The Wife He Dumped, The Queen She Returned As novel Chapter 36

A maid brought out the newly prepared dishes.

Jenna's eyes lit up, and she beamed at Preston. "Preston, you know me too well! You ordered all my favorites!"

Preston offered a tender smile as he meticulously pulled out her chair for her.

Jenna sat down happily. Taking a bite, she let out an exaggerated gasp of delight, then scooped up another spoonful and held it right up to his lips.

"Wow, this is incredible! Try some, Preston!"

A maid nearby instinctively blurted out, "Miss Cameron, Mr. Hayes can't handle spicy food..."

Before the maid could finish her sentence, Preston opened his mouth and swallowed the spicy bite Jenna offered.

Even as his face flushed violently red from the heat, he forced a smile. "Yeah, it's delicious."

Jenna laughed, completely oblivious, before throwing a belated glance at the maid. "What did you just say?"

Mortified by Preston's blatant contradiction of her warning, the maid stammered, "N-nothing..."

The maid wasn't the only one slapped in the face by that exchange; Chloe was, too.

She had always known Preston abhorred spicy food. To accommodate his strict dietary habits, she had quietly abandoned her own cravings over the years.

She had never realized that his iron-clad rules and aversions could magically vanish for the right person.

The dining table was a chorus of laughter and lively chatter.

Chloe sat quietly in her corner, feeling like a complete and utter outsider.

She placed her silverware down and stood up. "I'm full. I'm going to take a walk outside."

Immediately, Jenna's voice rang out behind her, dripping with feigned innocence.

"Why did Mrs. Hayes stop eating so suddenly? Is it... is it because of me?"

Percival looked over. "You know Chloe?"

"Oh, yes! When I first moved back, Preston took me out to dinner. Out of nowhere, Mrs. Hayes kicked the door open and barged in! She scared me half to death. I couldn't help but wonder how someone as gentle as Preston ended up with someone so aggressive..."

Before she could finish, Preston's voice casually drifted over from behind, carrying a relaxed chuckle.

"Are you two gossiping about me?"

He stepped closer, casually reaching out to wrap an arm around her waist.

Chloe shifted her stance, dodging his touch with icy precision.

Preston's hand hung suspended in the air. He lowered it, his voice tight. "Chloe, Jenna is staying at the manor for a few days. I'll drive you back home first."

Chloe thought the entire situation was an absolute joke. Only because Eleonora was watching did she forcefully swallow her temper. "Don't bother. I can get back myself."

Eleonora exploded. "Preston Hayes, what is the meaning of this? It was bad enough you were fawning over another woman right in front of your wife, but now you're trying to kick her out?"

Preston scrambled to do damage control. "Grandmother, getting angry is bad for your health. Please calm down. I'm taking her back because she has some things to take care of at home. Right, Chloe?"

He shot Chloe a pointed look, silently ordering her to play along with the lie.

Just at that moment, a booming voice echoed from behind them.