Written Off as Trash, I Activated My Hidden Queen Mode novel Chapter 99

The Heiress With Seven Secret Identities

Chapter 99 Cooking to Win Her Heart

+5 Pearl

Stella glanced at the clock on the wall. She’d been practicing for hours–no wonder her stomach was growling.

“Okay.”

“I’ll come get you.”

“Mm.”

Elias moved quickly, changing out of what he’d been wearing. He hesitated, then sprayed on a little cologne–just in case any cooking smells had lingered on his clothes.

When the elevator doors slid open, Stella was standing there. They smiled at each other.

“No work today?”

“Took the day off.”

Something flickered in Stella’s expression. “Why?”

Elias was a workaholic. Everyone knew that. He didn’t take days off. Not for anything.

“Because I was worried about you.”

His eyes held hers–warm, steady, intent.

Stella’s steps faltered, just for a second. “I heard your company makes over a billion a day.”

“Your feelings matter more.”

A businessman who cared more about her mood than his bottom line. Something in her chest tightened.

They lived in the same building, but this was her first time inside his place. The decor was minimalist- black, white, clean lines. Stylish, but cold. Empty.

Then she smelled it.

Food. Real food. The kind of smell that made a place feel like a home.

“Elias. You cook?”

“Just learned.”

Stella blinked. “Why?”

“What do you think?”

He looked at her–really looked–and her heart did something strange. Skipped, maybe. Fluttered.

She smiled faintly. “Because you’re a foodie?”

9:51 am P P P P

Chapter 99 Cooking to Win Her Heart

+5 Pear

Elias laughed softly and reached out, pinching her cheek. “No, silly. Because I wanted to win you over through your stomach. So every time you’re hungry, you’ll think of me.”

Stella bit back a laugh.

Wasn’t this supposed to be about leftovers?

The heaviness she’d been carrying all morning started to lift, replaced by something lighter. Warmer.

“Try it. Tell me if it’s good.”

Stella’s eyes dropped to his hand. Blisters dotted his skin–oil splatters, fresh and raw.

“It’s delicious.”

One word. That’s all it took. Elias felt like he’d closed a billion–dollar deal.

“Do you have a first aid kit?”

“Eat first.”

She shook her head. “Let me take care of your hand first.”

“Okay.”

He watched her while she worked–every movement, every expression. The fondness in his eyes was impossible to miss.

He’d been meaning to tell her. To say the words. But the timing never felt right.

Now, watching her profile, the delicate line of her jaw, he leaned in without thinking. Close. Closer.

“Done.”

She looked up. Their faces were inches apart. Breath mingling. Eyes locked on each other. Something thick and electric hung in the air between them.

“Ring.”

A phone.

They both reached for theirs. Turned their heads–one left, one right. Lips brushed cheeks. Featherlight.

Their bodies went still.

They didn’t move. Couldn’t. Close like this, only their burning ears touching.

“Ring.”

Elias silently cursed whoever was calling. Hundreds of times.

“Your phone… Aren’t you going to answer?”

9:51 am

Chapter 99 Cooking to Win Her Heart

+5 Pearis

“Mm.”

They pulled apart–slowly, reluctantly. Elias picked up. “Who is this?”

“Elias, you didn’t save my number?”

“Get to the point.”

Leo blinked at the phone, confused. Why did he sound so irritated?

“I’ve got concert tickets. You and Stella should come.”

“Please. Who doesn’t have concert tickets?”

His were VIP seats. Stella had given them to him.

He hung up.

Leo, stared at his phone, speechless. “So moody. My sister’s never gonna date you. Good luck with that.”

Elias sat back down across from Stella, watching her eat. She ate with focus, with enjoyment. It made him happier than any deal ever could.

That afternoon, Jasper asked to meet. Stella didn’t say no.

But the moment she saw him, she froze.

They’d just seen each other yesterday. How–how was his hair already white?

“Stella. You came.”

Relief flooded his face–joy, too, like he’d been afraid she wouldn’t show.

“Your hair…”

Jasper touched the almost–white strands, his voice gentle, careful not to startle her. “It’s nothing.”

He pulled out a black card and held it out to her. His smile was kind, his tired eyes soft with undisguised love. “Allowance. From your dad.”

“You… you’ve had a hard time, haven’t you? All these years?”

Jasper couldn’t meet her eyes. Shame crawled up his throat.

“It was okay.”

The understatement only made it worse. He knew–he knew it hadn’t been okay. Not for her.

“I stayed up all night working on these. Sketches. For your room. Tell me if you like anything.”

3/4

9:51 am P p pp.

Chapter 99 Cooking to Win Her Heart

+5 Pearls

Jasper Moore–always composed, always in control–looked almost desperate now. Humble.

“The place I live in now… it was supposed to be our home. Your mother’s and mine. I want to fix up a room for you. Will you come live with me?”

Stella looked at him. She couldn’t hate him. She’d tried, maybe. But she couldn’t.

She picked up her cup and drank.

Same coffee he’d made before. But this time, it tasted sweeter.

When she set the cup down, her eyes caught his wrist.

Jasper saw her look and tugged his sleeve down quickly, covering the scars.

His smile came back–warm as sunlight, gentle as a prayer. Worn face, kind eyes, sincere.

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