Chapter 96

Her flattery was obvious for all to see. As Mr. Patterson bit into the fish, Freya raised an eyebrow in a subtle gesture of skepticism. A moment later, Mr. Patterson’s brow furrowed, and he asked, “What kind of fish is this?”

Kieran replied, “Salmon, of course, it’s grilled salmon.” Upon hearing Kieran’s words, Mr. Patterson took a deep breath. Even though he didn’t say anything, you could tell he was upset because his face had gone noticeably pale. Freya couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. Kieran didn’t know that Freya had swapped the salmon for a much less expensive trout.

Then, when he was younger, Mr. Patterson made his fortune in the seafood business, boasting an extensive knowledge of marine delicacies. How could he not discern the difference?

Seeing Mr. Patterson’s silence, Freya carved up another dish, a chicken stuffed with various treasures, and placed it before him, saying, “Mr. Patterson, this is the chicken.” Noticing the inclusion of rare ingredients like turtle meat in the dish, Mr. Patterson instantly withdrew his hand, which had been poised to take a bite. Turtle meat was a prohibited item, a delicacy only the wealthy could afford. Mr. Patterson, a staunch advocate for the protection of endangered species and a generous donor to related causes, was naturally appalled.

Observing Mr. Patterson’s reluctance, Kieran inquired, “Mr. Patterson, anything wrong with the food?” “Mr. Sutton knows I made my fortune in the seafood trade,” Mr. Patterson replied, his voice icy. “I’m intimately familiar with these ingredients.”

At this, Kieran was still clueless about the unfolding situation. However, Mr. Patterson continued, “I detest dishonesty and illegal dealings above all else. I believe it’s best if we terminate our prospective partnership here.”

At those words, Kieran’s brows knitted together in confusion. “Mr. Patterson,” interjected Ronan, seizing the moment. “My family has prepared a few delightful dishes. Might you be inclined to join us instead?” Mr. Patterson nodded, replying, “Then, let us take our leave.”

After that, Mr. Patterson stood up and departed with Ronan from the Sutton Mansion without looking back. This time, Mr. Patterson hadn’t given Kieran even a sliver of respect.

“Mr. Sutton!” Jarrett entered, about to inquire whether they should pursue them, only to be met with Kieran’s icy gaze… In Echo City, no one dared disrespect Kieran.

“Freya, what have you done?” Kieran suddenly turned his suspicion toward Freya. Feigning innocence, Freya responded, “Mr. Sutton, how is this related to me? Mr. Patterson chose to leave. I’ve been speaking on your behalf the whole time. Perhaps you’ve wronged him in some way?”

Kieran’s brows furrowed even more. Indeed, Freya had been speaking in his defense, not appearing to… However, Kieran didn’t realize whether it was adding turtle meat or substituting salmon with trout. Kieran might be oblivious, but Mr. Patterson could easily discern the difference.

In her previous life, Freya had gone to great lengths to cater to Mr. Patterson’s tastes, crafting dishes specifically to win his favor, which led him to view Kieran in a new light and decide to sign a contract with the Sutton Group. But Kieran was unaware of all this. And, it seemed she had her revenge.

“Mr. Sutton, if there’s nothing else, I’ll go change,” Freya said, going upstairs. Kieran’s cold voice stopped her. “Stop right here.”