Chapter 35
Chapter 35:
Alden let out a soft chuckle. “Relax. One dinner isn’t going to bankrupt the Morrison family p>
Concern flickered across Helena’s face. “Still, Alden, I don’t think it’s right for you to lean on Mr. Morrison so much p>
Her voice was steady, but her eyes told a deeper story, a quiet sadness hidden beneath their brightness. “I used to have friends like that. Good ones. But the more I needed them, the harder it became to repay their kindness. Eventually, they just stopped showing up p>
People were willing to lend a hand during hard times, but rarely did they stay when things got tough for too long. Years of her father’s illness had left Helena with a life full of hardships. And because most people saw her as someone with nothing to offer, they slowly faded away. In the end, only Valeria stuck by her side.
Alden didn’t need an explanation to understand Helena’s worries were sincere. He could see it plainly in her expression.
“Hey, I promise. I won’t let Dorian get taken advantage of,” he said gently, his tone softening. “Besides, I booked this room ages ago. It’s already been paid for p>
That caught Helena off guard as her eyes widened slightly. “Wait, how much did you spend on this p>
With a small shrug and a raised brow, Alden looked momentarily unsure of how to answer. But deep down, he knew this was the right moment to finally clear up the misunderstanding Helena had about his situation.
“I’m not some charity case, Helena,” he said with quiet calm. “I’m the manager for the Wilson Group’s redevelopment project. That’s a paid position; I don’t work for free p>
Helena’s brow furrowed with worry. “Still, you really should watch your spending. You’ve just come back from abroad. Living in Cheson isn’t cheap. What if p>
She stopped herself. The words that wanted to come out, the fear that the Wilson family might one day cast him aside, felt too cruel to say aloud.
So instead, Helena swallowed them, not wanting to wound someone like Alden, who’d already carried so much.
Still, the memory of how Rylan had schemed against Alden last time lingered in her mind. The malicious rumors swirling outside didn’t help either. With Alden’s father holding so much power, fixing the situation should’ve been easy. He simply decided not to.
𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 ⧼gⱥ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧽𝖼𝗈𝗺
Helena’s tone turned slightly anxious as she added, “That cochlear implant of yours must’ve cost a fortune. I looked it up. Just one of those goes for over two hundred grand. And one day, you’ll need to support your grandmother too p>
Without realizing it, Helena had begun rattling off all the future expenses Alden should be preparing for, her worry spilling into every word.
Instead of feeling scolded, Alden couldn’t help but smile. The way she fussed over him felt oddly endearing.
“Alright,” he replied with an amused glance. “Only this once. Next time, you are calling the shots p>
Right then, the waiter came with dishes. In addition to the ones Helena had ordered earlier, there were new arrivals, including tender beef strips, a warm fish soup, and crisp chicken leg confit.
To Helena’s surprise, each plate placed before her featured something she absolutely loved.
Brows lifting in curiosity, she leaned forward. “Wait a second. I don’t remember seeing any of these on the menu p>
A strange feeling settled over her. The aroma, the flavors, the presentation—everything triggered a distant memory, hazy but comforting, of the times her father used to take her out for meals when she was still a little girl.
“These dishes aren’t listed,” Alden explained while gently serving Helena a bowl of soup. “Only regular customers know to ask for them. Do they feel familiar p>
Letting out a small laugh, Helena shook her head.
In her memory, those meals had been from a shabby little restaurant, nothing remotely close to a luxury hotel. And yet, as the taste settled on her tongue, it felt exactly the same. That forgotten warmth from Helena’s childhood came rushing back, and she stopped talking altogether, devoting herself fully to the food.
Just as the last bites disappeared and the atmosphere mellowed into a pleasant calm, Alden’s phone began to vibrate with an incoming call.
The screen lit up with Dorian’s name.
Alden stood up and picked up his phone. “I’m going to use the restroom,” he said, already heading toward the exit.
When Alden took the call, Dorian’s voice came through, laced with amusement. “So, I heard you and your wife got into a fight at the restaurant p>
With a tired sigh, Alden leaned against the hallway wall and explained, “It didn’t escalate that far. She stopped me before things blew up. Sorry for the trouble. Just charge everything to me p>
A dramatic scoff echoed through the speaker as Dorian pretended to be surprised. “You’re actually acting this formal with me? Come on. This entire hotel practically owes you its existence p>
This hotel, Sehao Maison, had only started making a name for itself in recent years, and the restaurant had quickly become its main attraction. The man behind the kitchen’s success, Marcus Doyle, had been personally introduced by Alden.
Word on the street was that Marcus once ran a small restaurant near a remote orphanage, buried so deep in the countryside that no one even knew it existed. How Alden had discovered it remained a mystery.
In a steady tone, Alden replied, “Helena told me not to take advantage of you p>
Dorian groaned dramatically. “Spare me the newlywed nonsense. If my only options are footing the bill and watching you two act all lovey-dovey, I’ll take the bill. Every time p>
As Dorian was in the middle of his complaint, the call was abruptly interrupted by a sudden roar of noise in the background.
Alden’s expression shifted. “What’s going on p>
“Nothing serious. I’ve got it,” Dorian said hurriedly before cutting the line. He narrowed his eyes at the group of burly men steadily approaching him.