The Billionaire's True Heiress From Fake Jewel to Real Crown novel Chapter 914

Zara, however, had completely forgotten to get one.

As the others swiped their cards to order, Zara stood there, utterly lost.

Thankfully, Claire smoothly slid her card over.

"Put it on mine for now."

"Thanks." Zara didn't make a fuss, mirroring Claire's order of a balanced meal with two proteins and two sides.

Lex was the only one who ordered just a single portion of meat and a small side.

Looking down at her own overflowing plate compared to Lex's sparse tray, Zara couldn't help but ask, "Lex, is that all you're eating? Are you sure that's enough?"

"It's plenty. I brought my sauerkraut." Lex smiled softly.

In reality, she had only splurged on two items because she was eating with her roommates.

If she had been alone, Lex would have stuck to a single, cheap side dish.

But there was no need to broadcast that to the table.

"Let me trade you for some of that," Claire said casually. She scooped two BBQ ribs onto Lex's plate and used a clean fork to snag a spoonful of the fermented cabbage.

Lex was long accustomed to Claire's subtle ways of sharing food and didn't argue.

Seeing this, Skylar eagerly followed suit. "I want to trade too!"

Skylar pushed a generous helping of her shredded pork onto Lex's tray in exchange for a tiny scoop of the pungent dish.

That left Zara sitting there awkwardly.

She thought to herself that she'd look completely alienated if she was the only one not trading.

"I guess I'll trade too..." she muttered.

Lex finally realized what was happening. "No, please, you guys don't have to give me your food. The sauerkraut didn't cost anything. Just take what you want."

Zara was still debating which side to part with when Lex tried to pull her tray away.

Zara bristled instantly. "Excuse me? You'll take their food but not mine? Are you trying to freeze me out?"

Seeing her frustration, Lex waved her hands frantically. "No! I just... it's literally worthless cabbage."

"Maybe so, but I've never tried it before," Zara countered stubbornly.

Lex hesitated. "But you couldn't even stand the smell. If it makes you sick, I can't afford to pay your medical bills."

Lex was the perfect dumping ground for her craving.

She got to satisfy her appetite without the ensuing breakout.

It was a brilliant, zero-waste solution.

"I really don't need this much. You seriously don't have to trade. The cabbage is free," Lex insisted.

Zara wasn't having it. "No take-backs. It's called a mutually beneficial transaction."

Lex gave up. She hadn't expected to score a veritable feast on her very first day.

She knew full well that her roommates were just finding excuses to feed her, and the gesture warmed her heart.

The world was full of cruelty, but there were genuinely good people out there too. Her roommates were proof of that.

Even the high-maintenance heiress had a good heart underneath all that attitude.

"Thank you guys."

The gratitude in her voice was absolute.

The girls happily finished their meals, the early tension thoroughly washed away.