Chapter 960
In the afternoon, Natalie took Skylar to visit several well-known tourist spots, checking them off their list as they went. During their tour, Austin called Natalie, inviting them to his mansion for a gathering that evening.
“Skylar, we’re not staying at a hotel tonight; we’ll be at Mr. Powell’s mansion. I’ve been there before—it’s like a hidden paradise! Oh, and Mr. Powell mentioned a barbecue tonight. He said we should head over after we finish here.”
Natalie’s eyes lit up at the mention of the barbecue and the mansion. Skylar’s curiosity was piqued. “Sounds amazing! Let’s buy some desserts and fruit to bring over later.”
“Sure, we can buy some desserts. However, Mr. Powell’s mansion has a chef who prepares both Floan and Wiscadian cuisines, and the desserts there are delicious. As for fruit, there are fresh ones in the orchards we can pick ourselves,” Natalie said, remembering details about the mansion.
Skylar chuckled. “Alright then, let’s just grab some desserts.”
After shopping, they bought some desserts. Before dark, they drove to the mansion, snacking on pastries along the way. Skylar selected a few photos from their sightseeing trip and sent them to Joe. He replied quickly, “You look beautiful. The scenery is alright.”
Skylar grinned. “Since when did you learn to sweet-talk?”
Joe’s reply was simple: “It’s just the truth.” His compliment, paired with his sincerity, made Skylar’s heart flutter.
“You two are too sweet. I wasn’t prepared for your public display of affection,” Natalie teased, noticing Skylar’s lovestruck smile. Natalie was genuinely happy for Skylar, seeing their relationship blossom. She felt strongly that once Joe fell for Skylar, he would never look at anyone else.
An hour later, they arrived at Austin’s mansion. Only Austin and Hank were there; the rest of the studio team hadn't yet arrived. The barbecue grill was set up on the lawn, with various skewered meats arranged nearby. A long table displayed an array of Floan cuisines.
“Mr. Powell,” Skylar greeted Austin warmly.
Austin greeted them with a smile. “We’ll be starting the barbecue soon. Feel free to sample some of the freshly prepared dishes and seafood if you’re hungry. The pizza should be ready soon, too. The meat tonight is marinated with ingredients from Jipsburg City. It’s going to be incredibly flavorful,” Hank added, a hint of drool escaping his lips.
Skylar looked at Hank. She had seen him before, but this time, she was surprised, as she had been when she saw Natalie at the hotel. “Hank, you’ve lost weight.”
Hank was pleased. “Yes, I’ve lost twenty pounds. It’s thanks to my recent self-discipline.”
Natalie chuckled, unable to hide her amusement, quickly turning away to avoid Hank noticing. The so-called self-discipline was a bit of a joke. Since arriving in Fachington, Hank had struggled with the local cuisine. Initially, like Natalie, he’d tried various new dishes and even gained weight. However, he lost his appetite once the novelty wore off. He couldn’t always visit the mansion, and he found the Floan cuisine elsewhere unappealing, as was the cuisine from other countries. As a result, he lost weight—more than Natalie, in fact.