Chapter 16: Breakfast

Ethan Li stirred awake as golden rays of sunlight pierced through the curtains, glaring directly into his eyes. He groaned in irritation, running a hand through his tousled black hair.

With a lazy growl, he threw off the duvet covering his half-naked form.

Sleeping shirtless had always been his preference—more comfortable, more freeing.

And, if he were being completely honest, it was a damn shame that no one appreciated the view but himself.

His body was the product of years of disciplined workouts and training—sculpted to perfection.

Sun-kissed skin stretched over lean, chiseled muscles. Broad, well-defined shoulders. A solid chest. A six-pack with just the right amount of sharp definition. A V-line that—well, let's just say he was proud.

Ethan smirked to himself. If Lillie ever saw this, would she reconsider pushing the wedding date sooner?

He was being narcissistic, yes. But could anyone really blame him?

He had millions of fans who reminded him daily just how breathtakingly attractive he was.

But their praises? They never mattered. Only Lillie's words held weight.

Shaking the ridiculous thoughts from his mind, Ethan stretched, showered, and dressed in his usual polished manner—an Armani suit, black leather lace-up shoes, and a silver Rolex resting on his left wrist.

By the time he made his way downstairs, Nanny Ying greeted him with a warm smile.

"Good morning, young master."

Ethan gave her a small nod of acknowledgment, already making his way toward the dining room when—

"Miss Bai just left," she added, amusement lacing her voice. "She woke up earlier than everyone else, so breakfast isn't quite ready yet."

Ethan stopped in his tracks.

Lillie? Awake early? That wasn't surprising.

But what she did next was.

"I was surprised to see her cooking breakfast," Nanny Ying continued with a chuckle. "A young miss from such a prestigious background, knowing how to cook? And quite well, too! It was delicious."

Ethan's heart skipped a beat.

Lillie… cooked?

For him?

Should he be concerned? Was this a peace offering… or a death sentence?

Then again… even if it was poisoned, he wasn't sure he'd mind. If it was from her, he'd accept it.

Even if it sent him straight to hell.

"Come, come!" Nanny Ying urged. "Miss Bai made some for you."

Ethan wordlessly followed, feeling an unusual warmth settle in his chest.

The moment Ethan stepped into the dining room, his senses were instantly assaulted by the rich aroma of bacon and eggs, the buttery scent of freshly made French toast.

His stomach rumbled.

He took a seat as Nanny Ying placed a steaming cup of freshly brewed coffee beside his plate.

"Enjoy," she said, before giggling to herself and disappearing into the kitchen.

Ethan stared down at the meal.

Lillie's cooking.

His wife—no, his future wife—had made him breakfast.

Something about the thought made him feel… oddly giddy.

Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.

And yet, here he was, staring at his plate with an expression that could only be described as… childlike delight.

Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he quickly pulled out his phone.

He snapped one photo. Then another. And another.

The first breakfast his wife had ever made for him.

He would have these printed, framed, cherished.

What Ethan didn't know was that this seemingly insignificant moment would have his employees at HL Corp on the verge of a breakdown.

For the first time in history, the Devil himself arrived at the office with a smile.

Not just any smile—a full-fledged, ear-to-ear grin.

Horrified whispers filled the building.

"What the hell is going on?!"

"Is Boss planning something evil?!"

"Should we evacuate?! Should we PRAY?!"

"Was he… possessed?!"

Meanwhile, Ethan simply walked into his office, completely unaware of the chaos his good mood had caused.

And it was all thanks to a single plate of bacon and eggs.