Three Years Forgotten, Why Go Crazy When I Say Goodbye? novel Chapter 256

But once they were in the kitchen, Willow noticed Silas seemed to be avoiding her.

He wasn't actively hiding, but he refused to meet her eyes. A few times, their gazes almost locked, but he was always the first to look away.

This strange dynamic lasted for quite a while. Since he didn't explain it, Willow didn't ask. Everyone had their quirks, and she figured it was best to respect his boundaries, especially in his own home.

As for being his sous-chef, Willow ended up doing absolutely nothing. Silas wouldn't let her chop vegetables, claiming he was worried she'd cut herself. He wouldn't let her prep the marinades because the smell would stick to her hands. And cooking over the stove was strictly out of the question—he was terrified the hot oil would splatter and burn her.

So, she stood off to the side the entire time, banished to a safe distance so the cooking smoke wouldn't irritate her eyes.

Fortunately, Silas worked fast. Before long, he plated three gorgeous dishes: pan-seared sea bass, butter-poached shrimp, and roasted asparagus.

As the food was set on the dining table, Willow finally realized he truly was an expert in the kitchen.

Every plate looked like it belonged in a high-end restaurant. The cuts were precise, the presentation was flawless, and the vibrant colors and mouth-watering aromas were incredible.

"Try it. I was short on time today, so I just threw together something simple. Next time I have more prep time, I'll make something a bit more elaborate."

Hearing him call this "simple" only confirmed how skilled he was. If Willow had tried to make this, she would have been trapped in the kitchen for hours.

It made sense. Overachievers were overachievers in every aspect of life. Whatever he chose to do, he simply did it better than anyone else.

Willow took her first bite of the sea bass. It was incredibly tender, practically melting on her tongue. There wasn't a hint of fishiness, just a clean, savory sweetness that flooded her palate.

She moved on to the shrimp. The buttery richness elevated the perfectly cooked seafood, sliding down her throat with effortless, mouth-watering flavor.

The roasted asparagus was the perfect contrast—crisp, fresh, and bursting with vibrant earthy notes.

The meal passed at a leisurely pace, filled with easy conversation. By the time they finished, an hour had gone by.

Noticing the time, Willow suggested she should probably head home. Silas didn't want her to leave just yet. He mentioned he had recently acquired some highly classified research data on gene editing technology and asked if she was interested.

Willow was undeniably interested. Anything related to gene editing immediately caught her attention.

She followed Silas into his home office. Calling it an office was an understatement; it was larger than most private libraries.

The space was anchored by dark walnut paneling and subtle gold accents. The towering shelves were lined with meticulously organized books. At a glance, Willow realized a massive section of his collection was dedicated to genetics.

So, he was passionate about this field too.