The Billionaire Regretted Losing His Invisible Wife novel Chapter 378

Chapter 378 in Which Sophie Does Not Hold Back

+15 Bonus

child. “Like a beautiful woman or a fine wine or a Swiss bank account. It must be treated with respect and proper timing, or it will punish you for your insolence.”

Alexander giggled, the sound bright and musical in the sugar-scented air. “Sophie says chocolate has feelings!”

“All food has feelings, mon petit,” Sophie said seriously. “This is why American cuisine is so tragically bland. You treat food like fuel instead of like art, like poetry, like…” She gestured vaguely with her pastry bag. “Like a love affair with the universe.”

Ethan had been listening to this. “If food has feelings,” he said slowly, “does that mean it’s sad when we eat it?”

Sophie paused. “An excellent philosophical inquiry. But no, ma petite genius. Food is happiest when it fulfills its destiny. A chocolate éclair does not wish to grow old and stale on a counter-it wishes to bring joy to someone who understands its beauty.”

Madison had been studying the elaborate dessert display. “Did you make all of this today?” she asked quietly.

“yes,” Sophie confirmed. “Though I had help.” She shot a pointed look at Thomas. “Some more helpful than others.”

“Sophie brought her entire kitchen,” Alexander announced, as if this were the most normal thing in the world.” In trucks! Two whole trucks!”

I looked around my modest apartment kitchen, trying to figure out how two trucks’ worth of equipment had been crammed into a space I sometimes struggled to share with a toaster oven.

“Where exactly did you put two trucks’ worth of kitchen equipment?”

“Oh, that was the easy part,” Sophie said airily. “Money, ma chère, can solve almost any logistical problem. I simply had your lovely building manager open the community room on the ground floor, and voilà-instant professional kitchen. Though the ventilation system left much to be desired.”

Thomas turned to look at her,. “You rented out the community room?”

“Rented implies a temporary arrangement with modest compensation,” Sophie replied. “I bought it.”

I saw Thomas’s breath catch.

“You bought it,” he repeated slowly.

Madison tugged on my sleeve. “Mia,” she whispered, “is Sophie like a fairy godmother?”

“Something like that,” I said finally.

“Fairy godmothers are fictional,” Ethan pointed out with his usual logical precision. “They don’t exist in real life.”

“Ah,” Sophie said, pointing her pastry bag at him like a wand, “but what is real life, mon petit philosopher?”

Ethan considered this with the same serious attention he applied to all philosophical questions. “I think,” he said slowly, “that maybe fairy godmothers are just people with enough money to do magic things.”

Sophie’s laugh was like silver bells being shaken by winter wind. “Exactly! And what is money but stored possibility? I have more stored possibility than any one person should reasonably possess, so I spend it on

2/4

Chapter 38 in Which Sophie Does Not Hold Back

creating moments of magic for people who deserve them.”

+15 Bonus

Alexander, who had been following this conversation while systematically working his way through what appeared to be a plate of miniature fruit tarts, suddenly stopped mid-bite. “Sophie, are you going to disappear at midnight like Cinderella’s fairy godmother?”

“Only if I turn into a pumpkin,” Sophie replied solemnly. “Which, given my fondness for rich food and expensive wine, is not entirely impossible.”

Alexander giggled again.

Madison reached out one careful finger to touch the edge of a marzipan rose, her expression filled with wonder.

“Can I try to make one?” she asked. “A flower like this?”

“Mais oui!” Sophie clapped her hands together. “We shall have a lesson! But first, you must understand the most important rule of French pastry.”

“I know!” Alexander said, drew himself up to her full height and declared with theatrical solemnity: “Room temperature is for peasants!”

Thomas finally looked up from his pot. “I’m going to need you to explain that one.”

“Ah, mon cher Thomas, this is where your American practicality betrays you,” Sophie said, moving toward him with the predatory grace of a cat approaching its prey. “Beige.”

“Beige?” Thomas’s face was carefully blank now, but I could see a muscle jumping in his jaw.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify