Chapter 32 Ruined dinner ...

Chapter 32 Ruined dinner ...
Lilith’s POV

My heart hammered painfully as I stared at the bowl, wondering what I was supposed to do. If I didn't eat it, he would know something was definitely wrong, but if I did, I would react so badly I might be mistaken for a corpse.
I reached out, my fingers trembling so violently that I had to grip the spoon hard to avoid it clattering against the plate. Mr. Lark didn't seem to know what was going on as he signaled for a young maid to serve more wine.
I scooped up a small portion of the pudding. The scent of roasted peanuts hit me, and my stomach churned in a revolt of pure terror. I swallowed hard and began to lift the spoon toward my lips, accepting my fate, but just as the spoon grazed my lower lip, the maid, who seemed to tremble as she walked, got her feet caught in the rug and she lunged for me.
"Oh!" she shrieked.
Time seemed to slow down as the tray she was holding tilted sharply, sending the contents my way. I didn't have time to move.
The spilled wine poured on my dress, soaking me instantly. Not only that, some portion of the wine also poured on the plate of pudding, making everything a mess instantly.
“Ahh!” I shrieked as the cold wine soaked through my dress while Jayden pulled me to his side instantly.
"You clumsy fool!" Mr. Lark roared, slamming his hands onto the table as he stood up.
The maid bowed her head in fear as she reached for the now empty bottle. "I am so sorry, sir! I... the rug, it caught my foot, I am so sorry!"
"Get out! Get out of my sight before I have you thrown out of this house!" Mr. Lark snapped and she scurried away amidst tears.
“Oh my god,” I gasped as I assessed the mess. I should be mad but instead, a feeling of relief slowly crept into my chest. The pudding was ruined!
Jayden quickly got up and reached for a napkin before trying to dab me a little. "It’s all over your dress, Celine," Jayden said, his voice low.
“Are you okay? I am so sorry for this,” Mr. Lark said, his tone filled with anger.
"I... I need to clean up," I stammered as I got off my seat, my mind still reeling from what just happened. "I’ll be right back. I just need a moment in the bathroom."
"You can go. My apologies, Celine. I’ll have another bowl prepared for you immediately."
I didn't wait to hear more. I clutched my bag and rushed out of the dining room as I followed the layout I had memorized. I turned the corner into the hallway and quickly found the guest restroom before going in and slamming the door shut.
Then, I rested against the door as I took deep breaths to calm my still racing heart. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
I looked down at my ruined dress but I was far from angry. After taking a few moments to settle myself, I walked to the mirror and stared at my pale face.
I might have escaped but I knew it was some sort of miracle. Either that, or Jayden was working behind the scenes, but either way, I wasn’t going to wait till the next bowl of pudding was ready.
I had to find a way out of the situation before I got exposed. My hands shook as I cleaned my dress but I didn’t have time to settle down. I reached for my purse and pulled out my phone before texting Jayden.
\[What do we do now? I can’t have another bowl, I am allergic to peanuts!\]
I hit the send button and waited nervously for him to respond.
Within seconds, he texted back. \[Come out when you’re done, I have a plan in progress already\]
His words calmed me down a bit. I smoothed my hair, took a final steadying breath, and pushed the bathroom door open. As I rounded the corner back toward the dining room, I could hear Jayden’s loud voice. He sounded mad.
"It is unacceptable, Mr. Lark," Jayden snapped. I stopped just outside the door, my back pressed against the wall. "I brought my wife here under the impression that your staff was at least competent. Instead, she is drenched in wine and trembling from the shock of it."
"It was an accident, Jayden," Mr. Lark’s voice rose, sounding strained and defensive. "The girl is new. There is no need to make this into a grand ordeal. I’ve already told the kitchen to bring out a fresh serving—"
"There will be no fresh serving," Jayden cut him off immediately. "Look at her dress. Do you honestly expect her to sit through dessert while she feels like a drenched servant in her own father’s house?"
I took that as my cue. I stepped into the doorway, my hands clasped loosely in front of me as I feigned some trembling to make Jayden’s words sound even more accurate.
"Jayden?" I said softly, injecting as much exhaustion into my voice as possible.
Both men turned at my arrival. Mr. Lark looked distressed by how things turned out and Jayden held a look on his face that showed he was determined to get us out of the mess.
"Celine, dear," Mr. Lark started, stepping toward me with his hands out. "Don't listen to him. The kitchen is almost ready with—"
"I want to go home, Dad," I interrupted, my voice cracking just enough to sound genuine. I looked down at the stain on my dress, hugging myself. "I’m cold, I’m wet, and frankly, I had hoped we would get a better chance of spending some time together but I think I am done for the night."
Jayden was at my side in two long strides. He didn't ask for permission as he reached out and wrapped an arm around my waist. "We’re leaving," Jayden announced, turning back to Mr. Lark with a look that dared him to argue.
"Celine—“ Mr. Lark began, looking at the table where a fresh bowl was just being placed by another trembling servant.
“We are done for the night.”
He didn't wait for a reply as he practically hauled me toward the front door, his pace brisk and determined. I had to almost jog to keep up with his long legs as we exited the building.
I didn’t dare to look back as Jayden got the door for me. I settled into the seat and released a deep breath as he went to his side and got in as well. I thought he would commend my cooperation, but as I looked over at Jayden, I realized his jaw was set in a hard, angry line.