They ordered shortly after.
Waiters came in, putting menus in front of them. The menus were sleek black leather, etched with gold and lit from the inside with a soft backlight to help with better reading.
Gray hadn’t even fully opened his when a waiter appeared beside him with a small nod.
"Would you like the six-course tasting menu, Sir, or would you prefer to order à la carte?"Gray blinked at the question.
"Uh... tasting menu’s fine."
"Excellent choice, Sir." The man bowed slightly and disappeared.
That... was fast. He didn’t even know what he ordered.
A few more waiters came one after another, placing new cutlery with gloved hands. They adjusted the plates and utensils. They even refilled Lily’s juice before it dropped below halfway.
It was the kind of service where you didn’t even have to ask because they were already a step ahead.
Gray glanced around again, taking it all in. Every movement the waiters made was smooth. They didn’t even talk or engage in conversation. They just did their job and would only speak to ask if everything was up to their taste.
Apart from the service, the food also arrived fast. Too fast.They came in all at once, carried by rows of waiters and waitresses. Each dish was placed on the table with precision.
And the food?
Gray looked down at his plate, eyebrows lifting slightly.
"This looks too fancy to eat."
"Don’t worry. It’s delicious," Selina said with a soft smile. She held onto her fork and encouraged him to do the same.
Lily, on the other hand, was already busy poking the tiny pastry filled with melted cheese. He didn’t know its name, but this was supposed to be their appetizer for the night.
Before they even ate the meal, a waiter came in again, carrying a bottle of wine. He poured carefully for the adults while asking if Lily wanted a different kind of juice, which she said no to.
They started to eat after that.
Gray hesitated for a moment, then picked up his utensils. The first bite was cautious. But once he tasted it, his eyes shifted slightly in surprise.
The pastry, whatever it was, practically melted in his mouth. The cheese inside wasn’t too strong, just rich enough to coat his tongue. There was a hint of something sweet and herbal in it too, but he couldn’t tell what.
"Woah..." he muttered.
"Is it good?" Selina glanced at him.
He gave a small nod, still chewing.
"I’ll admit it... this is actually pretty amazing."
"I told you," she said simply, but the happiness in her eyes was noticeable.
Across from him, Conrad ate slowly, like someone who’d been to places like this so many times that it no longer fazed him at all. Lily, meanwhile, was making a mess with the last few crumbs on her plate, looking satisfied.
Each course arrived one after the other, with just enough time in between to let them breathe. They had something that looked like seared scallops next, followed by a small portion of cold seafood salad topped with tiny flowers and a citrus glaze.
Among all of them, Lily was the most excited. She was happy to eat everything with Selina guiding her every time.
The two really looked close to each other, which also surprised Gray as he ate.
By the time their empty plates were cleared again, Gray leaned slightly back into his chair. His fingers lightly tapped the edge of his water glass, waiting for the next dish to arrive.
"Soup should be next," Selina murmured beside him.
Gray nodded absentmindedly, then heard a soft clink from across the table. Conrad had set his utensils down. He dabbed his mouth with a napkin and looked at Gray with a warm expression.
"I must say," the older man began, "this has been a very pleasant evening so far."
Conrad had been observing everything since earlier. He couldn’t help but laugh in his mind every time Selina and Gray talked together.
It was even better that Lily was there. The three looked like a family.
That thought brought so much joy to Conrad’s heart.
But still, even if he wanted to say his thoughts out loud, he shouldn’t scare the two.He should start slowly.
"By the way, Gray. I wanted to thank you," Conrad said simply as he fought the urge to smile widely. "Selina... has been very happy lately. And she said it’s because of you and your sister."
Gray blinked. He wasn’t expecting that. His hand froze on his glass for a second.
"I know my granddaughter," the old man continued, his tone softer now. "She rarely opens up to people. Even as a child, she was composed. Polite. Well-mannered. But... distant. I couldn’t blame her. I wasn’t exactly present."
Selina stayed quiet, looking down at her glass.
Gray glanced at her. She wasn’t smiling anymore.
He didn’t say anything, but he could feel the air shift a little.
"She’s always wanted siblings. She used to tell me in the past how she wanted to have a brother or sister to play with."
Conrad’s gaze shifted to Lily, who had started humming softly while playing with her juice straw.
"I couldn’t give her that because there’s no chance anymore. Still, I tried to give her everything else. Education, comfort, security. But in the end, I still know I failed to give her the one thing she needed most."
Gray remained still, eyes lowering slightly.
That kind of emptiness... it sounded a little too familiar.
He didn’t expect the conversation to take this turn.
He just wanted to eat more.
"And yet, somehow, here you are," Conrad said, smiling faintly. "You and your sister. I was surprised when I heard that you two were living on the same floor now."
He paused as a waiter silently stepped in to refill the wine.Another followed closely behind, carrying bowls of soup with careful hands.
The table filled with the faint aroma of roasted tomato and basil, laced with cream and truffle oil. It looked simple, but the smell alone made Gray pick up his spoon without hesitation.
But before anyone could start eating again, Conrad spoke once more.
"Selina told me she visited Lily’s school."Gray looked up.
"It’s a decent place," Conrad added. "But modest and humble. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, it got me thinking..."
He took a sip of wine, then set his glass down gently.
"I run a foundation," he said. "The Everett Foundation for Youth Advancement. It’s small, mostly quiet work. My foundation offers scholarships, mentorship programs, and educational support."
Gray blinked, confused. His hand paused midair, spoon still held between his fingers."What are you exactly saying, Sir?"
"I’d like to offer Lily a spot," Conrad said. "I want her to be one of the beneficiaries of my foundation."
Gray stared at him. The words hung there for a moment, almost unreal.It took him a second to even react.
"...Huh?"
He looked toward Selina, who wasn’t saying anything.
She gave him a soft look. A kind one.
Like she already knew what her grandfather was about to say and just waited for him to say it.
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A/N:
Bonus Chapters will be uploaded later on.
I’m currently slaving to write them.