The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1803

"Get the food out here," Sean was getting disgruntled.

Steward hastily texted the restaurant manager, and before long, the manager himself appeared, wheeling a small serving cart.

Seeing that Romeo had only ordered three dishes and a soup, Sean could hardly believe his eyes. He quickly sent Steward to get the full story.

"Sean, it's really just three dishes and a soup," after getting the details from the manager, Steward was just as incredulous. Could Mr. McMillian really be this tightfisted? This was a date with the Collins family's darling daughter.

If it were Sean, he would have ordered a feast, the kind that filled the table to the edges.

"Is Romeo always this frugal? If my sister ends up with him, is she destined for a life of hardship?" Sean became dumbfounded and his annoyance grew, "Tell the manager to bring all the good stuff, the works."

"Got it," Steward thought to himself that it was a good thing Sean had shown up; otherwise, Ms. Collins would've felt quite slighted. A first date and to be treated with such indifference.

While it was commendable to avoid waste and practice thriftiness, this was taking it to an extreme.

Mr. McMillian was being a bit too much. When dating a girl, one should at least spring for a few extra dishes. And this guy was supposed to be a billionaire? It seems his fortune was built on penny-pinching.

"Isn't this a bit too modest?" Romeo served Arabella some food, but his eyes lingered on the sparse spread. If Bella hadn't insisted, he would have ordered more.

"It might actually be too much," Arabella responded, not wanting to waste food. Besides, it was a bit early for lunch, and she wasn't very hungry.

"This restaurant, well, these are the few items you like; the rest either have too strong a flavor, contain ingredients you don't care for, or are laced with alcohol."

That would be a misunderstanding. It was Sean, not the frugal Mr. McMillian, who had ordered the feast.

"Is Sean going to think I'm stingy?" Romeo mused with a light smile, feeling his image had taken a hit. He'd have to clear things up with Sean later.

"Feel free to try something else if you don't like the ones with alcohol."

Despite his words, Romeo realized the dishes Sean had sent over weren't to Arabella's liking. Some were too rich, others contained raw ingredients; with the current weather, he worried it might upset Bella's stomach.

Plus, with Bella recovering from an injury, it was best to avoid spicy and stimulating foods. So, looking over the lavish spread, he was at a loss as to which dish to serve her first.