like to have?”
“I’m good with anything,” replied Marcus. “Get something light for Tristan.”
Sophia was slightly disappointed by the fact that Marcus was only concerned about what their son wanted. He was completely ignoring her, but she relented and ordered some lighter dishes for ‘Tristan.’
After placing their orders, Sophia started a conversation with her father to prevent any awkward silence at the table and to deflect any potential disapproval from
her father towards Marcus.
“Dad, now that you’re here, you should be able to settle all the issues within a week, right?”
Thaddeus confidently responded, “You don’t need to worry about that, Sophia. Everything will be sorted out soon, and then we can all return home together.”
“Dad, I’ve already set an appointment with one of the world’s top wedding dress designers. Once we’re back, we can start fitting for my wedding gown!”
Upon seeing the joy on his daughter’s face, Thaddeus could not help but share in her happiness. “That sounds wonderful. Once you two are married, I plan on handing over the family business to you. Then, I can retire.”
Sophia had been waiting for this day, but she pretended to be reluctant. “Dad, you’re still so young. Why are you thinking of retiring so soon?”
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Thaddeus smiled warmly as he glanced at his wife, Bertha. “I made a promise to Bertha a while back that we would retire to the countryside and live a simple, pastoral life.”
Sophia raised an eyebrow at Bertha. “Well, if you and Bertha want to take things easy, I guess I’ll have to step up. Don’t worry, Dad. I promise to take good care of the business you worked so hard to build from scratch. But won’t my little sister… have any objections?”
Before Thaddeus could respond, Bertha chimed in. “Sophia, you’re overthinking. Your sister has always dreamed of being an artist, and she’s not exactly business-savvy. It makes sense for you to take over.”
Sophia chuckled. “In that case, I won’t insist. Running a business is no simple task. It’s a lot more relaxed being a free-spirited artist, isn’t it?”
Lea, Sophia’s sister, could sense Sophia’s underlying satisfaction. After all, Sophia never saw her as a sister, let alone had any intent on sharing their father’s business with her.
