Serena Jennings couldn’t believe her eyes. The server approaching her table was none other than Cynthia Fulton, who had just declared bankruptcy.
Seeing Serena caused Cynthia’s face to twist as if she’d been splashed with acid.
But now, her role was as a server at Riverview Imperial—
Just like Serena had been in the past.
Serena withdrew her gaze and glanced across at Patrick Rhodes.
Patrick wasn’t the least bit surprised to see Cynthia as a server.
Clearly, Patrick was not an idle boss; he knew exactly who the hotel hired as staff.
Serena gave Cynthia a slight smile, a genuinely friendly one.
"This uniform looks quite fitting on you."
Cynthia nearly ground her teeth to pieces.
What do you mean this uniform looks quite fitting? Does this mean Cynthia Fulton is made to be a server?!
If it wasn’t for Serena’s scheming...
Cynthia was furious, her teeth clenched tight.
The angrier Cynthia became, the broader Serena’s smile grew.
She rather enjoyed watching Cynthia look displeased, yet unable to do anything about it.
"Take this dish away, bring the next one," Patrick ordered.
Cynthia had no choice but to comply obediently.
Newcross Real Estate had indeed filed for bankruptcy, but she personally still had a small amount of debt, and apart from Riverview Imperial, no place would even hire her as a cleaner.
"You’ll definitely next dish."
Patrick was being mysteriously playful.
Seeing a gleam of mischief in Patrick’s eyes, Serena couldn’t help but feel a bit of anticipation.
After a long interval, the dish finally arrived.
Serena was taken aback.
"This, caught fresh today, is a top-tier, exceptionally rare Emperor Crab from the Bering Sea, weighing 27 pounds, with leg span reaching nearly two meters..."
Listening to Patrick’s enthusiastic introduction, Serena thought she knew all too well.
It was during a previous visit to Riverview Imperial when she also dealt with the same Emperor Crab, getting her hands injured in the process.
But the taste was indeed quite good.
Thinking of this, Serena suddenly looked at Patrick, only to see him assuming a domineering posture, commanding Cynthia:
"Help the guest shell the crab!"
Cynthia forced herself to reach out, but her fingers froze.
Cynthia searched the table and dishes inside and out, but found no tool for shelling the crab.
How was she supposed to do it?
Seeing this, Serena understood.
Patrick had invited her to dinner under the guise of needing her advice, but the true motive was to help her exact revenge.
Watching Patrick hand a steak knife to a trembling Cynthia, Serena sighed lightly.
"Forget it, let’s give her the crab-shelling tools instead."
"Serena, you’re too kind, aren’t you?"
Praised by Patrick, Serena deliberately sighed: "Ah, what can I do, I just care about the Emperor Crab!"
The comment made Patrick burst into laughter.
Nearby, Cynthia’s face turned a livid purple.
Turns out Serena cared only for the Emperor Crab; in what sense is that kindness?!
In the end, a professional chef came to shell the crab for Serena and Patrick, while Cynthia continuously cleared away crab shells.
Halfway through their meal, Patrick issued another order to Cynthia:
"Go fetch a bottle of 1982 Lafite."
Serena could clearly see Cynthia’s frail frame trembling.
Whether it was anger or fear, tonight Cynthia had certainly fallen victim to Patrick’s schemes.
While Cynthia went to get the wine, Serena couldn’t help but lean her chin in her hands, staring at Patrick.
Patrick blushed at Serena’s gaze, feeling awkward.
The way Patrick handled Cynthia tonight indeed provided Serena with unexpected amusement.
She never imagined someone would help her settle scores with Cynthia, and that person would turn out to be Patrick.
Though Patrick often came across as carefree and playful, he wasn’t an aimless idler.
After taking over Riverview Imperial, he seriously sought out former employees for one-on-one discussions.
During these talks, he inadvertently learned that when Serena was struggling financially, she had done odd jobs at Riverview Imperial and was bullied by Cynthia, being splashed with wine and getting injured while shelling crabs with her bare hands.
Patrick felt suffocated just hearing about it.
Now that he was Riverview Imperial’s owner and heard Cynthia was working here to clear her debts, he got the idea of settling old scores.
"I couldn’t help back then, and this is all hindsight now, but I still want to help you vent your frustration."
Patrick said, his face breaking into a heartless grin.
Serena lowered her eyes, feeling somewhat touched.
She really hadn’t expected Patrick would go out of his way for her.
"By the way, Patrick, what kind of jewelry do you like?"
"You’re going to gift me something?"
Patrick shot up in excitement.
It was the first time Serena saw Patrick’s eyes sparkle like that.
"Here’s the 1982 Lafite you ordered."
Just then, Cynthia brought out the red wine. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ NoveI-Fire.ɴet
"Would you like it opened now?"
Cynthia spoke without expression, repeating the script of a server.
The very same lines Serena had said long ago.
Serena recalled what Patrick had said about "thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river."
What followed was exactly the same as the past, except the one drenched in wine became Cynthia.
"Such a shame, such good wine."
Serena calmly clinked glasses with Patrick, watching Cynthia clutch her face and run into the employee restroom.
Cynthia looked pitiful, but Serena didn’t pity her.
If Cynthia hadn’t treated her that way, she wouldn’t be experiencing the same humiliation now.
Serena took another sip of wine, the 1982 Lafite was indeed exquisite.
In the employee restroom.
Cynthia cried for a long time, her eyes swollen like peach pits, her voice hoarse.
She couldn’t face anyone ; it wasn’t much better than having wine splashed on her face.
Even at this moment, Cynthia still found it hard to believe she could fall to such a state!
Mere months ago, she was the mansion heiress, living in luxury.
Cynthia hugged her trembling self, biting her lower lip until it bled.
Upon exiting the restroom, it was already late; she wished to fix her makeup, salvage her appearance, but just as she opened her locker, her phone rang.
The caller ID revealed it was Claire Shaw.
The sun rose slowly, lighting up Veridia Villa.
The Lockwood Family’s maidservants and cooks bustled about, having been busy all morning.
Yet Lilian Young remained dissatisfied.
Hands on her hips, she pointed and ordered.
"How is this dish made? Not as good as Serena’s..."
Midway through her sentence, she stopped herself.
"Wendy’s coming later, don’t mention Serena," Arthur Lockwood reminded her.
Today was the day they invited The Linton Family to the villa for a small gathering.
However, Caleb Lockwood had yet to appear.