Chapter 1243:

Hunger gnawed at Darren, who had been looking forward to a lavish meal, but the waiter was taking too long. He began to fume, tugging at his hair in frustration. “Who books an entire restaurant for themselves? If there’s someone inside making a grand romantic gesture, I might just lose it.”

Elyse, feeling the pangs of hunger herself, tried to stay composed. “Let’s keep our composure. If they’re turning us away, we’ll find somewhere else. There’s always another place we can try.”

Jayden remained silent, his attention caught by a black car parked a short distance away. The car was so unassuming that Jayden had initially missed it upon arrival.

As he took another look, an unusual feature caught his eye: a distinct totem on its surface. This totem sparked a flicker of recognition in Jayden. He didn’t rush to suggest a change of restaurant. Instead, he stood transfixed by the emblem of a tiger—a trademark of a certain influential family. It dawned on him who could be inside.

Just then, the waiter emerged, accompanied by the manager.

The manager was apologetic, explaining, “There was a mix-up with our staff; we missed your call, and the responsible party has been corrected. To make amends, we’d like to offer you dinner on the house tomorrow evening. We hope you’ll accept this gesture to rectify our oversight.”

Darren and Elyse exchanged looks of pure amazement, almost disbelieving. A free dinner tomorrow? This wasn’t just good service; it was exceptional!

Without missing a beat, they exchanged eager nods and walked out with Jayden, a hint of excitement in their steps.

As the three walked away, Elyse and Darren chatted about what dishes they would try the next day. They felt fortunate to have snagged a complimentary meal at such a lavish restaurant.

Noticing Jayden’s silence, Elyse turned to him with a mix of concern and curiosity. “You seem quiet. Did something bother you? Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Darren spoke up eagerly, his enthusiasm clear. “A free luxury dinner, huh? This place sure knows how to treat people.”

Jayden responded with a calm, measured tone. “Ever wonder why they’re handing out freebies like this?”

Darren shrugged, curiosity piqued. “Maybe they’re just big-hearted?”

“Not quite,” Jayden corrected him, a serious note creeping into his voice. “They’re probably worried we might make a scene trying to barge in. Offering a meal is a better option for them than dealing with a potential ruckus. It keeps things calm and controlled inside.”

Elyse, catching on to the tension, chimed in. “Is there someone powerful inside? Have you figured it out?”

Nodding, Jayden shared his observation. “There’s a car down the street. It looked plain enough that I initially ignored it. But on closer inspection, I noticed it had a totem on it.” . . .