Chapter 159

Stephanie looked at the food and decisively nodded. "I'll eat." Since they had gone to the trouble of preparing it, she wouldn't refuse a taste. Besides, she hadn't eaten much at lunch and was a little hungry. Sebastian's smile widened, and he placed a freshly cooked piece of beef in Stephanie's bowl. Stephanie picked it up and popped it in her mouth. Her determined chewing initially suggested she was venting frustration over the earlier, disappointing spicy food. But as soon as she tasted it, her expression changed. The grievance vanished instantly. "This is actually pretty good," she declared. The sauce was amazing.

Sebastian asked, "Delicious?"

Stephanie nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, it's really good." Her previous disappointment completely vanished. For the first time, she realized non-spicy food could be delicious. The atmosphere at the dining table immediately became harmonious.

Meanwhile, at the Hodge Group, Jackson had just returned to his office from a meeting when he suddenly shivered. He turned to Rebecca and said, "Turn up the heat. The weather's getting colder." Rebecca looked confused. "Cold?" she questioned. She felt no chill. Jackson glanced at her thin clothing. "Aren't you cold?" he asked. Rebecca replied, "No. Could it be you've caught a cold, Mr. Hodge?" The office's heating was constant; how could it be cold? Jackson scoffed. "I never catch colds." Rebecca nodded silently. If Jackson said he wouldn't catch a cold, then he wouldn't. She then returned to organizing the urgent documents that had just arrived.

Just as Jackson settled at his desk, his phone buzzed. Seeing the caller ID, he answered, "Landyn."

"Did you get that ring?"

"Yeah, I'll have someone deliver it to you tomorrow."

As Jackson spoke, he reached into his suit pocket to check, but it was empty. He stiffened, checked again—still nothing. Finally, he found a box in his other pocket and breathed a sigh of relief. However, upon opening it, he was dumbfounded. Inside was a bracelet, not a ring! Where was the ring?

Meanwhile, Landyn, unaware of Jackson's sudden tension, continued, "Thanks! Jessica has been trying to snatch it from me. If she succeeds, I'm done for."

Jackson rubbed his temples, a headache forming. "Haven't they made up yet?" Landyn and Jessica were close friends, their wives once best friends, but a bitter rivalry had simmered between the women for two years. One obtaining something the other desired created a living nightmare for everyone involved. Landyn had used Jackson as a middleman to keep the ring from Jessica, knowing Jessica's wife wouldn't dare make a fuss if Jackson was involved.

"No idea. They were having coffee together the other day, all fine and dandy. Two hours later, they were at each other's throats again." Landyn sounded frustrated.

Jackson, however, lacked the patience for their wives' feud as he stared at the bracelet. He quickly ended the call and frantically searched his desk, but the ring remained elusive. Just then, Rebecca knocked and entered. "Mr. Hodge, these documents need your signature. They're urgent."

Jackson asked, "Did you see the ring I bought the other day?"

"Didn't you give it to Miss Giovanni?"

At that moment, Jackson was dumbfounded.