Chapter 288 Wanted to Soar High
With her words, Hera subtly conveyed to Luke that she had been on the phone with her best friend Athena, which had distracted her and caused her to lose track of time. Luke smiled gently at her but didn’t say anything. He then gestured for her to sit back down in her chair and helped pull it out for her, displaying his gentlemanly manners.
Luke studied Hera’s face silently, his gaze steady and unwavering. Hera could sense the intensity behind his eyes, as if he could see through her, right into her thoughts and emotions. She felt exposed, vulnerable under his scrutiny, as though he could discern every hidden aspect of her being with just a glance.
She felt goosebumps all over her body as Luke’s gaze persisted, causing her to feel increasingly nervous and fidgety. Fortunately, Gerald arrived just in time with the servers, who began serving the food. It was almost a relief—an interruption that provided Hera with an exit and prevented Luke from probing further into her thoughts.
But as these thoughts raced through her mind, Hera began to wonder if Luke had discovered something about her or had uncovered what she had been up to while she was away. She quickly pushed these suspicions aside, realizing that dwelling on them would only lead to overthinking. It was crucial not to let these nagging thoughts overshadow any potential clues that might arise during this critical time.
When the food arrived, Luke returned to his usual demeanor as if the intense moment had never occurred, and any hint of scrutiny had vanished. He effortlessly transitioned to serving Hera the newly arrived dishes. Grateful for his courteous gesture, Hera smiled warmly at Luke, appreciating how he continued to treat her with kindness throughout the meal.
When Hera took a bite of the Egg Benedict, she immediately sensed a familiar taste. Eggs Benedict typically had a consistent flavor, but this particular dish had a distinctive touch that triggered a sense of déjà vu. She blinked thoughtfully as she chewed, and then it dawned on her why it tasted so familiar. Her eyes widened as she glanced slowly over at Gerald.
She realized that the chef Gerald had mentioned was none other than the one who had served in her grandfather’s mansion, and who was also Hannah’s father. As she savored the food, her eyes crinkled with nostalgia. ’Oh God,’ she thought, ’I miss Uncle’s cooking! Not that Hannah’s is inferior, but they just have different methods and distinct tastes.’
Seeing her reaction, Gerald gave her a small nod before turning away, trying to contain his chuckle so as not to attract the attention of the ever-observant Luke. But Gerald’s effort came a little too late; Luke had noticed their subtle interaction and regarded Hera thoughtfully.
But even so, he pretended not to notice anything and continued to chat with Hera with genuine interest. He observed that Hera’s appetite seemed better that morning and couldn’t help but chuckle slightly as he served her more food, which she accepted happily with a warm smile on her lips.
Luke enjoyed their time during breakfast so much that when the time came for them to part ways—him to work and Hera to school—he felt reluctant to leave. However, he reluctantly bid farewell, not wanting to appear too eager in his efforts to woo Hera.
Hera set aside all other thoughts and dedicated herself to her school duties. After her first subject, she was summoned by her tutor, Mr. Fletcher, to his office to continue their discussion from where they had left off earlier. There, Hera was introduced to the select group of students he had chosen, mostly seniors and master’s candidates.