Three Years Forgotten, Why Go Crazy When I Say Goodbye? novel Chapter 306

Once the chef retreated to the galley, the awkwardness Willow felt began to dissipate. While she still had moments of self-consciousness around Silas, she was leagues more comfortable with him now than she had been at the start.

"You hired a Michelin-starred chef just to have him whip up a bowl of risotto? Doesn't that feel like a massive waste of his talents?"

Silas was in the middle of hanging her coat. He glanced back over his shoulder. "Don't think like that. This is his job. Cooking is cooking. The only thing that matters is that you enjoy it."

He finished smoothing out her jacket and walked over to hand her a glass of water. "I want you to always prioritize your own desires. When you're with me, you never have to hide what you really want."

Willow didn't read too deeply into his words. He had said similar things before, and she always chalked it up to an extremely supportive boss looking out for his team. Instead, her mind jumped to a practical question. "What are you having? Should I ask the chef to prepare some of that salmon or steak for you?"

"No, I'm having the Golden Truffle Risotto with you," Silas replied without missing a beat.

Willow blinked in surprise. "Are you sure?"

When he listed off those imported ingredients earlier, it sounded so natural—clearly, that was his standard diet. She was worried that dropping his luxury menu for a simple bowl of risotto wouldn't sit well with him.

"Why wouldn't I be sure?" Silas gave her an easy smile. "I'll eat whatever you're eating."

It wasn't long before the exquisite Golden Truffle Risotto was served.

Presented on a shallow white porcelain plate, the dish glowed with a rich, golden hue. The rice was perfectly cooked, each grain distinct and coated in a savory, aromatic glaze without being overly greasy. The earthy, intoxicating scent of the truffles blended seamlessly with the rich base.

Willow took a bite. The texture was incredible—creamy yet with a satisfying bite, perfectly balanced in flavor, with a delicate finish that didn't overwhelm the palate. It was a masterclass in culinary precision.

But one look at his face made her feel silly for overthinking. Silas's expression was entirely composed, exactly the same as when they discussed quarterly reports. There wasn't a trace of the awkward tension she was feeling.

She really was just overthinking it.

Across the table, Silas had absolutely caught her shocked expression, but he smoothly pretended not to notice. He scooped another bite from her plate and ate it just as calmly. "You're right. It is incredible."

His total lack of self-consciousness made Willow feel foolish for analyzing it. She forced herself to push the romantic panic aside and simply shared the plate with him.

She even came up with a perfectly logical excuse in her head: The chef must have only prepared one portion. If they both wanted some, sharing was the only option.

Except, the moment they scraped the plate clean, the chef walked out holding an entire pot, and promptly served them each a brand-new, steaming bowl.