Perhaps because she had enjoyed herself last night and had been busy for most of the day, Sienna Thornton didn’t feel like throwing up anymore. Although still a bit weary, her spirits and appetite were fairly good. So when Simon Forrester made this suggestion, she hesitated for a mont but still followed him downstairs happily.
By now, night had fallen, and it was pitch dark outside. The large lights on the first floor were off, leaving only the dim, yellowish dining room light above the table, along with the Christmas lights they had set up in the afternoon.
The red roses on the long table were fresh and glistening with tiny beads of water on the petals. Four sets of gold-rimd tableware were neatly set up across the table, and there were a few busy figures in white in the kitchen...
Simon Forrester, standing at the head of the table, pulled out a chair for Sienna Thornton in a gentlemanly manner, then went to the wine cabinet to select a bottle of red wine.
Sienna Thornton glanced at the kitchen behind him and asked softly, "When did they arrive?"
Simon Forrester opened the red wine and glanced at his watch. "I told the villa’s housekeeper that Mr. Harding would arrive at seven, and the housekeeper arranged it. I guess they ca around six."
At that ti, they were upstairs taking a bath.
Sienna Thornton nodded, looked at the two sets of exquisite tableware across the table, and asked, "Is there anyone else besides Mr. Harding?"
Today is Christmas, so Mr. Harding would unlikely take his wife out for dinner. It was more likely the woman he was seeing outside. Thinking of this made Simon Forrester frown slightly. Just as he was about to explain, the sound of a car engine being turned off ca from outside, followed by the hearty laughter of a middle-aged man.
Simon Forrester held Sienna Thornton’s hand as they stood up. "They’re here."
Sienna Thornton nodded and followed him to the entrance.
The ornate copper gates of the garden swung open, and a man in his fifties, dressed in a suit with an oily face, escorted a woman in a black spaghetti strap gown with heavy makeup into the garden.
Simon Forrester held Sienna Thornton’s hand, took a few steps outside, and stood under the eaves. Just then, the guests also crossed the cobblestone path in the garden and walked in. The man imdiately extended his hand to shake with Simon Forrester, speaking warmly: "Mr. Forrester, it’s been a long ti!" Then he jovially laughed with his companion, "No, now it should be ’Chairman Forrester’!"
Simon Forrester withdrew his hand and smiled faintly, "The wind is strong outside; co in and talk, Mr. Harding."
The group entered the dining room, where Mr. Harding and his companion each took a seat. Simon Forrester pulled out a chair for Sienna Thornton to sit.
After sitting down, Mr. Harding’s sharp eyes began appraising Sienna Thornton. Before Simon Forrester could introduce her, he grinned and said, "Is this the legendary Mrs. Forrester? Pleasure to et you." He reached out to shake hands with Sienna.
Sienna Thornton kept her hands under the table and smiled at Mr. Harding, "Hello, Mr. Harding."
Mr. Harding awkwardly retracted his hand and then teased Simon Forrester, "I heard four years ago that Chairman Forrester brought a girlfriend over, but it was only earlier this year that there was a Mrs. Forrester. So, Chairman Forrester, how many ladies did you go through before finding your soulmate?"
He probably wanted to highlight Simon Forrester’s popularity and subtly praise Sienna Thornton for being the chosen one among many.
Initially, Simon Forrester didn’t respond, pouring red wine for everyone present, from Mr. Harding to his companion, and finally into his own glass.
The chef noticed everyone had arrived and began serving the appetizers, a dish of toasted bread with butter dip. Before leaving, Simon Forrester quietly instructed, "Please prepare a glass of juice for my wife."
"Yes, Mr. Forrester."
After the chef left, Simon Forrester gazed deeply at Sienna Thornton, gently holding the hand she habitually placed on her lower abdon. After a while, he looked back at Mr. Harding and smiled lightly, "If I say there was no one else in between, would you believe it, Mr. Harding?"
Mr. Harding, assuming Simon Forrester was too cautious to admit past flings in front of his wife, chuckled, "I believe you, I believe you."
Today’s appetizer was sliced baguette with seaweed butter. Simon Forrester took a piece for himself, broke off a small portion, dipped it in the gray-white sauce in front of him, and then placed it in Sienna Thornton’s bowl, saying softly, "This is foie gras pâté, which also has blood-nourishing properties. Try it and see how it tastes."
Sienna Thornton’s gaze fell on his pale, well-defined hand, thinking to herself that if there were no guests around, he would usually just put it straight into her mouth, sotis deliberately leaving so dip on his fingers, knowing she’d chase after those drops.
As she thought about this, Simon Forrester was also gazing deeply at her. They were probably thinking the sa thing.
She picked up the piece of bread and put it in her mouth, chewing a few tis, and the corners of her lips curved up slightly. Simon Forrester, noticing she liked it, broke off several more pieces for her.
Mr. Harding’s companion saw this, assud it was delicious, and took a piece of bread for herself, though she ate it more delicately, using a knife and fork like cutting a steak, painstakingly slicing it into bite-sized pieces before cautiously placing them in her mouth.
While eating, she kept eyeing Sienna Thornton, who was using her hands to eat bread, with a self-righteous look that was easily seen through.
Simon Forrester noticed, glanced at her, and the smile on his lips held a hint of mockery and disdain. He leaned slightly, resting one hand on the back of Sienna Thornton’s chair, took a piece of the broken bread, dipped a little foie gras sauce, and looked at it in his hand as he asked her with a smile, "Do you know why people break bread when they eat it?"
Sienna Thornton looked over, shook her head, and took a sip of juice.
Simon Forrester chuckled, "The Franlanders have a tradition of breaking bread while eating, which has been passed down for centuries. It’s ant so that the leftover bread can be shared with the poor."
Mr. Harding’s companion, upon hearing this, set her knife and fork down, pressing her lips together slightly in embarrassnt.
Sienna Thornton realized, "So that’s why. When we went to Franland last ti, I noticed that and thought it was just because it tasted better when broken into pieces."
Simon Forrester smiled and placed the piece of bread dipped in foie gras sauce into her plate, gently advising, "After finishing these, it’ll be about ti. If you eat too much now, you won’t have room for other dishes later."
Mr. Harding, oblivious to his companion’s actions—or perhaps simply unconcerned—raised his glass of red wine, intending to toast Simon Forrester, who politely deflected, leaving Mr. Harding to drink alone.
The chef continued to serve the consommé and hot appetizers. Simon Forrester took the opportunity to ntion to Mr. Harding his interest in purchasing the villa and asked Mr. Harding to na a price.
Mr. Harding was a bit surprised and thus asked, "What do you intend to use this villa for, Chairman Forrester?"
Simon Forrester smiled nonchalantly, "For vacationing in Norport in the future. I’d have a place to stay."
Mr. Harding was even more surprised.
Simon Forrester had a renowned reputation for his high standards in the industry. Would he truly be interested in a vacation villa typically rented for short-term stays by travelers?
Worried about selling the villa to Simon Forrester on a whim, Mr. Harding cautioned that Simon might grow dissatisfied with it in the future and hold it against him. Mr. Harding quickly said, "This villa is quite ordinary. If Chairman Forrester wants a vacation place in Norport, I have plenty of land. Why not pick a piece and build your own?"
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