Chapter 56 An Unexpected Dessert

Chapter 56 An Unexpected Dessert

Zoey's direct question made Emily's heart skip a beat. Her grip loosened, and Yoyo nearly slipped from her arms.

"No, no, not at all!" Emily hurriedly secured the cat, holding it tighter. "I just came to see Yoyo. I rescued her before, and I missed her. That's all."

Even as the words left her mouth, Emily felt unconvincing.

"I see," Zoey teased with a playful smile. "So Morris's charm isn't what it used to be if he can't compete with a kitten."

"It's almost lunchtime!" Emily quickly changed the subject, her words coming faster than usual. "I can make something in the kitchen. What would you like to eat?"

Morris watched her flustered reaction with amusement, flashing a smile. "Anything is fine. I love everything you make."

Zoey shrugged. "I don't care much about food. Just some mashed potatoes for me."

She crouched down with a cat treat, coaxing Yoyo to come closer. The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated her frame, revealing wrists so thin they looked breakable and shoulder blades that protruded sharply beneath her skin.

Emily caught this sight as she turned around, and her heart ached. She understood performers needed to maintain their figures, but Zoey was dangerously thin.

"She has mild anorexia," Morris's voice came softly beside her, tinged with quiet resignation. "It started two years ago. Her mother forced her to quit the entertainment industry to study business. She locked herself in her room and didn't eat for three days. After that, she gradually lost her appetite."

Emily stood frozen, finding it hard to reconcile this information with Zoey's cheerful, joking demeanor. She never would have guessed Zoey was suffering from an eating disorder.

"I understand. I'll head to the kitchen now."

Emily had just tied on an apron when she heard footsteps behind her.

"Why are you both in here? Go wait in the dining room. This won't take long." Emily tried to usher them out. She didn't dare let these two wealthy heirs help—neither had any domestic skills, and they'd only get in the way.

Morris refused to budge, his tone slightly commanding. "This is my house, and you're the guest. What kind of host lets their guest cook alone? Give us something to do."

Emily relented and handed Morris a head of romaine lettuce. "Fine, you can wash this. Make sure to clean the root area thoroughly, and don't crush the leaves."

She then passed a potato and a peeler to Zoey. "Just mind your hands while you're peeling this potato."

The two obediently took their assignments and got to work. Emily turned to prep the shrimp, but when she checked their progress a few minutes later, she nearly had a heart attack.

Morris had mangled the lettuce into a soggy mess, leaves clumped together and dripping water. Zoey's potato situation was even more dramatic—what had started as a fist-sized potato was now barely the size of her thumb, whittled down to a tiny nub.

Both cousins looked sheepish, Morris's ears turning red as he stared at the floor, while Zoey's gaze wandered anywhere but Emily's face. They resembled children caught misbehaving.

Emily was both exasperated and amused. Without comment, she simply tossed the ruined lettuce into the trash and grabbed a fresh potato. She then began cooking with practiced efficiency.

Watching Emily's smooth, professional movements in the kitchen, Zoey immediately switched to praise mode.

"Emily, your technique is amazing! Where did you learn to cook like that?"

"That smell is incredible—so much better than our housekeeper's cooking. Do you have some kind of magical talent for food?"

Emily laughed at the flattery but kept working. "No special talent here. These are just basic skills for a professional housekeeper. But you—your acting is excellent. It's a shame you're not more recognized for it."

"You think my acting is good too?" Zoey sighed. "If only everyone had your good taste."

"Getting a big head from a little praise?" Morris couldn't help but tease, pulling Zoey slightly away. "Let her cook in peace."

"Mind your own business!" Zoey glared at him but obediently stepped back.

Amid their banter, lunch came together quickly. Roasted butternut squash with golden, crispy edges and a creamy, buttery interior; a vibrant shrimp and vegetable salad with tender shrimp and fresh greens; creamy mushroom soup topped with a thin layer of cream; and pasta with black pepper steak strips coated in a rich sauce, each strand of pasta covered in pepper flecks.

Emily prepared a special dish of mashed potatoes just for Zoey, garnishing it with finely chopped peas and carrot bits to make it more appetizing.

Zoey took a spoonful of the mashed potatoes and put it in her mouth. The smooth, velvety texture with its subtle buttery flavor was somehow better than what she'd had at Michelin-starred restaurants. She couldn't help taking another two bites, speaking with her mouth still half-full. "Emily, this is incredible! I'm seriously thinking about kidnapping you to be my personal chef!"

Emily smiled. "I'm glad you like it."

During the meal, Morris brought up the stock Emily had purchased earlier. "SmartLiving Tech has been performing quite well lately."

"It's decent, though not as good as I'd hoped," Emily replied.

"Planning to sell?"

Emily, who had been sipping her soup, looked up. "Nope, not yet. I went through their last quarterly report, and their new smart home stuff is getting awesome feedback. I think they've still got room to grow, so I'm holding on for now."

Zoey listened to their conversation with complete bewilderment. Stocks? Quarterly reports? These terms sounded more complicated than memorizing scripts.

Were housekeepers supposed to know about investing and corporate operations? No wonder Morris was so taken with Emily. With her skills and intelligence, falling for her seemed as natural as breathing.

After a few bites of mashed potatoes, Zoey was eyeing the roasted butternut squash. On impulse, she reached out with her fork and took a small piece.

The sweet, rich flavor immediately spread through her mouth, the crispy exterior contrasting perfectly with the soft interior. It wasn't heavy at all.

Her eyes lit up. "This is amazing!"

But after just one piece, her stomach tightened painfully. She reluctantly put down her fork, staring longingly at the remaining squash with regret.

Emily noticed that Zoey shared Morris's preference for sweet foods and suddenly had an idea.

Setting down her utensils, she smiled at Zoey. "Do you like desserts?"

Zoey nodded, then quickly shook her head. "I do like them, but my manager doesn't allow it. Says I'll gain weight."

"Have you ever tried Sacher torte?" Emily's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "It has two layers of rich dark chocolate ganache with apricot jam in between. The bitterness of the chocolate and the tanginess of the fruit balance perfectly, so it's not too sweet. It's absolutely delicious—finger-licking good."

Zoey's eyes immediately brightened. She swallowed hard. "That sounds incredible! I used to love chocolate before my anorexia started. I haven't had any since."

"We have all the ingredients here. I could make it for you after lunch," Emily offered immediately, hoping to encourage Zoey to eat something, even if it was just a small slice of cake.

"Really? That's wonderful!" Zoey clapped her hands excitedly, completely oblivious to the death glare Morris was sending her way.

He had finally gotten Emily to himself, and now his sister was third-wheeling everything.