Opera greeted him with an elegant, poised smile that oozed fake flattery. Dominie was speechless. Chow, she kept trying to distance herself with demure gestures.

He sat down at the dining table and glanced at the oversized gift box that was hard to miss. “It’s something I prepared for you, to thank you for helping with such a huge favor. I didn’t know what to get you, so I picked a vintage vase from my collection. It’s just a little something to show my gratitude. I hope you’ll like it.”

His expression turned distant. After she finished speaking, he didn’t respond. She folded her hands on the table and tried her best to remain composed. The atmosphere turned cold.

“Let’s dig in. It won’t taste good if I reheat them again,” Raymond said, breaking the silence. She picked up her utensils, ready to eat. Dominic remained still, and the air grew thick with tension. Vespera sighed under her breath. She knew he was—extremely mad. Then, she wondered what he expected from her and why he had given Rebecca the credit. What was he thinking?

This time, no matter how great Raymond’s food was or how flavorful the beef stew tasted, it all tasted like chalk in her mouth. What a waste of food.

After eating for a while, Dominic stood and walked out to the balcony. Taking it as a signal, she set down her fork and followed him. The balcony was big enough to be called a small garden. Raymond loved tending to his pots and plants, and all of them seemed well cared for. The scent of grass and flowers mixed with the hazy moonlight drifted through the night breeze like a dream.

He walked toward a small, round table and took a seat, then gestured for her to do the same. She pulled out a chair and sat down. He leaned back with his legs crossed, his eyes wandering into the distance.

“I believe you have something to say, Ms. Gildon. You have my attention.”

Her throat tightened, but it was too late to back out. She had already given him the gift and made her intentions clear. She took a deep breath and said, “Mr. Reid, I know you were the reason everything wrapped up so smoothly. You helped us behind the scenes. Just because you decided to keep quiet doesn’t mean I should play dumb. I thought about it, and I decided I should thank you properly.”

He cast her a glance but didn’t turn to face her.

“Thank you properly? With the vase?” It was hard to tell if he was mad.

“Of course that wasn’t enough. But you don’t need money, and there’s nothing you can’t buy, so I really didn’t know what to get you. Still, since you’ve treated me well, I promise to work harder and be a more dedicated employee.”

“So, just your dedication?” She couldn’t find the right words to answer.

He turned to her and picked a grape from the fruit platter on the table. He moved slowly, as if in no rush to speak, taking his sweet time plucking the grape from its stem like he was creating art. When he finally held the grape in hand, he said, “You’re playing it smart, aren’t you, Ms. Gildon? I’m paying you to do your job, and now you’re calling it a way to repay me? Sounds like I’m the one getting the short end of the stick.”

Mir went quiet for a moment, then dropped the act. “I owe you big time. I can’t repay you yet, and honestly, I have nothing else to give.”

Finally, he looked her in the eyes. “In reality, your ‘duress’ was something else you could offer, and that’s why you kept saying you didn’t know how to repay me. You didn’t want to owe me, but you didn’t want to give too much, either. So you went with what cost you the least, is that right?”

At that moment, her thoughts were laid bare. Her face turned red, and her eyes welled up. His tone softened. “You knew I helped you, and you knew ignoring my kindness would be wrong; just that realization is enough for me. And I would never accept it if you gave yourself to me just to repay me. That’s not the kind of deal we make. Am I wrong?”

As he spoke, he held out the grape to her lips. The sudden shift in tone threw her. She had prepared herself for mockery, expecting him to cut her down—but instead of a blade, he handed her sweet grapes. The grape glistened; its fruity scent was fresh and inviting.

“Taste this grape and tell me if it’s sour. I don’t like sour things. That’s very important to me. And it’s enough that you do this to repay me without hesitation.” She ate the grape. She was ready for the burst of sweetness in her mouth.