CH 7.8

“I think you should go home for now, your cheeks are still red.”

Lila said, searching Jessie’s face with a sympathetic expression. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.At her words, Jessie’s face, which had been red on one cheek, burned like it was on fire all over.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Well… It’s even redder now, maybe I should put more medicine on it…”

“I’m sorry! Well, let’s put them back then.”

She laughed at Jessie as she scrambled away with her belongings in her arms, then Lila stood up.

“I’ll have to get permission from the Duke right away, so they won’t do anything else.”

Leaving the room quickly, Lila headed for the second floor, where the office was located.

A thought occurred to her, and she gritted her teeth and muttered.

“How dare they steal the young master’s treats? That’s unforgivable. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.The young master loves dessert, and they’re taking it away from him?”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Huffing and puffing, Lila reached the office. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Connor spotted her at the door and frowned.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Put in a word for the Duke that I’m here.”

“You shouldn’t come carelessly like this during work.”

Connor told her with a frustrated look. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He flicked his hand as if to shoo away an insect.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lila twisted her lips as she watched Connor’s increasingly rude demeanor. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.The more she looked at him, the more he was an asshole.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Are you saying no on behalf of the Duke? It’s almost as if you’re the Duke.”

Instead of being surprised by her words, Connor smirked and whispered in a low voice.

“I’m better than that ugly duke. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.And if I were the duke, I wouldn’t have the likes of you for a wife.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lila’s expression hardened at the unexpectedly condescending remark. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Misreading her expression as one of fear, Connor let his guard down.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Stay in your room and drink your tea with dignity, my lady.”

Connor, who had never called her my lady before, leaned in close to call her.

“So when I’m saying nice things, go away. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.My lady.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lila’s hands shook with the insult that washed over her. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.She was sick to death. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.The look of disgust and mockery on Connor’s face made her feel nauseous.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Her brief moment of happiness seemed to fade to black. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Unable to speak, she pulled her foot back and felt a hand grab her.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Where are you going?”

Michael asked, grabbing her around the waist. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Lila tried to smile, forcing her expression to relax.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Michael’s appearance startled Connor for a moment, but he deftly wiped the expression off his face and responded.

“Young master, what can I do for you?”

“You do what you want.”

“What?”

Michael grabbed Lila’s hand hard and yanked the door to his office open.

“Uncle!”

Lila tried to keep a straight face as she was pulled into the office by the boy’s hand.

Turning to Connor, who was staring at her in disbelief from the doorway, Michael said.

“You go and get the tea and refreshments. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.If you don’t bring it quickly, I’m going to throw you out.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

A pair of uncharacteristically cold eyes glared at him. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Connor was embarrassed, but he bowed his head respectfully, knowing he was being watched.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Yes, my lord, I understand.”

Bang-!

Michael slammed the door shut. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Lucas jumped to his feet and approached.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Michael, what kind of behavior is this?”

Owen, who was with him, also looked at Michael with a surprised expression. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Holding the basket in one hand and Lila’s hand tightly in the other, Michael turned to Lucas.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Uncle, what would you do with someone who disrespected my people?”

Lucas’s eyes sank low at the sight of his nephew who seems so different from his usual self.

“Sit down first, young master, and give me that.”

It was too large a basket for a child to hold. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He glared at Lila as she reached for it.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Like an idiot, you…”

“What?”

Looking up at Lila, who hadn’t heard him because he was mumbling, Michael let go of her hand and walked toward the couch with a loud thump.

Sitting down on the couch first, Michael turned toward her and said.

“What are you doing, can’t you come over?”

“What? I’ll go.”

Lila, who had been standing there dumbfounded, quickly walked over and sat down next to him. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Lucas narrowed his eyes, studying his nephew’s expression, then sat down across from him.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Owen sat in his seat and watched them for a moment, and since he hadn’t been ordered to leave, he picked up the papers he’d set down.

“So, young master, what’s that?”

Lila asked, pointing to the basket on the table.

“I picked it up on the way here. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.You can have it.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Michael blushed and looked away. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Lila laughed at the same tone as last time.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“It’s mine?”

“I picked it up. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It’s not a gift for you at all, okay.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lila was pleased. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Her tone was chilly, but it was easy to tell by the way she blushed all the way to her ears that she didn’t mean it.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lucas was stunned by his nephew’s behavior. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He knew his nephew liked Lila, but he hadn’t expected him to like her this much.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

And somehow, he didn’t like it.

Lucas’s head tilted to the side as he looked at the delighted Lila and the blushing nephew sitting across from him.

“Can I open it, then?”

“Why would you ask? I gave it to you, so it’s yours.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Opening the basket with a smirk, Lila rubbed her eyes with her fingers, wondering if she was seeing things.

The basket, which looked like it should have contained sandwiches and fruit, was filled with gleaming gemstones.

They weren’t just any gemstones, they were enormous, and her eyes widened.

“This, this…”

Lila’s lips curled in surprise, and Michael, who had turned his head in the opposite direction, snapped it back into place.

“What, you don’t like it?”

Michael asked, looking as if he could replace it with something else if she didn’t like it.

Lila shook her head quickly.

“No… It’s too beautiful.”

Lucas wondered what the heck was in the basket, but his interest quickly faded as Lila pulled out the gemstones one by one. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.Then she blurted out.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“What if I just give you a rough stone as a gift?”

“I’d like them, Duke!”

“You say you like ugly things.”

Lucas raised one eyebrow as he watched Lila examine the gem, smiling brightly. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.He felt a pang of sadness that she was so pleased with the gemstone.read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

On the other hand, he was glad that the stern expression on her face when she entered his office seemed to have brightened.

Lila exclaimed as she pulled out an amethyst, a diamond, a blue sapphire, a ruby, an emerald, and an opal.

Just then, Connor, who had brought tea and refreshments, entered the office, and Lucas looked him up and down, noticing Lila and Michael’s expressions change as he entered.

“It’s a new dessert the pastry chef has developed. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.It’s called dacquoise, and it’s made with cheese and blueberries, strawberries, and cranberries mixed with cream.”read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

With that explanation, Connor set down the tea and dessert, bowed politely to the Duke, and left the office.

It was a fleeting moment, but Lucas’s mouth twisted at the sneer on Connor’s face.

He looked from Michael, who seemed to be holding back his anger, to Lila, whose face was contorted in frustration.