Chapter 1625
In the heart of Greenhaven lay a gem known as The Gourmet Sanctuary. Famed for its exquisite
cuisine, this place was notoriously challenging to book, owing to the enigmatic proprietor who
operated solely on a first-come, first-served basis.
It mattered not who you were or what your background was.
If you could snag a reservation, kudosâ to you.
If not, better luck next time.
Thaddeus, a local who had been living abroad, had always been a big fan of this eatery. Upon his
return to the city, he bypassed the glitzy five-star hotels and headed straight for The Gourmet
Sanctuary.
However, due to his last-minute booking, he failed to secure a private booth and had to settle for a
less crowded corner in the dining hall.
As his family gathered around the table, Thaddeus quickly ordered a few of their signature dishes
that suited his palate, as well as the favorites of his wife and younger daughter. He then passed the
menu to his eldest daughter, Sophia
After taking the menu, Sophia first attended to her husband. âMarcus, what would you like to
have?â
âI'm good with anything,â replied Marcus. âGet something light for Tristan.â
Sophia was slightly disappointed by the fact that Marcus was only concerned about what their son
wanted. He was completely ignoring her, but she relented and ordered some lighter dishes for
âTristan.â
After placing their orders, Sophia started a conversation with her father to prevent any awkward
silence at the table and to deflect any potential disapproval from
her father towards Marcus.
âDad, now that you're here, you should be able to settle all the issues within a week, right?â
Thaddeus confidently responded, âYou don't need to worry about that, Sophia. Everything will be
sorted out soon, and then we can all return home together.â
âDad, I've already set an appointment with one of the world's top wedding dress designers. Once
we're back, we can start fitting for my wedding gown!â
Upon seeing the joy on his daughter's face, Thaddeus could not help but share in her happiness.
âThat sounds wonderful. Once you two are married, I plan on handing over the family business to
you. Then, I can retire.â
Sophia had been waiting for this day, but she pretended to be reluctant. âDad, you're still so young.
Why are you thinking of retiring so soon?â
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Thaddeus smiled warmly as he glanced at his wife, Bertha. âI made a promise to Bertha a while back
that we would retire to the countryside and live a simple, pastoral life.â
Sophia raised an eyebrow at Bertha. âWell, if you and Bertha want to take things easy, I guess I'll
have to step up. Don't worry, Dad. I promise to take good care of the business you worked so hard
to build from scratch. But won't my little sister... have any objections?â
Before Thaddeus could respond, Bertha chimed in. âSophia, you're overthinking. Your sister has
always dreamed of being an artist, and sheâs not exactly business-savvy. It makes sense for you to
take over.â
Sophia chuckled. âIn that case, I won't insist. Running a business is no simple task. It's a lot more
relaxed being a free-spirited artist, isn't it?â
Lea, Sophia's sister, could sense Sophia's underlying satisfaction. After all, Sophia never saw her as a
sister, let alone had any intent on sharing their father's business with her.